Lebanon Students Get the
Scoop!
On Character Education
"Character
Counts! Get the Scoop!" was a kick-off
event for character education on Saturday,
October 4, 1997 for the Lebanon School District
in central Connecticut. Hosted by the
district’s Character Committee, the event
was held at Lyman Memorial High School where
about 800 participants were introduced to the Six
Pillars of Character:
Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility,
Fairness, Caring and Citizenship. Free ice cream
and balloons were given to participants who
visited all six pillars of character. A member of
a local organization which supports character
development activities represented each character
pillar. Ellen Turner, an elementary school
art teacher and chair of the district committee,
attributed the success of "Get the
Scoop!" to the voluntary participation of
dozens of district staff, students and community
members.
Character
education has been a part of the Lebanon District
for two years. "Get the Scoop!" was
planned as a broader introduction to character
education for the community. During "Get the
Scoop!", community representatives, students
and teachers featured their activities
highlighting the six pillars as part of the
community-wide Character Counts! program.
Middle and high
school students assisted the event’s
featured speaker, Dr. David Wangaard, in a
brief skit which introduced the role of modern
character education in public schools. Elementary
and middle school students displayed artwork and
entertained participants with songs. High school
students volunteered in many important ways
including scooping the free ice cream!
Following
"Get the Scoop!", the elementary
schools’ Character Celebrations highlight
a different pillar of character every three
months. Students prepare skits and songs to model
the featured pillar of character. At the middle
school, "Get the Scoop!" inspired a
series of school get-togethers highlighting
specific character traits. "Top Cat"
tee shirts (a spin-off of the school logo,
"Panther Pride") are presented to
outstanding students of character. At Lyman
Memorial High School, "Get the Scoop!"
promoted school citizenship through student
activities and senior-year projects. Recently the
Human Rights Commission for the State of
Connecticut presented Lyman senior, Lorna
Varney, with the Roger Sherman Award for
Community Service "for service and
leadership of the future."
"Get the
Scoop!" enhanced community awareness and
increased district-wide support for character
education in the Lebanon Schools. SEE
applauds Ellen Turner and coworkers for keeping
their "ethics in action" in the
promotion of character.
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