Open letter to Character Counts Founder, Michael Josephson

Sir,

If you remember me at all, it will be as one of the first teachers in the APS that you taught to be a Character Counts! trainer.

I am writing to you to relate a problem.

Apparently Character Counts! National Vice President Jessica Ellis will visit the APS, Friday, Jan. 11.

The problem is that Ms. Ellis’ visit will contribute to a deliberate deception of stakeholders in the APS. Stakeholders in the APS are unaware

• that School Board President Paula Maes and the leadership of the APS have renounced the Pillars of Character Counts as the standard of conduct for their own public service in the APS.
• that the leadership of the APS has abdicated as role models of the student standard of conduct.
• that the leadership changed the student standard of conduct, in order that students (and the leadership of the APS) are no longer required to model and promote the Pillars of Character Counts.

The leadership of the APS is no longer honestly accountable to any standard of conduct that uses the word ethical. By their own admission, the board’s recently adopted code of ethics, which does not use the word again, is completely unenforceable.

And yet, according to the APS press release (link);

“APS has had great success with Character Counts!,” Interim APS Superintendent Linda Sink said.”

Ms. Ellis’ visit is being used to promote a deception.

The leadership of the APS is making a mockery of Character Counts!

• School Board President Paula Maes was the President of the Character Counts Leadership Council, when she renounced the Pillars of Character Counts as her own standard of conduct as the senior role model in the APS.
• The membership of the Character Counts Leadership Council is kept secret by APS' Carole Smith, whose job it is to promote Character Counts! She keeps the list secret in order that members of the Council can pretend no obligation to stand up for what they believe in.

In the many years I taught Character Counts to my students, I had the occasion to hand out tee shirts that on their front and back read;

Stand up for what you believe in
...even if you are standing alone.

I had always assumed that that would be the worst case scenario; that more often than not, that child would find an adult behind them offering support, an adult beside them sharing the sacrifice, and an adult in front of them leading by their example.

Never was it my intention to tell a child
to stand up for what they believe in,
even if they are standing alone,
and then let them.

The leadership of the APS has betrayed the principles of Character Counts.

I have asked for your help before.
I am asking again.

I believe that you and Ms. Ellis, have an obligation to report upon the truth about Character Counts in the APS.

As you well know, you pick a side,
when you don't pick a side.