Smart & Good High Schools - The Flippen Group

CHAPTER 5: Fostering the 8 Strengths of Character—Outcome 4ual teachers work to create a culture of integrity in theirclassrooms, honor codes will be more successful in creatinga schoolwide culture of integrity.Former high school history teacher Hal Urban, in his article,“Honesty: Why It’s Still the Best Policy,” 42 explainshow he tried to develop his students’ intrinsic motivationto be honest. He says: “I wanted my students to realizethat when we choose to be honest—or dishonest—somethinghappens inside of us. It affects the kind of person we arebecoming.” To help them see why this is true, he began byasking them to write thoughtful answers to a series ofquestions about honesty (see box).QUESTIONS ABOUT HONESTY1. A prospective employer or college writes to one ofyour teachers for a recommendation. The writersays, “We know this student has good grades.What about his/her character?” What would youwant the teacher to say about your character?2. Is “Everybody’s doing it” a valid reason to dosomething dishonest?3. Is cheating in any of the following circumstancesless wrong than cheating in the others: (a) school,(b) business, (c) income taxes, (d) athletic event,(e) job or college application? Explain.4. How do you gain the trust of another person?How do you destroy it?5. What are some of the consequences of beingdishonest?6. What are some of the rewards of being honest?7. Do you see any threats to our present society fromdishonesty? Explain.Next, students shared their answers in small groups, followedby reporting out and whole-group discussion. Discussiontypically identified the following “costs of dishonesty”:1. Dishonesty turns us into phonies.2. Dishonesty always carries a cost, internal if notexternal.3. Dishonesty often can’t be hidden because our deceptionseventually catch up with us.4. Dishonesty ruins relationships because it destroystrust.5. Dishonesty prevents our fulfillment because it underminesour self-respect.Class discussion also typically identified the followingrewards of honesty:1. Honesty brings peace of mind.2. Honesty builds our character and reputation.3. Honesty strengthens our relationships.4. Honesty is good for our mental health because it freesus from guilt and worry and builds our self-respect.5. Honesty enables us to be authentic—true to ourselves.Following discussion, Urban asked his students to writeagain on the initial questions about honesty, and comparetheir two sets of responses. He comments:As a class, we discussed how their answers may havechanged and why. This activity helped them see that honestyis a choice, one that matters. They had a better graspof why honesty is essential if they want to have self-respectand fulfilling relationships—now and throughout their lives.OUTCOME 4:Ethical ThinkerPromising Practice 6:Teach ethical wisdom throughcharacter quotations.4Speak not a word by which anyone could be wounded.Happiness begins where selfishness ends.—HINDU PROVERB—JOHN WOODENThe final forming of our character lies in our own hands.—ANNE FRANKIn becoming integrated ethical thinkers, young people don’thave to start with a blank slate. They can gain moral discernmentfrom, and form their consciences around, the wisdomof the ages. We can find that wisdom expressed in pithyproverbs or astute observations by historical and contemporaryfigures. Teachers of all subjects and all levels have foundIf you tell the truth, you don’t have toremember what you said.—MARK TWAIN144Smart & Good High Schools