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Character Pledge
I pledge to be a Kid for CHARACTER. I will
be worthy of TRUST. I will be RESPECTFUL and RESPONSIBLE, doing
what I must. I will always act with FAIRNESS. I will show that
I CARE. I will be a good CITIZEN, and always do my share.
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Thoughts become WORDS,
WORDS become ACTION,
ACTIONS become CHARACTER.
CHARACTER is EVERYTHING!
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CHARACTER COUNTS! is the most widely implemented approach to character
education. It's a nonprofit, nonpartisan, nonsectarian framework
that teaches the Six Pillars of Character: trustworthiness, respect,
responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. |
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| Character
Counts Commentary |
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Nine Promises tht Bring Happiness
Taken from: Michael Josephson Character Counts
Commentary
Abraham Lincoln said, "Generally,
people are as happy as they are willing to be." [Corrected
wording: See letters about our original misquote in readers'
comments below.] His point: Happiness doesn't depend on what
we have or what happens to us; it depends on what we think
about what we have and what happens in us.
The great teacher-coach John Wooden
said, "We seek happiness in the wrong places and in the
wrong form. The primary cause of unhappiness is simply wanting
too much, overemphasizing the material things. Happiness begins
where selfishness ends."
His strategy to find happiness
is to make and keep nine promises:
1. Promise to talk about health,
happiness, and prosperity as often as possible.
2. Promise to make all your friends
know there is something in them that is special and that you
value.
3. Promise to think only of the
best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best
in yourself and others.
4. Promise to be just as enthusiastic
about the success of others as you are about your own.
5. Promise to be so strong that
nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
6. Promise to forget the mistakes
of the past and press on to greater achievements in the future.
7. Promise to wear a cheerful
appearance at all times and give every person you meet a smile.
8. Promise to give so much time
improving yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
9. Promise to be too large for
worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy
to permit trouble to press on you.
Stephanie Jones
Bales Intermediate Counselor
281-482-8255
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| Learning
From the Pigeons |
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During an experiment, pigeons were
put in cages with one green and one red button. In one cage,
the birds that pecked the green button got food every time. In
the other, the green button yielded food erratically and the
pigeons had to persist to get enough food. In both cases, pecking
the red button did nothing. Both sets of birds thrived, learning
what they had to do to survive and to ignore the red button that
yielded no food.
But when the birds that were used
to getting a reward every time were put in the cage that fed
them only occasionally, they failed to adapt. They hit their
heads against the cage and pecked wildly at everything in sight.
There are two worthwhile lessons
from this study:
First, the pigeons quickly learned
from experience to avoid the red button because it was unproductive.
There are lots of people who would lead smoother and happier
lives if they just stopped pushing red buttons that never give
them what they want.
Second, even birds that have it
too easy get spoiled and develop an entitlement mentality that
prevents them from adapting to situations where they can solve
their problems if they just work harder. Some people are like
that, too. They don't deal well with new circumstances, especially
those that require persistence.
Part of being responsible is learning
from experience to appreciate the benefits of tenacity and the
wisdom of avoiding useless, harmful, and self-defeating patterns
of behavior.
Taken from: Character Counts
Commentary
by Michael Josephson, founder of
Josephson Institute
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| What
You Do Is What You'll Get |
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Taken from: Character Counts Josephson
Institute Character Commentry
If you want to help your children
do well in life, there are a few things you can do. A high proportion
of high achievers have two things in common:
First, there are lots of books
in their homes and a great emphasis on reading.
Second, there is a family tradition
of regularly eating dinner together.
Filling a house with books surrounds
children with endless and varied opportunities and challenges
to explore and learn. Books provide knowledge and the seeds of
wisdom, and great stories teach about morality and character.
Eating dinner together assures
that parents have an opportunity to participate in their kids'
day-to-day lives and help shape the way they think and react.
Coordinating schedules so the family eats together often requires
a conscious effort to elevate family time above other things.
The effort itself can instill in children a sense of belonging.
But we can do more to offset the
bad influences our kids are exposed to than promote reading and
family discussions. Remember, everything we do to or in front
of our children matters. What we allow, we encourage. And what
we do ourselves teaches our children how to live and conveys
powerful messages about values.
So be sensitive as to what you
say and how you say it, what you read, and what you watch on
TV. Be especially careful in the way you handle relationships
and deal with emotions like disappointment, anger, and frustration.
That's because what you do is what
you'll get.
This is Michael Josephson reminding
you that character counts.
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| Tips
for Parents |
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Be a Role Model
Actions speak louder than words. Convey your values by living
your life the way you want your child to live his/hers. Set a
good example by keeping your attitude positive, showing your
love and respect for others, handling stress and anger with self-control
and demonstrating resourcefulness.
Communicate
Communicating involves both talking and listening. Speak to your
child in a simple, direct, sincere manner. Pay careful attention
so that you can understand your child's thoughts and feelings.
Restate in your own words what your child says to show you are
listening. Strengthen your communication by being open and nonjudgmental.
Think before you speak, and explain your point of view clearly.
Teach Responsibility
Learning responsible behavior will help your child develop confidence,
independence and the ability to meet life's demands. Set an example
by being responsible in everything you do. Give your child age-appropriate
tasks or chores. Set clear expectations and let your child deal
with the consequences of his/her actions.
Love Unconditionally
Take advantage of every chance to show your child your love.
Here are some suggestions:
* Set aside special time for your child.
* Get involved in your child's activities and plan activities
that include your child.
* Love your child all the time, not only for doing something
that pleases you.
* Praise your child often and sincerely with words like "wonderful",
"terrific", and "special."
* Use nonverbal communication hugs, kisses, tender touches.
Discipline with Love
Don't hesitate to set down rules, say "no" and discipline
when needed. When you reprimand, focus on the behavior, not the
child. Avoid flying off the handle, spanking or yelling. Discipline
with love and consequences that fit the broken rule. This way,
you teach your child constructive ways to handle anger and frustration.
By all means, be consistent! If your child misbehaves:
* Act promptly.
* Match consequences with deeds.
* Follow through on your words.
* Keep emotions under control.
* Don't embarrass your child.
* Remind your child of your love.
Praising and rewarding good behavior will reinforce the values
you want your child to learn.
Encourage Social Skills
Use real-life opportunities to teach your child how to interact
with others. Compliment good manners and praise sharing with
others. Emphasize the importance of listening when others speak,
and respecting the feelings of others.
Make Your Home Safe
Help your child feel physically and emotionally safe. Keep your
home free of hazards to your child's safety or health. Teach
your child the proper rules of safety and health. Choose babysitters
with care, making sure your child is comfortable with them and
they know what to do in emergencies. Lastly, never threaten to
abandon your child not as a joke, and not in a fit of frustration
over his/her behavior.
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| I
Just Have to Outrun You |
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During a camping trip, Sam and
Tom saw a bear coming their way. Sam dropped his backpack and
told Tom he was going to run for it.
His surprised friend said, "You
can't outrun a bear."
Sam replied, "I don't have
to outrun the bear. I just have to outrun you."
Sadly, this "look-out-for-number-one"
mentality is a common approach in business, politics, and sports.
Basically good people routinely engage in and justify selfish,
short-sighted conduct that treats coworkers, colleagues, and
teammates as competitors rather than comrades.
In Steven Carr Reuben's book Children
of Character, he writes about a very different social vision
where people find greater meaning and satisfaction in their life
by creating caring communities. To make his point, he tells of
nine boys and girls in the Special Olympics who were competing
in the 100-yard dash.
Just as the race started, one of
the boys stumbled, fell, and started to cry. The other eight
heard him and looked back. First one, then another, then all
of them stopped running and went back to help their fallen comrade.
One of the runners, a girl with
Down syndrome, bent down and kissed the fallen boy. "This
will make it better," she said.
All nine then linked arms and triumphantly
walked together to the finish line. "That," Reuben
wrote, "is what being part of a community is really about."
It's a lot better way to live than
trying to outrun each other.
Taken from: Michael Josephson Commentary
of the Josephson Institute of Ethics
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