Character Education in the High School

Students at Brookfield High School are beginning to learn the values connected to their new character education prograrn.

Carole Smith, Teacher of English at Brookfield, spoke of the steps taken to begin this program at the high school level.

"Every person," she said, "is on a personal journey and growing as a result of the journey."

To make character education work in any environment, everyone must be involved. It is imperative that the staff seriously embraces character education. To ensure the commitment of the educators, a vote was taken to determine if this undertaking would be accepted. 90% of staff voted overwhelmingly to start the program at the beginning of the second marking period, January 27.

Ms. Smith formed a committee of staff volunteers interested in working on the formation of the program. This committee made binders for faculty listing activities for various value traits. As all are feeling their way, part of the introduction to students was to be done in the same way, on the same days. To fully coordinate the program, Ms. Smith urged everyone to become a part of what was done. It is obvious that cooperation is paramount. It would be impossible to implement character education for students if staff members weren't seen as models.

With a student population of over 750, it is hoped that all will choose to participate in activities that take place once every six days for 20 minutes during "Mentor Homeroom.'

Homeroom teachers remain the same during all the years of high school, so a freshman will spend four years with his or her character education teacher. Colored folders to hold information shared lend an atmosphere of the unusual for the students. Titled Character Counts at BHS, the folders promise to bulge at the end of a student's high school career as excitement grows over the unlimited discussion youth of this age can garner.

Student committees were formed to encourage and work toward reinforcing positive behavior. They decided as a group to focus on respect.

Project Respect

The idea of this project is to show respect for self and others; to 'Give Respect-Get Respect.' This is a simple, non threatening way to start educating youth on how to demonstrate good character. Students and faculty are urged to stop and think before they act.

Forming a contest to promote Project Respect resulted in a student designed black and white button resembling a flower that says, Give RespectGet Respect. The school had 1,000 buttons made. Although the goal is for every student and faculty member at BHS to have a button, the only way to get one is to earn it. Students nominate staff who demonstrate respect, and staff nominate students exhibiting this characteristic. Buttons are sported on backpacks and lapels. The school newsletter and local newspaper publish button recipient's names for further recognition.

The Little Touches

Ms. Smith encourages others to "Take it slow, at first. We want to make sure that what we do gets done well. It's a different way of looking at the world for all of us. It will take awhile before it works for all of us."

It's the little touches that slowly bring character-education into the daily lives of children. Those little touches also help solidify the professional and personal steps staff must take as they recognize that, "We're all in this together."

Carole Smith and her committee sent a letter to parents asking for support of this program. Parents and community are encouraged to get involved. 75 district members of the Brookfield PTO were addressed by Mr. Gary Fitzherbert, Executive Director of Devereux Glenholme, at a Character Education Workshop on March 20, hosted by Brookfield High School.

Character education must be adapted to one's own school. Once the needs are identified, implementing the values of character to the students and staff will be a slow yet steady process toward the certain knowledge of what is right and what is wrong. It's tough. It's necessary. It must be done. It can be done.

Ms. Smith spoke of personal growth. We are all "feeling our way" as we work together toward the future success of a generation raised knowing and living positive values.