Encourage positive behavior with students

Today's youths hear many different messages. Some are good, while others can be disturbing. Think about much of current prime-time TV programing or video games. The reality is that if we want tomorrow's leaders to learn good and healthy habits, the positive messages need to be reinforced regularly.

This week the annual Team Spirit Leadership Training Conference was scheduled to take place in Cape Girardeau. A story by Southeast Missourian reporter Katherine Webster said the conference would focus on leadership training and team-building activities.

Some of the key messages were not to drink and drive, always use a seat belt and not to send a text while driving.

The keynote speaker was Dr. Tim Crowley, the founder of Crowley Leadership. Nine schools were scheduled to participate.

It's important that students understand the consequences of risky behavior, and reckless driving is certainly an important issue to be addressed.

If you have children, regardless of whether they participated in this conference, we hope you will encourage them to use good judgment in their daily activities.

A text message can wait. Don't drink and drive. These are basic -- but nevertheless they are important to reinforce. Other topics such as working together, being a leader and knowing your self-worth are all vital things to discuss. We hope you are encouraged to have -- or continue -- these important conversations.