Character

The Education of Our Students’ Character

Character is EVERYTHING I Say and Do That Show How Much I Care (Value) About Me and You!

We know that families have the primary responsibility for teaching character, and we are not trying to replace the role of the family in a child’s life. Our school system, like many others across the country, is responding to the community’s renewed interest in developing positive character traits in our young people.

After extensive public involvement, the School Board of Broward County, Florida has adopted eight character traits that will be infused throughout our curriculum and student activities: Cooperation (September), Responsibility (October), Citizenship (November), Kindness (December), Respect (January), Honesty (February), Self-control (March), Tolerance (April).

Just look at today’s culture and it’s obvious that one of the best ways to influence a child’s behavior is through an adult role model. That is a key part of this new initiative – having respected adults model good character. When students, staff and community members model these traits, it is easier to provide quality education in a safe and secure learning environment.

Florida K-12 Education Code 1003.42(2)(s)

(2) Members of the instructional staff of the public schools, subject to the rules of the State Board of Education and the district school board, shall teach efficiently and faithfully, using the books and materials required, following the prescribed courses of study, and employing approved methods of instruction, the following:

(q) A character-development program in the elementary schools, similar to Character First or Character Counts, which is secular in nature and stresses such character qualities as attentiveness, patience, and initiative. Beginning in school year 2004-2005, the character-development program shall be required in kindergarten through grade 12. Each district school board shall develop or adopt a curriculum for the character-development program that shall be submitted to the department for approval. The character-development curriculum shall stress the qualities of patriotism, responsibility, citizenship, kindness, respect, honesty, self-control, tolerance, and cooperation.

The School Board of Broward County Policy 6000.1 Student Progression Plan

Character education: The character education traits that shall be integrated into the Pre K-12 curriculums are respect, honesty, responsibility, self-control, tolerance, kindness, citizenship and cooperation. (F.S. 1003.42(2)(s)

Grant

BUILDING CHARACTER – ACROSS THE CURRICULUM AND BEYOND There’s not a spot where CHARACTER is not! In August 2006, Broward School’s Character Education Department was one of only 36 projects nationwide to receive a 4 year, $1,408,635 research grant entitled, Character Across the Curriculum and Beyond. The purpose of the Character Across the Curriculum and Beyond program is to design and implement an enhanced character education curriculum at the middle school level.  The program will assist school staff, at 8 randomly selected Broward County schools, in integrating the current “Character –The Core of Our Lives” curriculum into classroom instruction; align the Character Education (CE) curriculum to be consistent with Sunshine State Standards; and ensure that all are carried out in conjunction with Middle School Reform Efforts and the 7 correlates of effective learning.  This enhanced CE program will also address and enhance student, parent and community involvement in the character education efforts. “Character – The Core of Our Lives”, 8 Character Traits After extensive public involvement, the School Board of Broward County, Florida has adopted 8 character traits that are infused throughout our curriculum and student activities.  We at the Office of Prevention know that character is at the core of who we are as individuals, and enhancing our character will in turn, enhance our health and well being, helping to prevent violence and substance abuse.  The 8 essential core character traits that we work to enhance in our District are:

  1. COOPERATION (September): Working with others to accomplish a common goal.
  2. RESPONSIBILITY (October): Meeting obligations by being reliable, accountable, and dependable to self and others.
  3. CITIZENSHIP (November): Knowing, understanding, and displaying a high regard for rules, government, heritage, and for those who have served and sacrificed for community and country.
  4. KINDNESS (December): Being helpful, thoughtful, caring, compassionate, and considerate.
  5. RESPECT (January): Showing consideration, understanding, and regard for people, places and things.
  6. HONESTY (February): Being truthful, trustworthy, and sincere.
  7. SELF-CONTROL (March): Having discipline over one’s behavior and actions.
  8. TOLERANCE (April): Recognizing and respecting the differences, values, and beliefs of other people.