| Students at Robert E. Howard Middle School know what it means when they hear part of the song “So Fresh and So Clean” played over the intercom.
It’s the introduction to another daily lesson in applying character education to their lives. The children are encouraged to make a “fresh start with a clean slate.”
The lessons, obtained from Texas-based Project Wisdom, all end with a challenge: “Make it a great day ... or not. The choice is yours.”
In addition to the lesson over the intercom, each day after lunch, students participate in a character education activity that requires them to read, think and respond to issues involving personal application of character education qualities.
Guidance counselors Linda Clark and Beverly Holiday are writing the activity plans. It’s just like being a teacher doing your lesson plans, Clark said.
The activities benefit students by enhancing their writing skills and giving them an opportunity to discuss concerns or issues at school, at home and in the community, they said.
And the activities give teachers a holistic approach to “knowing the students,” they added.
Holiday said the “best part” of the character education effort at Howard is the fact that it’s built into the schedule. That underscores the commitment of the principal, Jacob Gillens, Sr., to character education.
Goals are to build character, to encourage self-esteem, to motivate students to do their personal best, to build community, to honor diversity, and to inspire students to contribute to the world around them.
Although it’s still a little early to be drawing conclusions about the effort’s effectiveness, Clark and Holiday have some evidence that students are paying attention.
Often someone who complains about another student will describe the offending behavior as an infraction of a character trait that has been taught, they said.
If a teacher happens to forget to give the character lesson, the guidance counselors said they are likely to hear about it from the children. “They look forward to it,” Holiday said.
Community of Character Section
Article by: Lee Hendren of The T&D, dated 9/10/01
Photo by Anne Tindall, Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5
Sheriff Larry Williams visited an English Class at Robert E. Howard Middle School and discussed the importance of character and how it affects their lives now and in the future. He also read the book, “Testing Miss Malarkey” to the class.
Students at Robert E. Howard Middle School know what it means when they hear part of the song “So Fresh and So Clean” played over the intercom.
It’s the introduction to another daily lesson in applying character education to their lives. The children are encouraged to make a “fresh start with a clean slate.”
The lessons, obtained from Texas-based Project Wisdom, all end with a challenge: “Make it a great day ... or not. The choice is yours.”
In addition to the lesson over the intercom, each day after lunch, students participate in a character education activity that requires them to read, think and respond to issues involving personal application of character education qualities.
Guidance counselors Linda Clark and Beverly Holiday are writing the activity plans. It’s just like being a teacher doing your lesson plans, Clark said.
The activities benefit students by enhancing their writing skills and giving them an opportunity to discuss concerns or issues at school, at home and in the community, they said.
And the activities give teachers a holistic approach to “knowing the students,” they added.
Holiday said the “best part” of the character education effort at Howard is the fact that it’s built into the schedule. That underscores the commitment of the principal, Jacob Gillens, Sr., to character education.
Goals are to build character, to encourage self-esteem, to motivate students to do their personal best, to build community, to honor diversity, and to inspire students to contribute to the world around them.
Although it’s still a little early to be drawing conclusions about the effort’s effectiveness, Clark and Holiday have some evidence that students are paying attention.
Often someone who complains about another student will describe the offending behavior as an infraction of a character trait that has been taught, they said.
If a teacher happens to forget to give the character lesson, the guidance counselors said they are likely to hear about it from the children. “They look forward to it,” Holiday said.
Community of Character Section
Article by: Lee Hendren of The T&D, dated 9/10/01
Photo by Anne Tindall, Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5
Sheriff Larry Williams visited an English Class at Robert E. Howard Middle School and discussed the importance of character and how it affects their lives now and in the future. He also read the book, “Testing Miss Malarkey” to the class.
Students at Robert E. Howard Middle School know what it means when they hear part of the song “So Fresh and So Clean” played over the intercom.
It’s the introduction to another daily lesson in applying character education to their lives. The children are encouraged to make a “fresh start with a clean slate.”
The lessons, obtained from Texas-based Project Wisdom, all end with a challenge: “Make it a great day ... or not. The choice is yours.”
In addition to the lesson over the intercom, each day after lunch, students participate in a character education activity that requires them to read, think and respond to issues involving personal application of character education qualities.
Guidance counselors Linda Clark and Beverly Holiday are writing the activity plans. It’s just like being a teacher doing your lesson plans, Clark said.
The activities benefit students by enhancing their writing skills and giving them an opportunity to discuss concerns or issues at school, at home and in the community, they said.
And the activities give teachers a holistic approach to “knowing the students,” they added.
Holiday said the “best part” of the character education effort at Howard is the fact that it’s built into the schedule. That underscores the commitment of the principal, Jacob Gillens, Sr., to character education.
Goals are to build character, to encourage self-esteem, to motivate students to do their personal best, to build community, to honor diversity, and to inspire students to contribute to the world around them.
Although it’s still a little early to be drawing conclusions about the effort’s effectiveness, Clark and Holiday have some evidence that students are paying attention.
Often someone who complains about another student will describe the offending behavior as an infraction of a character trait that has been taught, they said.
If a teacher happens to forget to give the character lesson, the guidance counselors said they are likely to hear about it from the children. “They look forward to it,” Holiday said.
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