Share gift of good character

E-mail this story

Print this story

Share

In recent days, thanks to the generosity of Sauk Valley service organizations and police departments, local boys and girls in need have been brought together and provided with gifts, meals and Christmas cheer. Other boys and girls gathered last week to learn about a gift that is less tangible but perhaps more important - character.

"Character Counts" organizers welcomed about 140 students from middle schools in Whiteside and Lee counties to the Sauk Valley Community College campus, where they participated in interactive activities throughout the day to understand what character is and why it's so important.

Students learned about the six pillars of character - trust, respect, fairness, responsibility, caring and citizenship. They learned how these pillars come into play when individuals are faced with decisions big and small.

Further, they learned it's up to them to stand up and apply lessons they learn in character-education seminars to real-world situations that crop up regularly.

We're glad to see the college help sponsor this event, along with the University of Illinois Extension, AmeriCorps of the Sauk Valley, Sterling YWCA and Gymnastics Divine of Dixon.

Participation by members of the Building Lasting Impressions that Never Die group at Newman Central Catholic and Sterling high schools should help reinforce the good-character messages heard throughout the day.

After the presentations, roundtable discussions and breakout groups ended, the students didn't go away empty-handed. They received T-shirts listing the six pillars. By wearing these shirts, students can share the message of character education.

However, building good character shouldn't solely be left up to seminars such as this. It's got to be a communitywide effort.

One volunteer had an apt observation: "The more good character is accepted, the more you'll see it practiced."

Unfortunately, our society doesn't make it easy to practice good character. From steroid abuse by baseball players and white-collar criminals stealing millions to common folks engaging in property crimes and drug abuse, the message seems to be that character flaws are what attract attention. Television and movies reinforce the negative, not the positive.

So, here's a challenge for the community: Create an environment that embraces and rewards examples of good character in young people, and at the same time, do away with any environment that discourages the practice of good character.

What a Christmas gift that would be.