[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 125 (Friday, September 29, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10751-S10753]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE RESOLUTION 598--DESIGNATING THE WEEK BEGINNING OCTOBER 15, 2006,
AS ``NATIONAL CHARACTER COUNTS WEEK''
Mr. DOMENICI (for himself, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Inhofe, Mr.
Akaka, Mr. Pryor, Mr. Talent, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Martinez, Mr. Criag,
Mr. Kerry, Mr. Salazar, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Alexander, Mr.
Rockefeller, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Ensign, Mr. Levin, Mr. Allen, Mr. Durbin,
Mr. Biden, Mr. Voinovich, Ms. Murkowski, Mrs. Dole, and Mr. Enzi)
submitted the following resolution, which was:
S. Res. 598
Whereas the well-being of the United States requires that
the young people of the United States become an involved,
caring citizenry with good character;
Whereas the character education of children has become more
urgent as violence by and against youth increasingly
threatens the physical and psychological well-being of the
people of the United States;
Whereas more than ever, children need strong and
constructive guidance from their families and their
communities, including schools, youth organizations,
religious institutions, and civic groups;
Whereas the character of a nation is only as strong as the
character of its individual citizens;
Whereas the public good is advanced when young people are
taught the importance of good character and the positive
effects that good character can have in personal
relationships, in school, and in the workplace;
Whereas scholars and educators agree that people do not
automatically develop good character and that, therefore,
conscientious efforts must be made by institutions and
individuals that influence youth to help young people develop
the essential traits and characteristics that comprise good
character;
Whereas, although character development is, first and
foremost, an obligation of families, the efforts of faith
communities, schools, and youth, civic, and human service
organizations also play an important role in fostering and
promoting good character;
Whereas Congress encourages students, teachers, parents,
youth, and community leaders to recognize the importance of
character education in preparing young people to play a role
in determining the future of the United States;
Whereas effective character education is based on core
ethical values, which form the foundation of democratic
society;
Whereas examples of character are trustworthiness, respect,
responsibility, fairness, caring, citizenship, and honesty;
Whereas elements of character transcend cultural,
religious, and socioeconomic differences;
Whereas the character and conduct of our youth reflect the
character and conduct of society, and, therefore, every adult
has the responsibility to teach and model ethical values and
every social institution has the responsibility to promote
the development of good character;
Whereas Congress encourages individuals and organizations,
especially those who have an interest in the education and
training of the young people of the United States, to adopt
the elements of character as intrinsic to the well-being of
individuals, communities, and society;
Whereas many schools in the United States recognize the
need, and have taken steps, to integrate the values of their
communities into their teaching activities; and
[[Page S10752]]
Whereas the establishment of National Character Counts
Week, during which individuals, families, schools, youth
organizations, religious institutions, civic groups, and
other organizations would focus on character education, would
be of great benefit to the United States: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates the week beginning October 15, 2006, as
``National Character Counts Week''; and
(2) calls upon the people of the United States and
interested groups--
(A) to embrace the elements of character identified by
local schools and communities, such as trustworthiness,
respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship;
and
(B) to observe the week with appropriate ceremonies,
programs, and activities.
Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today with my good friend Senator
Dodd to submit a resolution designating the week of October 15 through
the 21 as the 2006 National Character Counts Week.
Our character is the foundation of who we are as people and how we
are perceived by the world. Everyday our character and ethics are
tested through the decisions we make and the behavior we exhibit. The
National Character Counts program focuses on ``Six Pillars of
Character'' which are promoted through school and community based
character education programs across the country. The six pillars are:
trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and
citizenship.
I have supported Character Counts throughout the years because I
believe this program reaches out to all youth and adults, as the
Character Counts Coalition states, no matter the individual's race,
creed, politics, gender, and wealth. In my home state of New Mexico, we
have run many successful Character Counts programs throughout the
years. While many schools initiate Character Counts programs there are
also many other organizations that develop character based programming.
I would like to take the time to recognize some of the successful
programming we have had in New Mexico for 2006.
Mesa Elementary School in Clovis, NM is the definition of a school
that embraces character education programming. Everyday school begins
with a Character Song and Pledge and every month they organize a
Character Counts assembly to recognize and reflect upon the ``Six
Pillars of Character.'' In Gallup, the Gallup High School National
Honor Society is distributing Character Counts posters to all faculty
and staff and volunteering for a Youth Leadership Weekend. In Las
Cruces, the City of Las Cruces Recreation Section organized the K-8th
basketball leagues to participate in sportsmanship games and the
halftime show will spotlight Pursuing Victory with Honor. Lastly, the
New Mexico Women's Correctional Facility is gearing up to commence a
Character Counts based series in their new character education
programming. All of these organizations and schools as well as the many
others not mentioned here, are to be commended for their hard work in
developing these programs and spreading the message that character
truly does count.
During the week of October 15, I hope everyone takes the time to
participate in a Character Counts event in their local area. I know in
New Mexico we will be having some special celebrations. On October 16
in Carlsbad, New Mexico there will be the 10th Anniversary Character
Counts Celebration including a student-designed Character Counts
billboard unveiling at a celebratory dinner; October 17, the Las Cruces
Public Schools will have ``Go for the Gold'' Character Counts awards;
October 19, the Albuquerque Public Schools will have a Character Counts
annual awards breakfast, and Chavez County will have a Character Counts
Celebration Night; and on October 20, the YMCA of Central New Mexico
will have a Youth Achiever Awards ceremony.
I believe this program is making a difference in my home state and
across the country. I want to encourage more people to become involved
with the Character Counts program, but most of all I hope individuals
will take the time to reflect on what the ``Six Pillars of Character''
mean to them.
I hope all of my colleagues will support this effort.
Mr. DODD. Mr. President, today Senator Domenici and I are submitting
a resolution designating the third week of October as ``National
Character Counts Week.'' I have worked for many years on the issue of
character education and hope that by designating a special week to this
cause, students and teachers will come together to participate in
character building activities in their schools not only this week but
all year long.
In 1994, Senator Domenici and I first established the Partnerships in
Character Education Pilot Project and have worked regularly since then
to commemorate National Character Counts Week. Character education is
about celebrating what's right with young people while enabling them to
develop the knowledge and life skills necessary in order to embrace
ethical and responsible behavior. I am pleased that we are continuing
our efforts today to help expand States' and schools' abilities to make
character education a central part of every child's education.
Our schools may figuratively be built with the bricks of English,
math and science, but character education certainly provides the
mortar. Trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and
citizenship are the six pillars of character. The standards of conduct
that arise out of those values constitute the foundation of ethics, and
therefore of ethical decision-making.
Character education looks like young people learning, growing, and
becoming. It feels like strength, courage, possibility, and hope.
Character education provides students a context within which to learn.
If we view education simply as the imparting of knowledge to our
children, then we will not only miss an opportunity, but will
jeopardize our future.
Currently, there are character education programs across all 50
states in rural, urban and suburban areas at every grade level. I'd
like to take a moment to tell you about two programs in my home state
of Connecticut.
At Jared Eliot Middle School in Clinton, CT, creating safe, welcoming
schools where character matters is a high priority. Pillars showcasing
the principles of high character greet everyone who enters the building
and are a vivid reminder of the values embraced by the school
community. This schoolwide effort is felt and lived by all who work and
learn there.
Also, Old Saybrook Middle School, a recognized middle school of the
year, is stellar in large part because of the ongoing schoolwide
initiative to focus on efforts to create a school climate that
celebrates individuals who exhibit high moral character and are engaged
and connected to school. Parents are closely involved and support these
efforts in uniquely high numbers. This dedicated school and its
community work hard to build a positive community through its character
education program, and has experienced great success socially and
academically because of it.
Character education programs work. Schools across the country that
have adopted strong character education programs report better student
performance, fewer discipline problems, and increased student
involvement within the community. Children want direction--they want to
be taught right from wrong. Young people yearn for consistent adult
involvement, and when they get it, according to surveys, they are less
inclined to use illegal drugs, vandalize or commit suicide. The
American public wants character education in our schools, too. Studies
show that approximately 90 percent of Americans support schools
teaching character education.
As all education policy should be, support of character education is
bipartisan. This year we have cosponsors from both sides of the aisle.
Many of our country's leading educational and youth-serving
organizations also actively support character education, including
YMCA, 4-H, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Little League, the National
Education Association and the National Association of Secondary School
Principals.
Character education can and is being incorporated into children's
lives in and outside of the classroom. It provides a helping hand to
our schools and communities to ensure our children's futures are bright
and filled with opportunities and success. Character education not only
cultivates minds, it nurtures hearts. While our children may be one-
quarter of our population, they are 100 percent of our future.
I would submit that character transcends religious, cultural,
political,
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and socioeconomic barriers. I believe our country is having a renewed
focus on character and this sends a wonderful message to Americans, and
will help those of us involved in character education reinvigorate our
efforts to get communities and schools involved.
So today, Senator Domenici and I introduce a resolution to accomplish
just that and hopefully our renewed effort will bring together even
more communities to ensure that character education is a part of every
child's life. I hope that my colleagues will support this important
effort.
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