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Welcome to Connecticut’s Laws of Life Essay Program
Connecticut’s Laws of Life essay program offers a great opportunity for students in grades 5–12 to think, reflect, discuss with peers and adults and then write about their core values, principles and ideals that will guide them throughout their lives. Laws of Life is a student writing and character development project that supports writing practice for CT Mastery and CAPT testing.
Connecticut Laws of Life finalists celebrate together on
May 4, 2011.
The Connecticut Laws of Life program concludes each year with an award program for the writers, their teachers and family at SEE’s spring Character Celebration.
To register for Connecticut’s 2011-2012 Laws of Life Essay Program (click here for PDF version) or see the links following this text.
Laws of Life is a non-sectarian, academic activity that typically identifies universal ethical principles and laws of life such as – love, service, perseverance, honesty, respect and courage. These values are recognized to be life affirming, support positive citizenship and transcend religion, culture and national borders.
The School for Ethical Education has been administering the Laws of Life essay program in Connecticut since 2000. Public and non-public school participants have recognized the great value in having students write from the heart to identify their laws of life. The program was established by Sir John Templeton in 1987. With the support of the Templeton Foundation, a national Laws of Life essay program has been facilitated as an effective writing and character-building activity with students participating from nations around the world.
Benefits of Laws of Life Participation
- Provides students the opportunity to write, reflect and discuss their values with peers, teachers, parents and others
- Motivates students to “write from the heart” to produce excellent narratives
- Integrates the writing process with effective character education
- Encourages schools to obtain community support to recognize student writing
- Provides schools a positive opportunity to recognize students’ values
- Promotes a sense of positive community within the classroom
- Prepares students for writing process on standardized tests (in CT, the CMT and CAPT)
- Fits easily into any writing curriculum (Language Arts/English, History, Social Studies, Health)
- Encourages students of all writing ability to participate
- Provides lesson outlines to prompt Laws of Life essays from literature assignments
During the 2010-11 school year, approximately 2,500 writers participated in the Laws of Life essay program. On May 4, 2011 over 100 guests celebrated with the Laws of Life essayists in New Haven, Connecticut. The evening theme was a "Character Celebration!" as SEE celebrated the 11th year of the Laws of Life essay program.
Connecticut's ten essay finalists, family members, teachers and statewide judges were invited to participate in the celebration. Two students volunteered to read their essays. One essayist focused on the importance of integrity while the second paid tribute to an older classmate who had passed away but had demonstrated kindness and respect during his life. All of the students' essays were published in the Celebration's program. To have your students participate in the next Laws of Life program, complete the Registration Form and return to The School for Ethical Education by email at or mail or fax using the address or number on the registration form.
Further Program Information
2011-2012 Program:
General Information:
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Laws of Life has been approved for implementation in Connecticut schools by Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS) and endorsed by National School Boards Association and is on the National Association of Secondary School Principals’ National Advisory List of Student Contests and Activities.
Laws of Life is an excellent opportunity to advance ethics in action, and SEE is grateful for support from Wright Investors’ Service and other private donors.
SEE is a non-sectarian 501(c)3 education organization that obtains most of its financial support from public and foundation grants, fees for services, and gifts from Wright Investors' Service of Milford, Conn. SEE is not affiliated with any religious organization and does not espouse or represent any specific religious belief.
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