[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 47 (Thursday, April 13, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S2721]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      CALHOUN COUNTY CELEBRATES CHARACTER EDUCATION AWARENESS WEEK

 Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize a very 
special event taking place next week in the State of Michigan. The city 
of Battle Creek and the greater Calhoun County are officially 
recognizing April 17-21, 2000, as Character Education Awareness Week. 
Character Unlimited, a group which works to raise awareness of the 
importance of good character and to train others to integrate character 
development in their organizations and areas of influence, and the 
Battle Creek Chamber of Commerce are cosponsors of the event.
  Four goals have been set for the week: first, to inform the public 
about character education initiatives throughout Calhoun County; 
second, to raise awareness and interest in the importance of mentoring 
and role modeling; third, to address youth about the importance of 
character based decision making and non-violent conflict resolution; 
and, finally, to raise community awareness of Character Unlimited and 
the work of the organization.
  Increasingly, the notion of character has found a place in the 
national dialogue, particularly in this, an election year. What is 
getting lost in the debate, I feel, is a look at where character comes 
from, how it is developed within children and adults alike, and the 
role communities can play in developing character within their youth. 
Good character is not innate, Mr. President, it requires conscientious 
education, effort and role-modeling.
  While it goes without saying that parents hold the most important 
role in this process, they are not the only cog in the wheel. Schools, 
youth organizations, churches, synagogues, temples, civic 
organizations, even governmental organizations, all of these groups 
have the opportunity to set positive examples for children, and in 
doing so provide them with a clear-cut example of what is right and 
what is wrong. More than this, though, for they also have the ability 
to teach them how to appropriately fight for what is right and against 
what is wrong. This is positive character development, and it is within 
all of our grasps.
  Mr. President, good character in an individual is not automatic, but 
it is always attainable. What it requires is hard work by many people. 
The more positive influences our communities are able to have available 
to children, the more children we will see developing a strong sense of 
character. Continuing to use basic common sense as a guide, I think it 
is easy to imagine what kind of a positive effect this will have on our 
communities.
  Mr. President, I am truly excited about what is happening in Calhoun 
County April 17-21, 2000. I thank Character Unlimited and the Battle 
Creek Chamber of Commerce for sponsoring Character Education Awareness 
Week. Also, I would like to recognize Mr. Erv Brinker, Chairman of 
Character Unlimited, and Ms. Pat Maliszewski, Program Director, whose 
hard work have been essential in making this event possible. On behalf 
of the entire United States Senate, I hope that Character Education 
Awareness Week is a huge success.

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