Schools reward good character
A card in the pocket reminds students at Palo Verde Middle School in Phoenix that being kind, respectful and responsible - in other words, demonstrating outstanding character at school - leads to rewards. And what reward motivates students to be accountable and helpful?
According to Mike Scantlin, a social-studies, government and history teacher at Washington Elementary School District's largest middle school, an extra 90 minutes of playing soccer, basketball or flag football or listening to music.
"The kids consciously know they can be rewarded for staying on task, raising their hand, turning in their homework," Scantlin said. "They make more of an effort because they want to go play soccer. Do we always have to entice them to get them to participate? No. But that's a really strong motivator."
This month, the Arizona Character Education Foundation celebrates 10 years of helping youths lead lives that reflect the six pillars of character: trustworthiness, fairness, respect, responsibility, caring and dedication to citizenship. Ten years of training teachers, youth-organization leaders and parents how to incorporate positive character traits into a variety of lessons.
Since 2000, the non-profit foundation has distributed free character-education materials to more than 900 schools in Arizona.
"Without character, even if you're an A-plus student, how are you supposed to keep a job?" said Joan Walther, a retired teacher and director of ACEF. "You need good character to get through life."
Madison Traditional Academy in Phoenix has taught character education all three years the school has been in existence. Each month, students focus on a different trait, said Pamela Kelly, mother of an MTA first-grader and third-grader and Madison Elementary School District governing board president.
"If you teach it to them now, they're not going to think twice about it when they're older," Kelly said. "Being more respectful at the bus stop. Using better language. Even if it's just little things, it adds up. They feel good about who they are."
This is Palo Verde's first year to implement Character Counts!, a free, national character-education program endorsed by the ACEF, Scantlin said. Students get a daily character lesson in homeroom and throughout the day in a variety of subject lessons.
Infractions and positive behaviors are recorded on the student's cards.
"I've been at this school for 23 years," Scantlin said. "We've done self-esteem programs, drug-prevention programs. What's nice about Character Counts! is you can tie it into what you're actually teaching."
Scantlin said at the first reward day of the year, approximately 400 of the school's 1,056 students qualified for the hour and a half of free play. He's sold on the positive benefits of the program.
"The benefit is we've cut down on our referrals to the office for the first quarter," Scantlin said. "Teachers can focus more on curriculum instead of worrying about discipline."