Counting on Character

"The idea [character education] started nationally in 1993 and seems to be gaining momentum. Adherents say it not only makes the halls of academe more civil, but can dramatically improve academic performance as well."

September 18, 1996
Morning Star
Wilmington, NC

"Counting on Character"

Two local PTAs are putting their efforts behind a program that adds another trait to the word 'curriculum'. Tannis Nelson, president of the Noble Middle School PTA, loved one particular quote from Theodore Roosevelt.

"To educate a person in mind and not in morals," the quote goes, "is to educate a menace to society." Bearing that in mind, Mrs. Nelson and Tina Jackson, president of the Roland-Grise Middle School PTA, have helped implement character education programs at their two schools.

The idea started nationally in 1993 and seems to be gaining momentum. Adherents say it not only makes the halls of academe more civil, but can dramatically improve academic performance as well. Noble and Roland-Grise are the only two of the county's 30 schools trying out character education this year.

Character education programs recognize and award students who display positive traits of character, including cooperation, responsibility, respect and courtesy.

Though Noble and Roland-Grise will honor slightly different character traits, the general idea is the same: to have students nominate classmates who display positive traits.

"We're trying to promote peer pressure in a positive direction," Mrs. Jackson said. "We're trying to promote positive behavior. This is not mandating anything, it's not a change in the curriculum. It's kids recognizing the sorts of behavior that gets them pats on the back."

A few students nominated each week are selected at random to receive candy or ice cream. But the sweets aren't the focus. It's getting kids thinking about doing positive things.

"It has to be integrated into the curriculum," Mrs. Nelson said. "It's not a class, like English, social studies, math, character education..."

In addition, morning announcements over the PA system will include one-minute messages from Project Wisdom, a popular morning program of inspirational thoughts and quotes. (Project Wisdom quotes are not religious, but positive inspiration, from everyone from Martin Luther King Jr. to Eleanor Roosevelt.)

Mrs. Nelson and Mrs. Jackson realize teachers and schools already stress character and integrity in daily lessons. And they also realize the basic foundations of character are built at home.

"The homes must be first and foremost," Mrs. Nelson said. "But schools, places of worship and the community in general must help the home. There must be a more conscientious effort to promote character. Many schools seem to feel they have to do something."

Reprinted with permission

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