JAMES MONROE
TIGER TALK NEWSLETTER

Summer is just around the corner and our students will have completed another year of their education. As our students grow they will be bombarded by the media reports of executives taking advantage of stockholders, government officials involved in scandals, sports figures who have been indicted for criminal activities, and film and music stars who use sexually explicit words and actions in their music and movies.

Through it all, we ask our students to do the right thing and think of the needs of others, to use good judgment and to be of good character. But character and the establishment of values is not something people are born with, it is something that is taught.

Historically, education has had two goals. The first goal is to help people become productive citizens of the United States ; the second goal is to help people to become better citizens. To this end, schools have embarked on the road of character education.

Character education helps take the knowledge of what is good and the desire to do what is good and put it into action - in other words to do what is good. A character education bridge is then formed from knowledge to action.

Character education within the schools is done in a variety of ways. Teachers and staff members support positive social behavior and correct hurtful actions. Rules and consequences are enforced to foster moral reasoning, voluntary compliance with rules and respect for others. Our morning announcements include the Words of Wisdom.

Character education also takes place outside of the confines of the school building. The role a student's family plays in character education is extremely important. Families shape the values of their students. Families can help students take their own character building seriously.

Families can help students acquire the power of discernment - including the ability to judge the truth, the worth, and the bias of what is presented on the television, the Internet, and the radio. They can impress that being a good student means more than academic success it also means being a high quality person who cares about the needs of others. Students must understand that they have a moral responsibility to work hard in school. Prohibit students from being unkind or from using others as scapegoats. Make every effort to instill a strong and positive work ethic in your student.

Use the language of virtue with your student - responsibility, respect, integrity, and teach them to use this language. Remind students that character building is not easy nor is it a one-time project.

Remember that while students are enjoying their summer vacation, doing what is right may not be easy, but with the support of family, students can be given the tools to determine what is good, to desire what is good, and to do what is good. C haracter isn't just what we think; it's also what we do. Have some opportunities for your student to apply good character. As Aristotle said, "when we do good things we become good people" so shaping our character is the work of a lifetime.

Bonnie Kaufman

Assistant Principal