Salt Lake City School Salt Lake City School DistrictDistrict

A Community of CaringA Community of Caring

What is Community of Caring?What is Community of Caring?

Community of Caring is an environment where……..

Caring

Respect

Trust

Family and

Responsibility

Are lived and taught.

What is good character?What is good character?The Greek Philosopher Aristotle said,The Greek Philosopher Aristotle said,

“ “ Good character is a life of right conduct in Good character is a life of right conduct in relation to other people and in relation to relation to other people and in relation to

oneself.”oneself.”Good character requires us to be in control of Good character requires us to be in control of ourselves, our wants, our passions and to do ourselves, our wants, our passions and to do right by others.right by others.

Good character is-Good character is-Know the goodKnow the goodDesire the goodDesire the goodDo the goodDo the good

Eight Strengths of CharacterEight Strengths of CharacterLifelong learner and critical thinkerLifelong learner and critical thinkerDiligent and capable performerDiligent and capable performerSocially and emotionally skilled personSocially and emotionally skilled personEthical thinkerEthical thinkerRespectful and responsible moral agentRespectful and responsible moral agentSelf-disciplined person who pursues a healthy Self-disciplined person who pursues a healthy lifestylelifestyleContributing community member and Contributing community member and democratic citizendemocratic citizenA person engaged in crafting a life of noble A person engaged in crafting a life of noble purposepurpose

Community of Caring SchoolsCommunity of Caring Schools

are Ethical Learning Communitiesare Ethical Learning Communitiesthat focus on:that focus on:

ExcellenceExcellenceEthicsEthics

EngagementEngagement

Excellence/performance character Excellence/performance character diligencediligence

a strong work ethica strong work ethic a positive attitudea positive attitude perseveranceperseverance

The work of excellence is transformational. Once a The work of excellence is transformational. Once a student sees that he or she is capable of excellence, that student sees that he or she is capable of excellence, that student is never quite the same. There is a new self-student is never quite the same. There is a new self-image, a new notion of possibility. After students have image, a new notion of possibility. After students have had a taste of excellence, they’re never quite satisfied had a taste of excellence, they’re never quite satisfied with less.with less.

Ron Berger, Ron Berger, An Ethic of ExcellenceAn Ethic of Excellence

Ethics/ Moral CharacterEthics/ Moral CharacterIntegrityIntegrity

RespectRespect

CooperationCooperation

JusticeJustice

ResponsibilityResponsibilityThe good-to-great companies place greater The good-to-great companies place greater weight on character attributes than on specific weight on character attributes than on specific educational background, practical skills, educational background, practical skills, specialized knowledge, or work experience.specialized knowledge, or work experience.

Jim Collins, Jim Collins, Good to GreatGood to Great

EngagementEngagement

To take partTo take part

To participateTo participate

To be committed to To be committed to one’s own one’s own

education, education, school and school and community. community.

America’s Adolescents: America’s Adolescents: The Good News & the BadThe Good News & the Bad

The Good NewsThe Good NewsExcellence/Performance Excellence/Performance IndicatorsIndicators– Achievement GapAchievement Gap

Higher achievement forHigher achievement forall ethnic and racial groups.all ethnic and racial groups.

– Graduation RatesGraduation RatesGraduation rates rose Graduation rates rose significantly in the 20significantly in the 20thth century. century.

The Bad NewsThe Bad NewsExcellence/Performance Excellence/Performance IndicatorsIndicators– Achievement GapAchievement Gap

Despite various reform efforts, gaps Despite various reform efforts, gaps in school achievement have been in school achievement have been persistent among ethnic and racialpersistent among ethnic and racialgroups. groups.

– Graduation RatesGraduation Rates30% of freshman never graduate.30% of freshman never graduate.In many schools it’s as high as 50%. In many schools it’s as high as 50%.

..

America’s Adolescents: America’s Adolescents: The Good New & the BadThe Good New & the Bad

The Good NewsThe Good NewsEthical / Moral IndicatorsEthical / Moral Indicators

– Academic HonestyAcademic Honesty

When high schools have an honor code, When high schools have an honor code, students are significantly less likely to cheat.students are significantly less likely to cheat.

– ViolenceViolence

Most violence-related behaviors among high Most violence-related behaviors among high school students decreased from 1991-2003.school students decreased from 1991-2003.

– SuicideSuicide

Suicides have begun to decline since triplingSuicides have begun to decline since tripling

between 1960 and 1991.between 1960 and 1991.

– Drugs, Tobacco & AlcoholDrugs, Tobacco & Alcohol

Among 8Among 8thth, 10, 10thth & 12 & 12thth grade students there grade students there has been a broad decline in illicit drug use. has been a broad decline in illicit drug use.

– Sexual Activity Sexual Activity

In 2001 students who said they had never In 2001 students who said they had never had sexual intercourse became a majority had sexual intercourse became a majority (57%) for the first time in 25 years. (57%) for the first time in 25 years.

The Bad NewsThe Bad NewsEthical / Moral IndicatorsEthical / Moral Indicators

– Academic HonestyAcademic Honesty

Data shows that cheating has steadily Data shows that cheating has steadily increased at every education level in recent increased at every education level in recent decades. decades.

– ViolenceViolence

One in three high school students has been One in three high school students has been involved in a physical fight. involved in a physical fight.

– SuicideSuicide

Suicide is the third leading cause of death for Suicide is the third leading cause of death for 15 to 24 year-olds.15 to 24 year-olds.

– Drugs, Tobacco & AlcoholDrugs, Tobacco & Alcohol

One quarter of 12One quarter of 12thth graders are smokers. graders are smokers.

77% have consumed alcohol 77% have consumed alcohol

– Sexual ActivitySexual Activity

U.S teen birth rate remains one of the highest U.S teen birth rate remains one of the highest among developed nations.among developed nations.

The Cheating CultureThe Cheating CultureResume fraud by job-seekers at every level – from Resume fraud by job-seekers at every level – from CEO’s on down – has soared over the past decade. An CEO’s on down – has soared over the past decade. An estimated half of current resumes contain lies. estimated half of current resumes contain lies.

Tax evasion has gotten worse in recent years, costing Tax evasion has gotten worse in recent years, costing the U.S. Treasury at least $250 billion a year. the U.S. Treasury at least $250 billion a year.

Computer technology has facilitated the large-scale theft Computer technology has facilitated the large-scale theft of copyrighted materials including music, cable and of copyrighted materials including music, cable and satellite TV. satellite TV.

An unprecedented number of cases of plagiarism. An unprecedented number of cases of plagiarism. Perpetrators include best-selling authors and star Perpetrators include best-selling authors and star reporters.reporters.

So, what does that mean for So, what does that mean for me?me?

Character development must be Character development must be deliberate:deliberate:

Know the goodKnow the good

Desire the goodDesire the good

Do the goodDo the good

The Power of OneThe Power of One Think about a Think about a

teacher who teacher who had a had a significant significant impact on impact on you, the you, the teacher who, teacher who, in your life, in your life, was most was most memorable.memorable.

What did he What did he or she do or she do that was so that was so memorable?memorable?

If we lived alone, we wouldn’t need the virtues of fairness and If we lived alone, we wouldn’t need the virtues of fairness and compassion.compassion.

If children could raise themselves, we wouldn’t need the family values of If children could raise themselves, we wouldn’t need the family values of commitment and fidelity.commitment and fidelity.

If wealth could simply be found, we wouldn’t need the virtues of initiative If wealth could simply be found, we wouldn’t need the virtues of initiative and industry to create and sustain wealth.and industry to create and sustain wealth.

If our society were homogeneous, we wouldn’t need the virtues of If our society were homogeneous, we wouldn’t need the virtues of tolerance and respect for legitimate differences.tolerance and respect for legitimate differences.

If our political institutions were authoritarian and a few of us were fit to If our political institutions were authoritarian and a few of us were fit to direct the lives of the rest of us, we wouldn’t need the virtues of direct the lives of the rest of us, we wouldn’t need the virtues of personal responsibility and active citizenry.personal responsibility and active citizenry.

The facts of our social life give us the broad contours of a conception of The facts of our social life give us the broad contours of a conception of good character. It is the character required for a democratic society.good character. It is the character required for a democratic society.

- William Galston, University of Maryland, Professor of Public Affairs- William Galston, University of Maryland, Professor of Public Affairs