The Class of 2025 Explores the Idea of Becoming

By CHARLES DEBELAK
Founder-in-Residence

Birchwood’s academic program is one of the best in Northeast Ohio. Yet academics take a back seat to our primary boast – character development. In this program, we teach and train students to forge a flourishing life, reaching goals for personal development and building a life which cares for and serves others.

Among our many efforts toward these ends, the Ben Franklin Initiative is the capstone. In this effort during students’ eighth grade year, we deepen our understanding of the Aristotelian virtues and study the lives of great men and women through award-winning films.

Together we engage with the reasoning and moral integrity of exemplary people, both famous and common. We have found that the lives of “great” people provide models to inspire and challenge.

At the end of the year, I ask each student to write a brief essay which summarizes the lessons they have learned through this program. I also ask them to offer advice to the younger students at Birchwood about how to become a “great” person. We name these Legacy Essays.

Please CLICK HERE to read the complete 24 Legacy Essays written by each member of Birchwood’s Class of 2025.

Charles Debelak is Founder-in-Residence, along with his wife, Helene. Together, the Debelaks founded Birchwood in 1984. Mr. Debelak’s writing provides parents with information about sound educational principles and child development issues gleaned from history, contemporary research, and his 50-plus years of educating, coaching, and counseling children, young adults, and parents. This article appeared in the Summer 2025 edition of the school's monthly newsletter, "The Clipboard." 


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