[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 140 (Monday, October 28, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1963-E1964]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               CHANGING LIVES CHARACTER EDUCATION PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOB SCHAFFER

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 28, 2002

  Mr. SCHAFFER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Changing 
Lives character education program, an exceptional curriculum being used 
throughout the country with proven results to improve individual lives 
and schools.
  The development of character among our young people today is critical 
to the stability and success of our nation and society. John Adams, the 
second President of the United States, recognized the immense 
importance of character and morality to our nation. ``Our Constitution 
was made only for a moral and religious people,'' he said in an address 
to the military. ``It is wholly inadequate to the government of any 
other.''
  Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, there is a real vacuum of values in our 
culture today. Too many of our youth are growing up without the 
guidance and modeling of basic, time-honored character traits, which at 
one time were reinforced by one's family, church, school and community.
  Two well-respected teachers and coaches have joined together to 
respond to this need for character development among elementary and 
secondary students. Dennis Parker and D.W. Rutledge, in conjunction 
with Zig Ziglar, have created a character curriculum called ``Changing 
Lives.'' The curriculum involves several innovative components, 
including ``Word of the Week'' character concepts, a mission statement 
for the school, banners an posters in the halls about character 
education, books and readings, journal writing, and focused activities 
facilitating student, parent, teachers and community involvement in the 
character education process.
  While there are many character education programs on the market, the 
Changing Lives curriculum is the only one I know which has received 
extensive study and evaluation. Two psychologists at the University of 
Dayton recently conducted a scientifically based study of the Changing 
Lives program. They found that schools with the Changing Lives 
curriculum demonstrated positive behavior changes and results among the 
student body in comparison with schools that did not incorporate the 
curriculum into the classroom. Teachers reported less frequent negative 
student behaviors and fewer disciplinary actions. Students reported 
fewer unruly behaviors and a greater expectation from teachers for them 
to behave in positive ways. Parents were also more likely to attend 
school activities and rated the schools more positively.

[[Page E1964]]

  Mr. Speaker, thank you for this opportunity to discuss the merits and 
benefits of the Changing Lives character education program. I would 
urge all school districts to consider using this program as they apply 
for the Character Education grants distributed by the Department of 
Education. It is a proven program with results that attest to its 
effectiveness in changing student behaviors and transforming school 
environments.

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