THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 18, 1996 TAG: 9609180508
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PHYLLIS SPEIDELL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: 68 lines
Turning broad, often vague, concepts of character education into common-sense ways to foster respectful, responsible kids is a specialty of Philip Fitch Vincent.
On Friday, he will lead a series of forums - including one for parents and educators from throughout the city - at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy.
Vincent is founder of the Character Development Group in Chapel Hill, N.C. It is a resource for communities struggling to put formal character education programs into their schools.
Across the country, 39 states have mandated or recommended that local school districts refocus on character and development of students into good citizens, said Dixon Smith, operations manager of the Character Development Group.
Character education promotes behavior, traits or values important for people to get along and contribute to a better society. They include respect, responsibility, work ethic and kindness. In Hampton Roads:
Norfolk has adopted a character education program built around 16 traits determined by a committee of parents, students, community leaders and educatiors.
Portsmouth has approved a plan to begin systemwide character education during the second semester of 1996-97.
Although Suffolk public schools were invited to participate in the N-SA forums, it declined because it is just in the beginning phases of a formal program. One of the School Board's goals this year is to establish a community-based committee to determine which character traits should be emphasized.
Virginia Beach also has a goal of determining whether it should have a formal character education program.
Chesapeake has no structured, ongoing program, but it will devote one week in October to values discussions.
Nansemond-Suffolk Academy has included character education informally in the classroom for years.
``But recently it has evolved into something a little more formal and specific,'' said Nancy Russell, headmaster of the lower schools. ``This is not the outgrowth of any problems but a part of our effort to educate the whole child.''
Honesty, part of the school's honor code, is the virtue of the month for September at the academy, where students will focus on a specific virtue each month. Follow-up materials will be sent to parents for reinforcement of the program's character values.
Vincent, who has taught at every level from kindergarten to post-graduate, is also the former director of middle schools in Catawba County, N.C. He has written 20 books on ethics for young people and, more recently, on character education and a systematic approach for putting it into place.
Vincent is finishing up a 20-day, cross-country speaking tour with his appearance in Suffolk.
Academy students from the sixth grade and above will have their own forums with Vincent.
``This is not a case of us and them. The students are included because we are all in this community together,'' Russell said. ``We want the students to see how they can help themselves grow in this way, and we will have classroom activities to follow up on the lecturer.''
Vincent also will conduct a special workshop for the academy faculty. ILLUSTRATION: GROUP FOUNDER
Who: Philip F. Vincent
What: Character education forum
When: 10 a.m. Friday
Where: Nansemond-Suffolk Academy cafetorium, 3373 Pruden Blvd.
Call: 539-8789 by CNB