Accountability in class

 There is a fabulous quote/Mormon message featuring a talk about "honesty" by Pres. Faust at: http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/mormon-messages?lang=eng#2011-05-011-honesty
(the actual talk can be found at: http://www.lds.org/ensign/1996/11/honesty-a-moral-compass?lang=eng&query=faust+honesty)

I was struck by the following quote he shared and thought it related very well to Vanguard. 

"In reality, we are only in competition with ourselves. Others can challenge and motivate us, but we must reach down deep into our souls and call forth our God-given intelligence and capabilities. We cannot do this when we depend on the efforts of someone else."

It reminded me of the beginning of the year, when the mentors told the youth and parents that there was an expectation that everyone come with inspirements each week for each class .  The teachers take time to come with material prepared, and it is the responsibility of the student to come prepared.  Some parents were concerned when I said this, saying something to the effect, "if you are going to expect that, you better follow through...".

I believe that there are two areas of following through:
-mentors: the mentors responsibility is to inspire, be clear, and have some sort of visible accountability (check off a list, verbal accountability in class, etc.)
-parents: parent mentor meetings
-students: accurately report to mentors and parents about preparation; make sure they come prepared because they are choosing to be in the class.

I thought the following quote was particularly relevant:

We have the agency to make choices, but ultimately we will be accountable for each choice we make. We may deceive others, but there is One we will never deceive.

The students must be accountable for their education.  It can be learned step by step, and line upon line. This concept may effectively be reinforced supported through devotionals, class, and home teaching.  Unless they are taught and inspired to own  their education by coming prepared each week to class, Vanguard becomes a merely social environment.  The parents and students need to realize that coming prepared each week is the price they pay to be in Vanguard, and their integrity or lack thereof in doing this will not only cheat others of the chance to learn from them, but ultimately harm themselves.