Connecting Character to Conduct

Blueprint for Helping Students Do the Right Things

Do the problems of Centerville Middle School sound familiar?

Students were disrespectful to one another and to adults. Their attitude undermined the teaching and learning process.

Administrators were inundated with disciplinary referrals, which resulted in fewer hours to dedicate to the instructional leadership that affects students' academic performance.

Parents expressed their concerns about the safety and the climate of the school, as well as about test score results and new state requirements.

Counselors, psychologists, and other pupil personnel raised similar concerns at their meetings.

Even students complained about bullies, harassment, and incidents of disrespect by fellow students and some staff members.

Everyone had the same question: What can we do to make things better?

They began by looking at four factors:

• assessing the school's needs
• modeling appropriate behavior
• identifying actions to take in class and schoolwide activities
• monitoring and evaluating their efforts

Today, their entire school community follows the guiding principles of RICE—respect, impulse control, compassion, and equity—to promote the purpose of school.

Their story can be found in Connecting Character to Conduct: Helping Students Do the Right Things by Rita Stein, Roberta Richin, Richard Banyon, Francine Banyon and Marc Stein (ASCD 2000).

Read selected chapters or the entire book—available free online—at the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Web site.

Related Link

Do the Right Thing -- A Web area promoting thoughtful, respectful behavior. (NEA)