How would you react if you were “caught, being good!”? Would you glow with pride? Or would you cringe in embarrassment?
The latter seems to be the most popular reaction amongst students. When asked how they would react to being “caught,” students replied:
“I would be so embarrassed,” states Cassie Harward, (’13)
“I would go kill myself! No, just kidding, but i would hate it,” explains Hannah Holbrook (’13).
While I really don’t think anyone would actually do anything that rash, I do agree that it would be humiliating to hear your name uttered in the morning announcements after an ASB member emphatically describes your deed.
Ronald Daughton, first person to be “caught! being good!” says his reaction went as follows:
“Well to be honest, I was embarrassed. When they first said my name, I thought I had done something wrong even though I didn’t do anything (-coughs-) but when they explained the whole thing, I was more worried about how many people would tease me about it. I don’t understand why they announced it. Is it really that signifigant to do something good?”
Is it really that significant?
Supervision seems to take the view of Thomas Hobbes, believing that we are all innately bad people. The goal of the “caught! being good!” program was to try to get students to have some type of incentive to have good character. But is their idea working? Most students admit that they would not return a lost item they found on campus for fear of being “caught”.
Can we just save these good samaritans the embarassment of the lengthy speech and just appreciate good people on a personal basis?
I think yes.
