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Official website for the City of Aurora, Illinois. Mayor Tom Weisner

Character Counts!

Purpose

The purpose of the CHARACTER COUNTS! Coalition is to fortify the lives of America’s young people with consensus ethical values called the “Six Pillars of Character.” These values, which transcend divisions of race, creed, politics, gender and wealth, are as follows: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship.

Genesis of the Coalition

In 1992 a nonprofit teaching organization called the Josephson Institute of Ethics released a report based on a survey of almost 9,000 people, most of whom were in high school or college. The findings were appalling: cheating, lying, stealing, and drunken driving were commonplace. That same year the Institute convened in Aspen, Colorado, a conference of educators, ethicists, and nonprofit leaders. Their task was to share ideas about character development and to investigate ways of working together. Chief among these ways was developing consensus on the ethical values that could be taught at home, in the classroom and at the office without offending political, racial, religious, gender, or socioeconomic sensibilities. This is what they came up with in the Aspen Declaration of Character Education: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, justice & fairness, caring and civic virtue and citizenship. In a simplified form these came to be known as the “Six Pillars of Character.” To advance the goals of the Aspen Summit Conference on Character Education, the Institute organized the CHARACTER COUNTS! Coalition in 1993. Members of the Coalition, a national, diverse partnership of education and human-service organizations, are committed to using the “Six Pillars of Character” in their individual and joint programs. The hope is by using a consistent language with kids, the lessons of good character will be reinforced and better understood.

Whose Values, What Values?

The Coalition works to overcome the false but surprisingly powerful notion that no single value is intrinsically superior to another; that ethical values vary by race, class, gender and politics; that greed and fairness, cheating and honesty carry the same moral weight, simply depending on one’s perspective and immediate needs. Effective character education does not dismiss the importance of self-esteem, but maintains that ethical values must be ranked above expedience and personal preference. Character education sets up objective criteria of virtue and encourages young people to adopt them as ground rules for life. The Coalition strives to build consensus that there are values that clearly define us at our best, however diverse our views and backgrounds. It follows that such values are worthy of promotion where they are evident and of repair where they have faltered. The Coalition both builds awareness of these consensus values and teaches them to the young in support of the paramount role of parents and guardians. But why six values? Why not five or seven-or thirty-or thirty-seven? An individual may have any number of values, of course, but the Six Pillars serve the need for a brief, yet comprehensive minimum that can be taught to all. There is a wide consensus on this point: Some 40 states and 500 municipalities, school districts and business groups have joined together to endorse CHARACTER COUNTS! and the “Six Pillars”.

The Six Pillars of Character

Trustworthiness

Be honest; Don’t deceive, cheat, or steal; Be reliable-do what you say you’ll do; Have the Courage to do the right thing; Build a good reputation; Be loyal-stand by your family, friends, and country.

Respect

Treat others with respect; Follow the Golden Rule; Be tolerant of differences; Use good manners, not bad language; Be considerate of the feelings of others; Don’t threaten, hit, or hurt anyone. Deal peacefully with anger, insults, and disagreements.

Responsibility

Do what you are supposed to do; Persevere: keep on trying!; Always do your best; Use self-control; Be self-disciplined; Think before you act-consider the consequences; Be accountable for your choices.

Fairness

Play by the rules; Take turns and share; Be open-minded, listen to others; Don’t take advantage of others; Don’t blame others carelessly.

Caring

Be kind; Be compassionate and show you care; Express gratitude; Forgive others; Help people in need.

Citizenship

Do your share to make your school and community better. Cooperate; Stay informed; Vote; Be a good neighbor; Obey laws and rules; Respect authority; Protect the environment.

Aspen Declaration on Character Education

  1. The next generation will be the stewards of our communities, nation, and planet in extraordinary critical times.
  2. In such times, the well-being of our society requires an involved, caring citizenry with good moral character.
  3. People do not automatically develop good moral character; therefore, conscientious efforts must be made to help young people develop the values and abilities necessary for moral decision making and conduct.
  4. Effective character education is based on core ethical values rooted in democratic society, in particular, respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, justice and fairness, caring, and civic virtue and citizenship.
  5. These core ethical values transcend cultural, religious, and socioeconomic differences.
  6. Character education is, first and foremost, an obligation of families and faith communities, but schools and youth-service organizations also have a responsibility to help develop the character of young people.
  7. These responsibilities are best achieved when these groups work in concert.
  8. The character and conduct of our youth reflect the character and conduct of society; therefore, every adult has the responsibility to teach and model the core ethical values and every social institution has the responsibility to promote the development of good character.

What Are the CHARACTER COUNTS! Core Beliefs?

  1. There are enduring, universal moral truths-principles of thought and conduct-which distinguish right from wrong and define the essence of good character.
  2. Character really counts! In personal relationships, in school, at the workplace-in life-who you are makes a difference.
  3. Character is not hereditary, nor does it develop automatically; it must be consciously developed by example and demand.

Remember the T. E. A. M. Approach!

Teach!

Teach children and youth that their character counts-that their success and happiness will depend on who they are on the inside, not what they have or how they look. Tell them that people of character know the difference between right and wrong because they guide their thoughts and actions by six basic rules of living (the “Six Pillars of Character”): trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and good citizenship. Use examples from your own life, history, and the news.

Enforce!

Instill the “Six Pillars of Character” by rewarding good behavior (usually, praise is enough) and by discouraging all instances of bad behavior by imposing (or, in some cases, allowing others to impose) fair, consistent consequences that prove you are serious about character. Demonstrate courage and firmness of will by enforcing the core values when it is difficult to do so.

Advocate!

Continuously encourage children to live up to the “Six Pillars of Character.” Be an advocate for character. Don’t be neutral about the importance of character or casual about improper conduct. Be clear and uncompromising that you want and expect your children to be trustworthy, respectful, responsible, fair, caring, and good citizens.

Model!

Be careful and self-conscious about setting a good example in everything you say and do. Hold yourself to the highest standards by honoring the “Six Pillars of Character” at all times. You may be a good model now, but remember, you don’t have to be sick to get better. Everything you do sends a message about your values. Be sure the messages reinforce your lessons about doing the right thing even when it is hard to do so. When you slip (and most of us do), act the way you want your children to behave when they act improperly. Be accountable, apologize sincerely-and do better!

Visit the Character Counts website.