Integrity is February's Character Education trait for some schools. Being a person of integrity means more than always being trustworthy. The trait includes acting justly and honorably in all situations.
Stephen L. Carter, author of the book Integrity said, "We care more about winning than about playing by the rules." In Carter's book, he outlines three steps for becoming a person with integrity. The first is to discern what is right and wrong. Discernment takes time and emotional energy. It's much easier to follow the crowd. The second step is to struggle to live according to the sense of right and wrong you have discerned. The third is to be willing to say what we are doing and why we are doing it.
A tween who responds positively to the following is considered a person with integrity:
- You are honest with yourself and others.
- You act the way you believe.
- You do the right thing even if it's difficult or unpopular.
- You don't give in to your friends when they want you to do something wrong.
- Your thoughts and beliefs match your actions and words.
- Others can depend on your behavior to be consistent and constant.
At home, a tween with integrity is eager to please his or her parents by following family rules, doing chores on time, and obeying those in charge. Parents may consider giving tweens more freedom and responsibility if a child displays integrity.
Some ways to instill integrity include developing a "Family Code of Ethics" that includes consequences and defines the grey area of "white lies." Encourage your tween to make friends with kids who act on their convictions and stand up for their believes.
Find out if your tween's school has a character education program. If there isn't a program, start one! Here are two examples:
Lee County School district (FL) has a resource page for parents and teachers. One activity that can be done at home and school is developing an "Integrity Portfolio" containing stories, journal entries, and poems that discuss the importance of integrity.
Bailey Middle School (CT) staff believe that integrity is so important, they encourage students to be RICH (Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Compassion, Honesty) in character. If a student is an outstanding example of the featured character trait, they will receive special recognition.
Integrity Quotes:
"Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching." Jim Stovall
"Keep your word and value your reputation-it's the one thing that, once you lose -you can't get back." by Leeza Gibbons
"One of the most important ways to manifest integrity is to be loyal to those who are not present. In doing so, we build the trust of those who are present." by Stephen Covey
"What is wrong is wrong, even if everyone is doing it. Right is still right, even if no one else is doing it." by William Penn
"Those who stand for nothing fall for anything." by Alexander Hamilton
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