Goodrich-For high school seniors Rachel Bunting and Danielle Bernard, education is not only about getting good grades, but also about building good character.
Bunting and Bernard are both products of a school system that emphasizes ‘character education? as part of the curriculum.
After the Goodrich School District was recently awarded a state grant of up to $13,500 per year for four years for the purpose of character education, Goodrich students are taught principles of ethics in addition to their traditional education.
Both Bunting and Bernard are members of the National Honor Society, which participates in character education in ways that include a ‘buddy letter program.? In the program, NHS members are paired with third and fourth graders with whom they exchange letters and eventually meet. The letters are motivational in nature, and are meant to mentor the younger kids and inspire them to want to do well in school as well as in life.
‘I think it has a positive effect on elementary students,? said Bunting. ‘They seem to really look up to their buddy.?
Bernard agreed.
‘I like (character education in the school) a lot. With the buddy letter program, the elementary school kids really do get excited about it, they really do look up to us,? said Bernard.
‘We tell them the brighter side of high school life,? said Bunting. ‘It feels really rewarding, because being in NHS, it means you’re a good student. It may inspire them to do better.?
Brian Walton, special services director for Goodrich Schools, explained the grant is distributed through reimbursement to a consortium of 10 school districts.
‘It’s going to be for different things in different school districts,? said Walton, adding the money can be used for the likes of anti-bullying programs, or instruction in the way of decision-making skills.
Walton expects the Goodrich program to have common themes from kindergarten through graduation, with emphasis placed on being trustworthy and caring as well as having respect and appreciating civic virtue.
According to www.emc.cmich.edu, character education is defined by the Character Education Partnership as ‘the deliberate effort by schools, families, and communities to help young people understand, care about, and act upon core ethical values.?
‘Any emphasis we can provide in the area of character education is beneficial for our students,? said superintendent Kimberly Hart. ‘Our children will face so many choices, all based on character.?
Hart said character education was a part of the curriculum in Goodrich Area Schools even prior to receiving the grant money.
‘It’s been a part of our schools for at least ten years,? said Hart. ‘The grant will enhance what we already do.?
Sally Dickinson, sponsor of the character education program at the high school, said she feels character education is an instrumental part of the curriculum for area students.
‘I think it’s very important,? said Dickinson. ‘Especially in today’s world where (students) have so many pressures.?
‘The character education program itself is designed to get kids to do the right things,? explained Dickinson, adding a ‘student of the week? program has been implemented as part of the program, to reward positive behavior.
?’Student of the Week? is just to recognize kids for doing good things,? said Dickinson.
Students awarded as ‘student of the week? receive the Kayla O’Mara Citizenship Award, their picture and name posted for recognition and a certificate honoring them, Dickinson said.
‘I think it’s somewhat effective, because I know a lot of people who do want to be nominated (as student of the week),? said Bunting.
However, added Bunting, she thinks more could be done. Both Bunting and Bernard said programs like Students Against Drunk Driving (S.A.D.D.) would be beneficial in addition to the character education, for helping students make responsible decisions.
And though the students agreed the program could be expanded, they both said efforts at the school were a good start, teaching them to look within themselves when faced with pressures from the outside world.
‘I think most of us can probably trace the best and worst decisions of our lives to decisions of character,? said Hart.
‘I think (character education) is really important,? said Bernard. ‘At a lot of schools, all that matters is that you’re there and doing the work. This shows they care what we’re doing with our lives and how we act toward others.?