Character Counts!

By:Elle Parsons and Mackenzie Quartly

Learning Targets• History of Character Counts Coalition • Mission Statement• Six Pillars of Character• Implementation and Resources• Professional Development• Conclusion

History of Josephson Institute

• Developed in 1987• Founder: Michael Josephson

• Josephson Institute

• Josephson Institute has conducted programs for leaders, school administrators, journalists, and corporate officials

History of Character Counts Coalition

• Developed in 1992• Founded due to the Josephson Institute

who hosted a group of experts in ethics and character education.

• Developed ‘Aspen Declaration on Character Education’ which has been re-named ‘Six Pillars of Character’

• To advance the Six Pillars Josephson Institute launched Character Counts!

Mission Statement“ To improve the ethical quality of society by changing personal and organizational

decision making and behavior.”• Achieve social and emotional learning goals• Improve academics• Focus classroom management skills• Reduce incidents of bullying, and much

more

Six Pillars Overview• Not affiliated with any religious,

cultural or political groups• Based on 6 ethical values that

everyone can agree upon• Trustworthiness• Respect• Responsibility• Fairness• Caring • Citizenship

Trustworthiness• Be honest• Don’t deceive, cheat or steal• Be reliable, do what you say you’ll do• Have the courage to do the right thing• Build a good reputation• Be loyal, stand by your family friends

and country

Respect• Treat others with respect, follow the

golden rule• Be tolerant and accepting of differences • Use good manners, not bad language • Be considerate of the feelings of others • Don’t threaten, hit or hurt anyone • Deal peacefully with anger, insults, and

disagreements

Responsibility• Do what you are supposed to do • Plan ahead • Persevere: keep on trying! • Always do your best • Use self-control• Be self-disciplined • Think before you act — consider the consequences • Be accountable for your words, actions, and attitudes • Set a good example for others

Fairness• Play by the rules • Take turns and share • Be open-minded; listen to others • Don’t take advantage of others • Don’t blame others carelessly • Treat all people fairly

Caring• Be kind • Be compassionate and show you care • Express gratitude • Forgive others • Help people in need

Citizenship• Do your share to make your school and community

better • Cooperate • Get involved in community affairs • Stay informed; vote • Be a good neighbor • Obey laws and rules • Respect authority • Protect the environment • Volunteer

Six Pillars MnemonicHelp young people remember the Pillars by using these creative

devices. COLOR SCHEME

• Trustworthiness : blueThink "true blue"Respect : yellow/goldThink the Golden RuleResponsibility : greenThink being responsible for a garden or finances; or as in being solid and reliable like an oakFairness : orangeThink of dividing an orange into equal sections to share fairly with friendsCaring : redThink of a heartCitizenship : purpleThink regal purple as representing the state

Implementing Six Pillars

• Teachers or key staff members attend training• Implemented through a variety of:

• Lesson plans• Support materials• Curricular integration models

• Designed to integrate into current curriculums• Not a stand alone program• Free and for purchase materials and lesson

plans online

Professional Development

• $825 for enrollment in a 3-day training• Trainings currently held in California,

Illinois, and Arizona• Free webinar weekly with varying

topics

Conclusion - Strengths

• If purchased the lessons are prepared for you

• Lessons are short• Opportunity to embed Six Pillars into

preexisting curriculum• Can appeal to many because it isn’t

affiliated with other groups

Conclusion – Weaknesses

• Geared toward children but some sub-topics are advanced

• Expensive to implement• Difficult to research without going to

the 3-day training

Discussion Questions• How do you feel about the chosen ‘Six Pillars of

Character?’ • Does it fit most school models?

• Anything that you would add? Eliminate?• Any other strengths or weaknesses that stood

out to you?• If you could only teach one Pillar, which would

you choose? Why?

Resources• Character Counts Coalition Website

• http://charactercounts.org/