The next generation will be the stewards of our communities, nation and planet in extraordinarily critical times. It will inherit a world fraught with political and personal corruption, pervasive drug abuse, gang violence, and racial and ethnic tensions. In such a world, the well-being, perhaps the survival, of our civilization requires an involved, caring citizenry with sound moral character.

- Michael Josephson

 

CHARACTER COUNTS!

Trustworthiness                          Responsibility

Respect                                        Caring

Fairness                                       Citizenship

 

What is Character Counts?

In July, 1992, Michael Josephson, a former law professor, brought together a diverse group of educators and youth service leaders in Aspen, Colorado. Together they worked to find a common ground and common language for teaching character that all Americans could agree on regardless of political views, religious beliefs, race, ethnicity, or socio-economic status. These representatives, with strongly held beliefs and diverse perspectives, crafted the Character Counts! program, which contains the six "pillars" of character: trustworthiness, respect, fairness, responsibility, caring and citizenship.

Why promote character?

With the hurried lifestyles of today’s families, youth are influenced less by their families and more by media and individuals outside the home. As citizens of our community, it is our responsibility to "bombard" young people with positive images and values.

 

WHY IS THE KNOXVILLE BAR ASSOCIATION INVOLVED IN CHARACTER COUNTS!?

On October 15, 1997, the Knoxville Bar Association (KBA) became the first bar association in the country to endorse the CHARACTER COUNTS! program. The KBA Board of Governors has committed to integrate these six core elements of character into public service programs sponsored by the KBA which serve students and adults. In addition, our bar leaders encourage every KBA member to set out opportunities to incorporate these core ethical values into their work with young people and to model these traits of good character in an ongoing commitment to promote character development and ethical behavior in the youth of our community.

During the last eighteen months, the KBA has been involved in the following activities:

  • Sponsored a three-hour training session in which more than a dozen bar leaders attended to learn how to incorporate the CHARACTER COUNTS! curriculum into existing public service programs.
  • In October, 1998, a one hour session entitled "CHARACTER COUNTS! in the Legal Profession" was presented to 120 attorneys and law students attending an Ethics seminar sponsored by the KBA.
  • A CHARACTER COUNTS! promotional piece has been added to all of public service handouts, including the Community Law School notebook and the LawTalk folder.
  • KBA staff have written a grant application for a Foundations for Success Juvenile Offender Program and is currently seeking funding sources. The program, once funded, will be administered through the Helen Ross McNabb Center and the Knox County Juvenile Court and the curriculum will be developed using the six pillars of CHARACTER COUNTS! The project will target youth, ages 11 to 17, referred from the Knox County Juvenile Court as part of their probation requirements.

 

REMEMBER:

Character is not hereditary, nor does it develop automatically; it must be learned through example and practice. We can’t sit kids down for a workshop and walk out an hour later with high moral character and integrity. They need reinforcement from the community. Area schools are starting to focus on character education, but youth need to hear about positive values at home, at church and throughout the community.

 

A society needs values education both to survive and to thrive - to keep itself intact, and to keep itself growing toward conditions that support the full human development of all its members.

- Thomas Lickona

 

A Resolution by the Knoxville Bar Association

to Endorse and Implement the

CHARACTER COUNTS! Program

WHEREAS, the Knoxville Bar Association Board of Governors recognizes that our profession, more so than any other, is entrusted with the responsibility to know, interpret, and apply the law and concerns about the character training of children have taken on a sense of urgency in Knoxville to prevent violence and delinquency among the youth in our community and our schools, and;

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, and

WHEREAS, the public good is advanced when young people are taught the importance of good character, and that CHARACTER COUNTS! in personal relationships, in school, and in the workplace, and;

WHEREAS, the Knoxville Bar Association Board of Governors encourages students, teachers, parents, youth and community leaders to recognize the valuable role our youth play in the present and future of our nation, and recognize that character is an important part of that future, and;

WHEREAS, these six core elements as taught through the CHARACTER COUNTS! Program include:

1. Trustworthiness

2. Respect

3. Responsibility

4. Fairness

5. Caring

6. Citizenship, and;

WHEREAS, these six core elements of character transcend cultural, religious, and socioeconomic differences, and;

WHEREAS, the Knoxville Bar Association Board of Governors encourages individuals and organizations, especially those who have an interest in the education and training of our youth, to adopt the six core elements of character as intrinsic to the well-being of individuals, communities, and society as a whole.

NOW THEREFORE, the Knoxville Bar Association Board of Governors commits to integrate these six core elements of character into public service programs sponsored by the KBA which serve students and adults, and;

FURTHER, the Knoxville Bar Association Board of Governors encourages every KBA member to set out opportunities to incorporate these core ethical values into their work with young people and to model these traits of good character in an ongoing commitment to promote character development and ethical behavior in the youth of our community.

Adopted the fifteenth day of October, 1997
 

What Can You Do To Help?

There are at least six ways you can help:

  • Express your concern to youth-influencing individuals and organizations to get them involved.

  • Teach your family the importance of character.

  • Hold yourself and others more strictly accountable to living up to the six core ethical values.

  • Inform yourself about what is going on in the schools and youth organizations and learn how you can become a more effective character teacher.

  • Create an atmosphere of positive and negative consequences where character is prized.

  • Support financially and with your time organizations involved in building character.

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