September 2006
September 2006
C.A.R.(2)E.S. NEWSLETTER
(Creating A Respectful and Responsible Educational System)
Dr. Duane Hodgin, Assistant Superintendent for Educational Support Services
Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township
"National School District of Character"
September 6, 2006
(No. 1)
“One’s character, not circumstances, makes the person.”
MEMORIES…
I grew up in the 40s/50s (which I really did!) with “available parents,” a mother, who stayed home and gave meaning to the word “homemaker,” a father who was always home for “supper” so the family could have the evening meal together.
Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. They knew all of their neighbors. I can see them now, Dad in bermudas and tee shirt mowing the lawn or fixing something, Mom in a housedress or “pedal pushers” (now Capri pants) cleaning and baking. My brother and I played “pitch and catch” with dad (we had never heard of a soccer ball back then) and “played outside” with the neighborhood kids until the “street lights came on,” and mom and dad never missed our Little League games or high school athletic events.
But then my mother died, and on that clear summer’s night, in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn’t any more.
Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes away…never to return. So…while we have it…it’s best we love it…and care for it…and fix it when it’s broken…and heal it when it’s sick.
This is true for marriage...family…good friends…old cars…children’s bad report cards…and dogs with bad hips. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it. In the end, it is our memories that become our truest treasures.
There are just some things that make life important, like people we know who are special…and so, we keep them close!
Remember, as a teacher, YOU ARE SPECIAL; you are that “life toucher” to the students who are privileged to have you as their teacher. Many of them will have special memories of you.
-- Anonymous (Edited by Duane Hodgin)
I OWE MY MOTHER…LIFE LESSONS
How many of these do you remember being said to you, or have you said something similar to your children?
1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.
"If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."
1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.
"If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."
2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
"You better pray that will come out of the carpet."
3. My mother taught me LOGIC.
" Because I said so, that's why."
5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC.
“Put your hat on. Don’t you know it’s cold outside, and you lose heat out of the top of your head!”
"You better pray that will come out of the carpet."
3. My mother taught me LOGIC.
" Because I said so, that's why."
5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC.
“Put your hat on. Don’t you know it’s cold outside, and you lose heat out of the top of your head!”
6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
"Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident." (This was my personal favorite.)
7. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.
"Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"
8. My mother taught me about; WEATHER.
"This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."
9. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
"If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"
10. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
"Stop acting like your father!"
11. My mother taught me GENETICS.
"You're just like your father."
12. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
"Just wait until your father gets home." (This always got the attention of my brother and me!)
13. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
"If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way."
14. My mother taught me HUMOR.
"I’ve told you to wear shoes when you are mowing. When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."
15. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT.
"If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."
16. My mother taught me WISDOM.
"When you get to be my age, you'll understand."
-- Anonymous
DOING THE RIGHT THING! (Grades 4-12)
There may be many times and situations when you have to decide whether something is the right thing to do. How will you make that decision? What will guide you in making that choice? Who could you ask for help? Whenever you’re not sure what the right thing to do is, stop and think! Ask yourself the following six questions….
“Doing The Right Thing Personal Checklist”
1. What is my conscience (that little voice inside of your head) telling me to do?
2. Could my actions or lack of actions hurt anyone—including myself?
3. Is it fair?
4. Would it violate the Golden Rule? (How would I feel if somebody treated me the same way?)
5. How will I feel about myself later if I choose to do this?
6. What would adults I respect say about it? (Especially my mother.)
If you still can’t decide after asking yourself these questions, then talk about the situation with someone you respect and trust.
Remember…
Character is more than knowing what to do; it is doing what you know is right to do and having the courage to do it. -- Hodgin
DOING THE RIGHT THING WRITING ASSIGNMENT (Grade 4-12)
Have students try out these writing assignments (or verbally share) as an exercise in learning about good character skills.
· Pretend you are giving a speech on the topic “It’s never OK to do the wrong thing.” Write at least four reasons to support the statement for your speech.
· Write about a time when someone tried to get you to do something that you knew was wrong. What did you say or do? How did you know whether it was right or wrong?
· Write about someone you admire for doing the right thing at the right time in a difficult situation. Describe what you admire about this person.
· Write at least five things you can say to yourself when you are tempted to do something wrong. Post them near your bed, desk, or some other place where you can see them when you need to or want to.
· Write about a time when someone helped you to do the right thing.
· Write about a time when you saw some students doing something dishonest or illegal. What did you do? What could you have done?
Have students to suggest other writing topics.
RESPECT/RESPONSIBILITY (Grades K-3)
By brainstorming and setting classroom rules, students will be able to identify and display acceptable classroom behavior.
· Ask students to tell you what they do not want to have happen to them at school and write their comments on the board.
· Group these comments into general categories as you write, and ask students how these happenings can be prevented. For example, if the idea is that they do not want to be hit at school, what rules need to be followed” The answer will be “no hitting or fighting.”
· Depending on the age and attention span of the class, use more than one class discussion time to come up with a list of classroom rules.
· Explain and give examples of what it means to be respectful and responsible.
· Discuss consequences for several different situations in which one or more of the classroom rule are violated.
· Post the rules in a prominent place, and refer to them throughout the school year.
-- The Master Teacher
“TEACHER’S CHARACTER EDUCATION BULLETIN BOARD CHALLENGE”
The first 50 teachers who email me directly and say that they will have a “character themed” bulletin board in their classroom or hallway by October 18 (Fall Break) are guaranteed one of the “New Character Rocks” long-sleeved T-shirts in January 2007. If you choose to do a bulletin board, please email me a picture of it with your name and school. Fifteen pictures will be randomly drawn and the 15 teachers will receive a New “Character Rocks” commemorative item.
You can use the “Lifeskills for Building Character,” “Character Rocks,” “Character Counts” or other character-based themes using your creativity. Have your students design it and put it up, if you wish.
All character education bulletin boards (with the teacher’s name and school), will be compiled and sent to the teachers who participate (for future ideas). Please consider this “Character Challenge.” Email me directly (don’t hit “reply”) your intent. Include name and school and say “Character BB.”
CHARACTER BUILDING SITES ONLINE
· www.charactercounts.org – The official CHARACTER COUNTS! Website.
· www.globalethics.org/dilemmas - Juicy ethical dilemmas for student to think about.
· www.wildgear.com/storeis - A collection of fables that teach universal moral lessons.
· www.statefarm.com/educate/twopage.htm - Thought, Word and Deed program.
“LIFE TOUCHING TEACHERS”
To be a “life touching” teacher is a special art.
You must have the skills, but it comes from the heart.
The “life touchers” give of themselves in all that they do
Teaching the content and character lifeskills too.
They make a difference; they seldom know how much.
But in special ways, the students’ lives they do touch.
They are examples for their students to see.
As they model respect for others and demonstrate dignity.
Yes, to be a “life touching” teacher is a special art.
You must have the skills, but it comes from the heart.
-- Hodgin
“Live so that when your children (and your students)
think of role models, fairness and integrity,
they think of YOU!
-- H. Jackson Brown