November 2007
C.A.R.(2)E.S. NEWSLETTER
(Creating A Respectful and Responsive Educational System)
Dr. Duane Hodgin, Assistant Superintendent for Educational Support Services
Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township
"National School District of Character"
November 22, 2007
(No. 3)
“Our character is a first and lasting impression”
Following are “Readings and Words of Wisdom” for you and to share with your students, family and others.
With Veteran’s Day recently commerated, and as a country music fan, I wrote this message using “Country Music songs”…
COUNTRY MUSIC: AMERICAN PATRIOTISM AND COURAGE
(Middle school and high school teachers can have students list pop songs with “good messages” and write their own message.)
Our military today consists of those men and women who have volunteered for the armed forces and another 350,000 citizen soldiers who make up the National Guard. The regular Armed Services and the National Guard are Heroes (Paul Overstreet) because they can be deployed at a moment’s notice to serve as an American Soldier (Toby Keith). For, it is only in America (Brooks & Dunne) that the citizen soldier and the regular Armed Services personnel willingly serve together as The Great Defender(Lee Greenwood) against injustice and tyranny around the world.
When the tragedy of 911 brought back memories of a day similar to the one 66 years ago at Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, it was the day America Cried (Alan Jackson). Contrary to the belief of the Taliban that Americans were On the Verge (Colin Page) of destruction, Americans Everywhere (Tim McGraw) knew that it was not The End of the World (Skeeter Davis) because even if You’re Going Through Hell (Randy Atkins), Life Goes On (Leanne Rimes).
Some Gave All (Billy Ray Cyrus) in their rescue efforts in which nearly 3000 Americans lost their lives in a terrorist attack on New York City and Washington, D.C. We still ask ourselves, Where Were You When the World Stop Turning?(Alan Jackson). And Have You Forgotten (Darryl Worley) the ultimate sacrifice that our New York City firemen, policemen and emergency rescue workers made, many of whom lost their own lives, in their attempts to rescue others in plumes of smoke and in a Ring of Fire (Johnny Cash). Years from now, many New Yorkers and others will say, I Was There When (Johnny Cash).
Prior to this horrific act of terrorism, Americans felt safe in their homeland. However, the new threat of global terrorism did not paralyze the American spirit; rather it inspired Patriotism and a sense of America Will Survive (Hank Williams, Jr.). Only in America (Brooks and Dunne) are there people of all races, ethnicities, and cultures who realize that You’ve Got to Stand for Something (Aaron Tippin), and this something is Courtesy of The Red, White & Blue (Toby Keith). This unprecedented attack on our homeland caused the military to take the Tiger by the Tail (Buck Owens) and make Osama Bin-Laden a Wanted Man (Johnny Cash).
It is true that some citizens, politicians and pundits may disagree on the purpose and present outcome of the recent war in Iraq, and constantly ask How Long (The Eagles) will the war last? However, it is our American fighting men and women who are proud to say that they were Born in the USA (John Mellencamp), and who, when called upon by their Commander-in-Chief, will defend our freedom and the freedom of others, around the world. They will leave their families and jobs for the call of duty, to mobilize anywhere in the world, at any time. Whatever shortcomings our nation might have, they can take comfort in that America Always Stands (Brooks and Dunne). God Bless the USA! (Lee Greenwood)
OLD GLORY
I am the flag of the United States of America. My name is Old Glory. I fly atop the world’s tallest buildings. I stand watch in America’s halls of justice. I fly majestically over institutions of learning. I stand guard with power in the world. Look up at me and see me.
I stand for peace, honor, truth and justice. I stand for freedom. I am confident. I am arrogant. I am proud. When I am flown with my fellow banners, my head is a little higher, my colors a little truer. I bow to no one! I am recognized all over the world. I am worshiped—I am saluted. I am loved and I am revered. I am respected—and I am feared.
I was flown at Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Shiloh and Appomattox. I was there at San Juan Hill, the trenches of France, in the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome, Guadalcanal, and the beaches of Normandy, Guam, Okinawa, Korea and KheSan, Saigon, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Afghanistan and Iraq.
Know me, I was there. I led my troops. I was dirty, battle worn and tired but my soldiers cheered me and I was proud. I have been soiled upon, burned, torn and trampled on the streets of countries I have helped set free. It does not hurt, for I am invincible.
I have been soiled upon, burned, torn and trampled on in the streets of my own country. And when it’s by those whom I’ve served in battle—it hurts. But I shall overcome, for I am strong.
I have slipped the bonds of Earth and stood watch over the uncharted frontiers of space from my vantage point on the moon. I have borne silent witness to all of America’s finest hours. But my finest hours are yet to come. When I am torn into strips and used as bandages for my wounded comrades on the battlefield, when I am flown at half-mast to honor my soldier, or when I lie in the trembling arms of a grieving parent at the grave of their fallen son or daughter, I am proud. MY NAME IS OLD GLORY, LONG MAY I WAVE!
SAY IT FROM YOUR HEART
Harold Kushner, best selling author of When Bad Things Happen To Good People, commented in a speech, “If you knew you were dying, what would your final words be? There is not one of us who would say, “I wish I had spent more time at work.” Our work may be a vital part of our lives, but in the end, what matters are family, people and relationships.
The reality is that most of us will never have the opportunity to deliver final words. Death is seldom that predictable. The fact is, the way we live our life, the choices we make, and our daily words and actions may be the final messages we send to our loved ones. So if there’s something you should say—expressing your love or gratitude or maybe regret for things you did or failed to do, about rifts in the relationship—say it now and say it from your heart. It will be remembered!
-- Michael Josephson
TEN LIFE LESSONS WORTH REMEMBERING
1. The strength of character.
2. The power of kindness.
3. The influence of example.
4. The joy of giving.
5. The success of perseverance.
6. The virtue of patience.
7. The obligation of duty.
8. The wisdom of listening.
9. The improvement of self.
10. The opportunity to make a difference for others.
THE BRIDGE
An old man, going a lone highway,
Came at evening, cold and gray,
To a chasm, vast, deep and wide,
Through which was flowing a quickening tide.
The old man crossed in the twilight dim;
The raging stream had no fears for him;
But he turned when safe on the other side
And built a bridge to span the tide.
“Old man,” said a fellow traveler near,
“You are wasting strength with building here;
Your journey will end with the ending day;
You never again must pass this way;
You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide,
Why build you the bridge at eventide?”
The builder lifted his old gray head;
“Good friend, in the path that I have come,” he said,
“There follows after me today
A youth whose feet must pass this way
This chasm that has been no problem to me
To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be.
He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;
Good friend, I am building the bridge for him.”
-- Will Allen Droomgoole
(Are we “building bridges” for our students?)
If you would like a new “Character Rocks” writing pen, email me directly (DO NOT HIT “REPLY”) and 30 colleagues will be sent one. Email me with your name, school and “CRWP.”
THE WORLD NEEDS PEOPLE
The world needs people…
…who put character above all else.
…who cannot be bought.
…whose word is their bond.
…who strive to make a difference for others.
…who will be as honest in small things as in great things.
…who will make no compromise with what is wrong.
…who will not say, “because everybody else does it.”
…who are true to their friends through adversity as well as in prosperity.
…who are not afraid to stand for the truth and for what is right because it is the right thing to do.
THE DONKEY IN THE WELL
One day a farmer’s donkey fell down a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn’t worth it to retrieve the donkey. He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well.
At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone’s amazement, he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer’s neighbors continued to shovel dirt on the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off!
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles can be a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest well just by not stopping and never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up!
-- Anonymous
FTTLA (Funny Things To Laugh About)
· According to a recent study, five out of four people have trouble with fractions.
· If it’s true we are here to help others, then what exactly are the others here for?
· Did you ever notice that no one says, “It’s only a game,” when their team is winning?
· Ever wonder what the speed of lightning would be if it didn’t zigzag?
· If ignorance is bliss, why aren’t more people happy?
· If you can’t be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.
· To vacillate or not to vacillate, that is the question…or is it?
“No change in circumstances can repair a defect in character.”
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson (Emerson’s Essay on Character)