Character: Be About It
A prevention-based program taught by trained law enforcement officers to instill important character traits in children grades K-8.
Although educational institutions are the ideal environment to teach character traits, they are overcrowded and underfunded, and required to focus on academics and achieving standard results.
Character development is equally important to reading, writing and arithmetic. Research shows that positive character traits increase the overall learning success. Confronted with the daily reality of troubled youth, Trooper Harris decided to examine the situation and come up with a creative solution. |
For young adults to be productive in school, their future workplace and society, character development is a fundamental prerequisite.The program has been piloted in Erie Schools over the past two years. One trait is studied per month, presented through individual exercises, modeling, and classroom discussions. With daily practice, students enrich their character traits, accumulating improved skills.
Next, teachers are trained to deliver the program effectively. A data collection and evaluation system is established to monitor short and long-term results. Program modifications are made based on the results of the evaluation. |
Harris researched what traits were essential for young adults to lead a productive and fulfilling life.He concluded there are 12 characteristics that children need to develop in their life:
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