Character Counts! is a declarative sentence.

In 1994, that APS Board of Education, unanimously
adopted Character Counts! as the model for character
education in the APS.

The APS Student Standard of Conduct reads;

"... students are expected to model and promote
the Pillars of Character Counts! ..."

The Pillars of Character Counts! are a nationally
recognized, accepted, and respected code of ethical conduct.

Students are taught that their character is important;
to them, and to the people around them.

Role modeling is integral to teaching students about character.
Some one has to show them what it looks like.

Fundamental to the Student Standard of Conduct,
is the expectation that students hold themselves honestly
accountable for their conduct.

We teach them that their character depends upon it.

We teach them, by means of our words, that
if they are asked a legitimate question about their conduct,
they are supposed to answer, candidly, forthrightly, and
honestly.

We teach them that their character depends upon it.


We illustrate the point with a story about George Washington.

And then we illustrate the point with our personal example;
we model the conduct we expect from students.
We show them what it looks like to be honest when it is
done at some personal sacrifice.

Or not.

The leadership of the APS will not just sit down and tell the
truth. No one will point to a time, a day and a place,
where they will sit still and answer legitimate questions about
the public interests, and about their public service.

They accept legitimate questions only by means of a system
that allows them to ignore the questions, to stonewall them.

Upton Sinclair, derived;

We should not be so worried that
students never listen to us,
when we tell them to be honest;

as we should be worried that
they are always watching us,
when we are being dishonest.

It is dishonest to stonewall legitimate questions.
It violates the Student Standard of Conduct.

The leadership of the APS,
in refusing to role model the Pillar of Trustworthiness,
violates the Student Standard of Conduct, again.

They fall short as role models of the Student Standard of Conduct.

In their refusal to provide a system under which
they can be held honestly accountable for their failure,
they violate the Student Standard of Conduct, again.

We teach students that they must cooperate in the principled
resolution of a complaint that is made against them.

Four candidates for school board have indicated that
they are willing to step up as role models of
the Student Standard of Conduct;

understanding full well that it means that;
they will sit down and respond to legitimate questions
about the public interests, and about their public service,

candidly, forthrightly, and honestly.

Because that is what they will expect students to do.

District 3
Jeffrey C. Rich

District 5
Renee Louise Rosales

District 6
David L. Robbins

District 7
Patrick J. Marron

We have an opportunity to elect a majority to the school board,
who are willing to be held accountable to a standard of conduct
that requires them to tell the truth;
who are willing to start the problem solving, by telling the truth.

The opportunity is unprecedented, and unfortunately,
still un-newsworthy.

And voting has already begun.