Character Education

You can't miss it. From the blue and white character flag flying beneath the American flag in front of each school to the “Integrity • Achievement • Service” message and logo on each entry door to the large “National School District of Character Winner” banner and “LifeSkills for Building Character” sign inside each school, it's clear that in the Lawrence Township Schools, “Caring about Character” is a top and highly-visible priority.

The district's K-12 Character Education initiative was developed by a broad-based committee of educators, parents, and community members. They came together to develop a mission statement for character education and agree upon common "LifeSkills for Building Character," or core ethical traits, that they believe are key to students becoming responsible for their decisions and behavior while showing respect and caring for others. Character Education has been integrated into the district's strategic plan and core values. "Character Education in the Lawrence Township Schools is not a prescription, nor an "add-on" program to the curriculum, nor values-clarification.

It is the ongoing and long-term process of helping students to understand the importance of and provide them with the expectation to develop and practice good character traits and habits. It is integrated into classroom learning and procedures each and every day and modeled by staff members. Teachers are provided resources, ideas and inservice opportunities and are encouraged to support and further develop our district-wide character, service, and citizenship initiative.

From the enthusiastic response of parents, staff, and students, Lawrence Township is on the right track, both locally and nationally. In a national Gallup Poll on the public's attitudes towards public education, a majority of Americans responded that it's more important for students to graduate with "a good character" than it is for schools to record high test scores. Lawrence Township has not only been teaching our own community about "Caring About Character" but leading the way for others, as well.

As adults, we are all "character educators," either by design or default. In the Metropolitan School district of Lawrence Township, we have decided, very deliberately and by design, to teach our students about "Caring About Character." As character educator and author Dr. Thomas Lickona said, "Character education helps to create the climate for caring and learning in schools."