July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Character begins in the community (02/09/08)
Editorial
In a perfect world, a program like Character Counts wouldn't be needed.
But we don't live in a perfect world.
And in the world we live in, Character Counts matters.
Ideally, developing character in our children would be something that happens in every home, with parents leading the way.
For generations, that was pretty much taken for granted.
These days, however, it's not so simple.
Too many young people aren't getting the guidance they need or they're getting so many contradictory messages - from mass media, from their peers, and from the street - that they're simply confused.
Character Counts, as Jay Schools superintendent Tim Long explains it, is an effort to create "a common language" for schools, parents, kids, and the community that stresses fundamental traits of strong individual character.
Those building blocks - the six pillars as Character Counts calls them - could not be more basic:
•Trustworthiness. Being honest, being loyal, being reliable, and not cheating.
•Respect. Treating others the way you'd want to be treated and dealing with disagreements without resorting to insults or violence.
•Responsibility. Doing what you're supposed to do, exercising self-discipline, and being accountable for your choices.
•Fairness. Playing by the rules, sharing, taking turns, and listening to others.
•Caring. Helping others, showing kindness and compassion, and saying thank-you.
•Citizenship. Cooperating on behalf of your school and community, being a good neighbor, obeying the law, and protecting the environment.
As we said, you can't get much more basic than that.
But by emphasizing those "six pillars," Character Counts creates a framework for talking to young people about their behavior and their future.
You'll be hearing more about Character Counts in the weeks and months ahead.
The school corporation has adopted the concept and will be banging the drum to get the message across. Several events are set for the Feb. 22 home boys basketball game at Jay County High School.
But for this program to be effective, it can't be something that's relegated to the school system.
It has to be a part of the common language of the community, and it starts with adults demonstrating those "six pillars" by example in their own lives. - J.R.[[In-content Ad]]
But we don't live in a perfect world.
And in the world we live in, Character Counts matters.
Ideally, developing character in our children would be something that happens in every home, with parents leading the way.
For generations, that was pretty much taken for granted.
These days, however, it's not so simple.
Too many young people aren't getting the guidance they need or they're getting so many contradictory messages - from mass media, from their peers, and from the street - that they're simply confused.
Character Counts, as Jay Schools superintendent Tim Long explains it, is an effort to create "a common language" for schools, parents, kids, and the community that stresses fundamental traits of strong individual character.
Those building blocks - the six pillars as Character Counts calls them - could not be more basic:
•Trustworthiness. Being honest, being loyal, being reliable, and not cheating.
•Respect. Treating others the way you'd want to be treated and dealing with disagreements without resorting to insults or violence.
•Responsibility. Doing what you're supposed to do, exercising self-discipline, and being accountable for your choices.
•Fairness. Playing by the rules, sharing, taking turns, and listening to others.
•Caring. Helping others, showing kindness and compassion, and saying thank-you.
•Citizenship. Cooperating on behalf of your school and community, being a good neighbor, obeying the law, and protecting the environment.
As we said, you can't get much more basic than that.
But by emphasizing those "six pillars," Character Counts creates a framework for talking to young people about their behavior and their future.
You'll be hearing more about Character Counts in the weeks and months ahead.
The school corporation has adopted the concept and will be banging the drum to get the message across. Several events are set for the Feb. 22 home boys basketball game at Jay County High School.
But for this program to be effective, it can't be something that's relegated to the school system.
It has to be a part of the common language of the community, and it starts with adults demonstrating those "six pillars" by example in their own lives. - J.R.[[In-content Ad]]
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