Character is taught by role modeling

Character is taught only by role modeling.

No child is going to listen to the story about George Washington
and the cherry tree, and then grow up embracing character, and
courage, and honor, simply for the hearing of the tale.

Someone is going to have to show them what character and
courage and honor look like.

Every generation expects the following generation to be
the first generation to hold itself honestly accountable to
meaningful standards of conduct and competence.

... honestly accountable.

Every generation expects the next generation to
do as they are told, and as not as they are shown.

With limited success.

Somebody has to show children what honest accountability
to meaningful standards of conduct, looks like.

Somebody has to walk the talk.