Civility, Citizenship, and Character Education

The Board of Education recognizes that teaching students respect, civility and understanding toward others, as well as the practice and reinforcement of appropriate behavior and values of our society, is an important function of the District.

The District wishes to foster an environment where students exhibit behavior that promotes positive educational practices, allows students to grow socially and academically, and encourages healthy dialogue in respectful ways. By presenting teachers and staff as positive role models, the District stresses positive communication and discourages disrespectful treatment. This policy is not intended to deprive and/or restrict any student of their right to freedom of expression but, rather, seeks to maintain, to the extent possible and reasonable, a safe, harassment free and educationally conducive environment for our students and staff.

Furthermore, the District will ensure that the course of instruction in grades K through 12 includes a component on civility, citizenship, and character education in accordance with Education Law, with an emphasis on discouraging acts of harassment, bullying, and/or discrimination. Character education is the deliberate effort to help students understand, care about, and act upon core ethical values.

Character education will instruct students on the principles of:

a) Honesty;

b) Tolerance;

c) Personal responsibility;

d) Respect for others;

e) Awareness and sensitivity to discrimination and/or harassment as defined in the Dignity for All Students Act;

f) Civility in relation to people of different races, weights, national origins, ethnic groups, religions, religious practices, physical or mental abilities, sexual orientations, genders or sexes;

g) Observance of laws and rules;

h) Courtesy;

i) Dignity, and other traits which will enhance the quality of students' experiences in, and contributions to, the community; and

j) Safe and responsible use of the Internet and electronic communications.

As determined by the Board of Regents, and as further enumerated in Commissioner's regulations, the components of character education will be incorporated in existing District curricula as applicable.

The District encourages the involvement of staff, students, parents, and community members in the implementation and reinforcement of character education in the schools.

Interpersonal Violence Prevention Education

The District may utilize any interpersonal violence prevention education package made available by the State Education Department. These materials may be incorporated as part of the health or other related curricula or programs for students in grades K through 12.

A: Character education is the term chosen to describe the District’s intentional efforts to promote positive behavior and character development. High standards of conduct are closely related to high levels of academic achievement. Character development is an integral part of the mission of the District.

A: Yes. Parents are their children’s primary teachers, especially with respect to behavior and character. The District recognizes the role of parents, and seeks to support families’ efforts to develop positive character traits, while teaching the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

A: The focus of our character education efforts will be on developing positive behaviors which reflect widely accepted community values including but not limited to:

• Honesty
• Respect
• Responsibility
• Compassion
• Self-discipline
• Perseverance
• Giving to others

A: Character development is already integrated in our educational program in a variety of ways. Character building occurs through high academic standards for all students, teaching strategies such as cooperative learning, school and community projects, assemblies and ceremonies which celebrate students’ contributions, participation in service activities, and the study of literature. The District’s goal in this character education undertaking is both to strengthen what we are already doing and focus attention on our efforts. Individual school building goals for character education will be established by each building’s Shared Decision Making Team.

A: Yes and no. The District has decided not to adopt a particular character education curriculum or packaged program. Our goal is not to add to the curriculum that teachers and students are expected to cover each year.

Character development will instead be integrated quite naturally — in the current curriculum, extra-curricular activities, and social interactions that occur among all members of the school community. At the same time, particular experiences or activities may be added to the program as deemed valuable and educationally appropriate.

A: Teachers and other staff members will have character education professional development opportunities through regular building and District offerings. There will also be learning opportunities planned for interested parents and community members, focused on how to improve character education at home and in partnership with the schools. A variety of resources related to character education will be available to staff and parents in each school building.

A: Everyone. The school community consists of Board members, administrators, teaching and support staff, students, and volunteers in the schools. Every member of the school community will be expected to model and enforce high standards of behavior. Teachers will be expected to seize teaching opportunities as they naturally arise in the curriculum and school activities. Working together as partners, parents, schools and community groups will strengthen each other’s efforts.