Positive interpersonal relationships are vital for optimal human growth and development. Strong, caring, and respectful relationships strengthen families and help reduce family violence, dysfunction, and divorce. Relationship skills also are important for success in the workplace. American employers need employees who can participate as a member of a team, teach others new skills, serve clients, exercise leadership, negotiate, and work with diversity. These skills have been linked with higher productivity, product quality, and increased quality of work life.
Focused attention is needed to help students build interpersonal relationship skills.
The course provides a strong foundation for improving quality of life through more positive, caring, and respectful relationships in the family, at school, in the community, and in the workplace. The following are measurable exit standards that define what students should know and be able to do at the end of the course. While all content standards and competencies should be addressed in some way, teaching order and areas of emphasis will vary according to local needs. Explain and demonstrate components of directed thinking, particularly critical thinking, creative thinking, and reasoning. Explain and demonstrate components, roles, functions, and styles of effective communication in family, community, and career settings.