CharacterCounts

CC! Character Counts

E.T.H.I.C.S.

A Guide to Develop Character

A Six point Strategy For Character Development

Express your concern to all individuals and organizations that influence young people.

Teach your family the importance of character by living according to the Six Pillars of Character.

* Make a point to emphasize the importance of good character in family discussions.

* Consciously and visibly use the Coalition’s decision-making model.

* Look for opportunities to discuss the ethical implications of family situations, news stories, TV programs and movies in

terms of the “Six Pillars of Character”: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. Don’t

simply preach or sermonize — discuss.

* Listen to your children with firm conviction, but with respect.

* Start collecting your own list of quotations for discussion. Discuss them with your children and ask them to explain and

give other examples from their own lives.

Hold yourself and others more strictly accountable to live up to the six core ethical values.

* When you are wrong, demonstrate accountability by admitting it and apologizing.

* If a teacher or other credible adult reports misconduct of a member of your family, don’t automatically take the child’s side. * Don’t threaten or intimidate someone who is doing in good faith what he or she should be doing.

* When members of your family or close work associates violate core ethical principles — whether i a failure to show respect

or common courtesy, an act of selfishness or a lie — express appropriate disapproval or impose sanctions. Don’t let

misconduct become the norm. Don’t lower your expectations.

Inform yourself about what is going on in schools and youth organizations.

* Use Coalition materials to educate yourself on matters concerning the development of character and to develop more

refined skills of teaching the “Six Pillars of Character” in all the contexts in which you relate to young people.

* Encourage your local schools to use CHARACTER COUNTS! assessment and surveying services to discover how much

cheating and other forms of misbehavior are occurring. Make it clear to administrators that you expect them to maintain an

environment that fosters honest, responsible an respectful behavior.

Create an atmosphere of positive and negative consequences that encourages and rewards good character.

* Praise conduct that exemplifies the core ethical values, especially when that conduct wasn’t easy.

* Be sure that negative behavior results in appropriately negative consequences.

Support individuals and organizations engaged in character-development activities.

* Write notes and letters, make phone calls, and otherwise express your support for groups and individuals engaged in

character-building activities.

Condensed Code of Ethics for Players/Athletes

-- Play by the rules and Pursue Victory With Honor.

-- Remember, the goals of the sport are to have fun, improve

skills and feel good.

-- Don't play/compete just to please your parents, teacher

or coach.

-- Win and lose graciously.

-- Treat all other athletes as you would like to be treated.

-- Play/Compete with your best effort.

-- Don't be a showoff or a me-first athlete.

-- Cooperate with your teacher-coaches, teammates,

opponents and the officials.

-- Control your temper. Never retaliate when you feel

wronged