Pella Corporation has partnered with Character Counts In Iowa for almost 10 years. They have incorporated the program into their own organization, the Pella community, and different counties throughout Iowa where manufacturing takes place. Mary Van Zante, Manager of Corporate Communications, shares with us the impact of the Character Counts program.

Since 2002, Pella Corporation has been partnering with Character Counts In Iowa to lead the way in building a better community. To celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the Pella Rolscreen Foundation, Mary Van Zante took initiative to find a program that offered the same values as their organization. After attending a presentation in Carroll, Iowa, Mary learned first-hand the effect CHARACTER COUNTS! had on that particular school system and was convinced to move forward with the program.

Shortly after, CHARACTER COUNTS! was being introduced within the company and to schools across Iowa where Pella Corporation operated manufacturing plants. One of those schools in Pella expressed so much interest that fifth grade teachers were volunteering their own time to attend the training offered by Character Counts In Iowa.

Offering a sons and daughters scholarship is one of the ways Pella Corporation has uniquely implemented CHARACTER COUNTS! into their business and community. To be considered for a scholarship seniors in high school must discuss which pillar is the most important to them from The Six Pillars of Character. From a variety of different essays, Mary has seen the importance of character and how it has impacted students’ decision-making process and relationships with others.

As Pella Corporation continues to grow, the message of Character Counts In Iowa has reached places such as Murray, Kentucky where Pella Corporation began production. Mary Van Zante has believed in the power of CHARACTER COUNTS! for almost 10 years and continues to challenge herself and the company to take full advantage of the resources offered through the program.

We don’t know the whole story about the Penn State situation yet.   There is already an ethical question at the center of the issue:  who knew about the abuse and why didn’t they stop it?

We don’t have to be referring to the Penn State case to have a discussion on this ethical issue:  ethics vs. compliance. 

Compliance is doing what you are required to do by laws or rules.

Ethics is doing what you should do because it is right.

We can all probably think of a time when we had to choose between doing what was required or doing what was right.   What about doing what we could do versus what we should do?

• What if  you saw your child cheating on homework?  Would you intervene or allow it?
• How about seeing a co-worker steal office supplies?  Would you say something or allow it?
• Did you ever see a friend get bullied?  Would you ask someone for help or  allow it?

Doing the right thing isn’t always easy.  The obstacles to good character are numerous.  We’ll talk a more about some of these obstacles in a post next week.  In the meantime, we’ll leave you with this popular quote:

What you permit, you promote.
What you allow, you encourage.
What you condone, you own.

Karen Bagby, our guest blogger, is incorporating character into her physical education classes at Buford Garner Elementary, in North Liberty, IA.

Character education gives students opportunities to develop values, self-awareness, personal well-being, citizenship, and positive interactions with others. In education we need to be concerned not only about what our students know and can do, but just as importantly, about who it is they will become.

There isn’t a more natural setting in the educational system for promoting character education than that of the physical education “classroom”.  We can teach many values (such as fairness, respect, courtesy, and kindness) through play activities.   Students can also learn to be selfless, take turns, be honest, and cooperate with each other while striving to reach a common goal.

At a time in our society when children are being bullied unmercifully and they rely heavily upon technology, it is imperative that we as physical educators continue to give our students ample time to develop their people skills and good character. The physical education teacher can teach these people skills and values by interweaving character education concepts into physical education lessons.

Need resources? Here’s some techniques and activities Karen has collected

This PDF includes some of the best character education tips, information, and activities I have that I have incorporated into my teaching over many years. Much of this material can be infused into your daily lessons by just tweaking a technique in your management plan or in your teaching strategies. The game activities can be taught as a warm up, a cooperative activity, or for a specific “lesson focus” activity.

We need to be passionate about physical education, but we need to be just as passionate about character education. I told my principal just a couple weeks ago, that at least  50% of what I teach today is appropriate social skills and kindness.  We know we cannot talk a child into being good, but we can give them many opportunities to develop into children who know what is right, care what is right, and do what is right. Physical education and character education really do go hand in hand.

Paula Bell shares some simple thoughts on character that she has learned throughout her life journey. Read this and challenge yourself to implement character goals in your own life.

Character is the very fabric that makes a person up. Your credibility is a direct outcome of your character.

Ask yourself: Who is someone I find credible? What makes them a credible person?

Your character can make you or break you in your careers and other areas of your life. Your character is displayed by your actions. It’s one thing to talk, but people are going to watch your actions and those actions will no longer be just a perception but a reality of who you really are.

Ask yourself: How am I portraying myself on Facebook or other social media outlets? Am I the same person face to face?

It’s important to respect others, be trustworthy, display citizenship, show you care and always be responsible.  It’s important to ensure you conduct yourself and portray great character in all things you do.

Ask yourself: What is something I can work on for personal development? How can I grow?