THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, May 11, 1996 TAG: 9605110004
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 40 lines
It's a sad day when a committee must study ways to teach good character to schoolchildren. But that day has come in the Norfolk public schools.
In this system of 36,000 students, many live in broken homes or in poverty - 60 percent to 70 percent qualify for free or reduced-price lunches - where character-building hasn't been a priority. Poverty isn't synonymous with bad character, of course, but it does create added strain.
Last fall, school administrators decided that many children were not being taught the basics of honesty, hard work, manners and kindness at home. The School Board established a broad-based committee of 30 citizens to draw up incontrovertible character traits that all students need in order to be constructive members of the community. These traits include: respect, honesty, responsibility, work ethic, courage, self-discipline, tolerance, compassion, citizenship, manners, perseverance, integrity, altruism, trustworthiness, hospitality and patience.
The School Board, in establishing this committee, never envisioned a separate character curriculum. It wanted to incorporate character development into all facets of school life.
On Monday at 7 p.m., Lafayette-Winona Middle School citizens can tell the School Board what they think of the 16 points that will make up the new Norfolk character-education regimen.
Educators will decide how to implement the character-development plan. But it seems certain that all school employees - teachers, custodians and bus drivers - will need to be reminded that they are character models for students and conduct themselves accordingly.
Parents, too, should remember that as well-intentioned as this program is, there really is no substitute for instilling good character at home. by CNB