The Fourth and Fifth Rs - Character Education

1 The Fourth and Fifth Rs Respect and Responsibility Volume 10, Issue 1 Fall 2003. The Content of Our Character : Ten Essential Virtues Tom Lickona, Director, Center for the 4th and 5th Rs I. n his famous I Have a Dream speech, Martin Luther tues and their supporting King, Jr. said he dreamed of the day when all Ameri- qualities (see below). cans will be judged not by the color of their skin but When staff compare their by the content of their Character . lists with a scheme such as the What is the content of good Character ? This is the ten essential virtues, they can first question a school must address in developing a qual- ask: What commonalities do we ity Character Education program.

2 How a school defines see? Which virtues are the best Character what it includes or omits in its target virtues match for our school's culture will shape the goals and activities of its Character educa- and the developmental level of tion initiative. our students? Broadly speaking, the content of good Character is Whatever the list of target virtues a staff settles on, virtue. Virtues, such as justice and kindness, are habits, it's important that (a) it be comprehensive, incorporat- dispositions to behave in a morally good way. They are ing all the important virtues in one way or another, and objectively good human qualities, good for us whether (b) the staff own it.

3 Simultaneously or subsequently, we know it or not. They are affirmed by societies and surveys should be distributed to parents and students so religions around the world. Because they are intrinsi- that their input can be incorporated. cally good, virtues have a claim on our conscience. Ten Essential Virtues Which virtues are most important for strong charac- Choosing the School's Target Virtues ter? Here are ten that are recognized and taught by nearly What are the particular virtues a given school should all philosophical, religious, and cultural traditions.

4 Focus on in its Character Education efforts? To answer that question, a school should ask: What qualities do we 1. Wisdom want our graduates to possess? What moral and intel- Wisdom is good judgment. The ancient Greeks con- lectual strengths will best equip them to lead purposeful, sidered wisdom to be the master virtue, the one that di- productive, and fulfilling lives and to build a better rects all the others. It enables us to make reasoned deci- world? sions that are both good for us and good for others. Wis- dom tells us how to put the other virtues into practice.

5 In small groups, staff can brainstorm and list these when to act, how to act, and how to balance different qualities on sheets of butcher paper and then post their virtues when they conflict (as they do, for example, when lists around the room for all to view. (Nearly always, telling the honest truth might hurt someone's feelings). different groups list many of the same qualities.) Wisdom enables us to discern correctly, to see what is A next step is to compare the Character qualities gen- truly important in life, and to set priorities. As the ethi- erated by the staff with a pre-existing conceptual scheme cist Richard Gula points out, We cannot do right unless defining good Character , such as the ten essential vir- we first see correctly.

6 CENTER FOR THE 4TH AND 5TH RS M Sc hool of Education M SUNY Cor School tland M Cortland . Box 2000 M. Box Cor tland, Cortland, NY 13045 M T el. (607) 753-2455 M www .cor M.. s/ E-mail: c4n5r s@cor c4n5rs@cor Dr Thomas Lic kona, Editor; Mar Lick the Seales, Assistant Editor Marthe 2. Justice sake of another. A cluster of important human virtues . Justice means respecting the rights of all persons. empathy, compassion, kindness, generosity, service, loy- The Golden Rule, which directs us to treat other per- alty, patriotism (love of what is noble in one's country), sons as we wish to be treated, is a principle of justice and forgiveness make up the virtue of love.

7 In With that can be found in cultures and religions around the Love and Prayers, F. Washington Jarvis writes: Love . world. Since we ourselves are persons, justice also in- selfless love that expects nothing back is the most pow- cludes self-respect, a proper regard for our own rights erful force in the universe. Love is a demanding virtue. and dignity. Schools, in their Character Education ef- If we really took seriously the familiar injunction to love forts, often center on justice because it includes so many your neighbor as yourself, says an essay on this virtue, of the interpersonal virtues civility, honesty, respect, would we not make every effort to avoid gossiping about responsibility, and tolerance (correctly understood not others and calling attention to their faults, given how as approval of other people's beliefs or behaviors but as sensitive we are to such things said about us?)

8 Respect for their freedom of conscience as long as they 6. Positive Attitude do not violate the rights of others). A concern for jus- If you have a negative attitude in life, you're a bur- tice and the capacity for moral indignation in the face den to yourself and others. If you have a positive atti- of injustice inspires us to work as citizens to build a tude, you're an asset to yourself and others. The charac- more just society and world. ter strengths of hope, enthusiasm, flexibility, and a sense 3. Fortitude of humor are all part of a positive attitude.

9 All of us, Fortitude enables us to do what is right in the face of young and old, need to be reminded that our attitude is difficulty. The right decision in life is often the hard one. something we choose. Most people, Abraham Lin- One high school's motto says: Do the hard right instead coln said, are about as happy as they make up their minds of the easy wrong. A familiar maxim says, When the to be. Said Martha Washington: I have learned from going gets tough, the tough get going. Fortitude, as the experience that the greater part of our happiness or mis- educator James Stenson points out, is the inner tough- ery depends on our dispositions and not on our circum- ness that enables us to overcome or withstand hardship, stances.

10 We carry the seeds of the one or the other with defeats, inconvenience, and pain. Courage, resilience, us in our minds wherever we go. A recent book by patience, perseverance, endurance, and a healthy self- Michael Loehrer, How to Change a Rotten Attitude: A. confidence are all aspects of fortitude. Teen suicide has Manual for Building Virtue and Character in Middle tripled in the past three decades; one reason may be that and High School Students, recognizes the great impor- many young people are unprepared to deal with life's tance of attitude in educating for Character .