THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 18, 1996 TAG: 9601160095
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Jon Glass
LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
At the School Board's summer retreat last August, member Robert Williams proposed teaching children about the importance of character.
Many kids in today's society, he said, are ``ethically illiterate,'' borrowing a phrase coined by Thomas Lickona in his 1991 book ``Educating For Character: How Our Schools Can Teach Respect and Responsibility.''
Hoping to avoid the controversy that has plagued many efforts to teach kids about such values, the board has moved slowly.
Last week, school officials took the unusual step of publicly soliciting volunteers to serve on a Character Education Committee. The panel's task would be to identify community values and citizenship traits that should be part of the city schools' curriculum.
Those interested will first be required to write a paragraph of 100 words or less describing why they want to serve on the committee. The goal is to get a mix of community leaders, including representatives from religion, business and education.
People should submit a letter of application with their name, address, telephone number, occupation and the paragraph to Gloria P. Hagans, senior coordinator of social studies education, School Administration Building, Norfolk, 23510, no later than today.
Questions can be addressed to Hagans at 441-2616. Special ed help offered
A free course to help parents of disabled children maneuver the maze of rules and bureaucracy of special education will be held Tuesday and Wednesday.
The seven-hour course, ``Understanding Special Education,'' will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the parent resource center at Meadowbrook School, on the corner of Hampton Boulevard and West Little Creek Road.
Space is limited. Parents can register by calling 441-2970. Child care and transportation are available if needed.
In addition, parents are invited to participate in the monthly meetings of the city schools' Special Education Advisory Committee. The panel meets at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month on the 8th-floor conference room of the downtown school administration building.
For more information call Kitty Mann at 440-6266. by CNB