[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 79 (Monday, June 7, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6470-S6471]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           CHARACTER COUNTS!

 Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I am proud to be an original 
cosponsor of the Character Counts! initiative introduced by Senator 
Domenici and others on May 6, 1999. I avidly support education in West 
Virginia and the United States, and I believe this should include an 
emphasis on basic character and good citizenship. In the words of 
Theodore Roosevelt: ``To educate a person in mind and not in morals is 
to educate a menace to society.''
  Character Counts! recognizes and addresses that there is a connection 
between one's personal life and one's business or political abilities. 
Character Counts! understands that morals and character development go 
hand in hand, and that it is never too late to teach the tools to help 
develop personal character. The promotion of healthy character 
development is a necessary precursor to reaching the ultimate goal of 
teaching people to take personal responsibility.
  The Character First! training series is based in Oklahoma City, 
Oklahoma. The Character Bulletin Series provides

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a flexible system that is designed to meet any needs or schedule. It 
uses a monthly four-step program to teach necessary tools for character 
development. The first step of every month is a Character Bulletin. 
This provides a character quality, such as virtue, along with tools to 
help build it. The second step contains Supplements, including the 
Introducing ``Character'' Leadership Supplement, which provides 
additional resources for teaching others about the character quality, 
and Building ``Character'' Leadership Notes, which challenges those in 
positions of leadership to hold themselves to higher standards. The 
third step is called Character at Home, and provides ways to use the 
Character Bulletin Series at home. This step is particularly helpful 
for parents who want to play an active role in their child's 
development. The final part of the series is a Character Poster, a full 
color poster to remind people of the quality of the month. Recently a 
cooperative effort to promote Character Counts! began in Baton Rouge, 
Louisiana. Their city-wide effort involves government personnel, 
businesses, churches, schools, and others in the community. We should 
celebrate this city-wide effort to educate people about character and 
implement the Character Counts! program in other communities 
nationwide.
  Educating people about character and citizenship is crucial to create 
healthy communities. Years ago, as Chairman of the National Commission 
on Children, I worked hard to include an entire chapter in our 
comprehensive report called Creating a Moral Climate because I felt 
strongly about the issue. Everyone of us has an obligation to create 
such a climate for our family, our friends, and especially children in 
our communities.
  Character Counts! provides this type of leadership and resources to 
support character education which will promote continuous growth and 
development. It is our responsibility to educate people, and I commend 
Character Counts! for providing a much needed educational 
service.

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