Winston Brooks wouldn't answer; here's why.

During the last public forum, I asked
APS Superintendent Winston Brooks
to answer a legitimate question.
I asked him, what is the APS Student
Standard of Conduct? Specifically,
is it still the Pillars of Character Counts!?

I asked him to respond to the question candidly, forthrightly and honestly. He did not.



School Board President, Marty Esquivel was asked the same question. He also chose to not answer candidly, forthrightly, and honestly.

I asked APS Director of Communications, Rigo Chavez to gather together for me, any proof that the administration was doing anything at all in support of Character Counts!. I just talked to him; he said there is none.

Winston Brooks is doing nothing at all in support of Character Counts!.


School Board Member David Robbins was the only member of the leadership of the APS who answered the question. He said "...in regards to Character Counts! ...the school district is emphatic that we support it."

There is, we now know, no evidence the district supports Character Counts!, emphatically or otherwise.

David Robbins did not tell the truth. If he uttered an untruth deliberately, he lied. If he is ignorant of the truth, he should have investigated the truth before answering the question. In any event he owes stakeholders a retraction of his untruthful and misleading statement.

Cogent documentation; in 1994, the APS School Board adopted Character Counts! as the model for character education in the APS by adopting the following resolution. The resolution does not have a shelf life; it is as binding today as it was the night it was passed, unanimously, by the APS Board of Education.
(emphasis added)

Resolution To endorse and Implement Character Counts! Program in the Albuquerque Public Schools

Whereas, Albuquerque Public Schools reaffirms the need to join with other community groups to actively engage in the development and demonstration of ethical behavior among youth, adults, and

Whereas, the mission of Albuquerque Public Schools is to provide learners of all ages the skills and knowledge needed to become successful and productive members of a dynamic society , and

Whereas, the Albuquerque Public Schools recognizes that students in our schools are more likely now than in the past to experience family disintegration, homicide, drug use, teen age pregnancy, dishonesty, suicide, and strong messages from media and society that undermine home teaching of ethical values, and

Whereas, the Albuquerque Public Schools recognizes that no single community institution can instill ethical behavior in youth and adults if it is acting without the support of other institutions and groups, and

Whereas, the Albuquerque Public Schools recognizes the important role played by teachers and other adults in school settings in modeling good character for young people

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED;

1. That the Albuquerque Public Schools endorses the Aspen Declaration on Character Education * as well as the Character Counts! Program as ways to develop character based on six core ethical values; trustworthiness, respect, responsibility , fairness, caring and citizenship;
2. That the Albuquerque Public Schools will enter into community-wide discussions with other institutions and groups to reach agreements about the role of each in promoting ethical behavior among young people, and adults in various aspects of life;
3. That the Albuquerque Public Schools is committed to creating models of ethical behavior among all adults who serve students and schools;
4. That the core curriculum should continue to give explicit attention to character development as an ongoing art of school instruction;
5. That materials, teaching methods, partnerships, and services to support school programs shall be selected, in part, for their capacity to support the development of character …
6. That all schools examine school curriculum and practices to identify and extend opportunities for developing character, especially through the utilization of violence-prevention programs, mediation training, community service programs, fair rules which are fairly enforced, democratic practices in classrooms and organizations, and extracurricular activities which help students learn and model caring and ethical behavior.

DATED this 2nd day of March, 1994

*
The Aspen Declaration on Character Education
In July 1992, the Josephson Institute of Ethics hosted a summit conference in Aspen, Colorado. A diverse group of ethicists, educators and youth-service professionals convened to find ways to work together and boost their character-education efforts. The declaration that concluded this meeting would form the intellectual foundation for the CHARACTER COUNTS! movement, started by the Institute the following year.
1. The next generation will be the stewards of our communities, nation and planet in extraordinarily critical times.
2. In such times, the well-being of our society requires an involved, caring citizenry with good moral character.
3. People do not automatically develop good moral character; therefore, conscientious efforts must be made to help young people develop the values and abilities necessary for moral decision making and conduct.
4. Effective character education is based on core ethical values rooted in democratic society, in particular, respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, justice and fairness, caring, and civic virtue and citizenship.
5. These core ethical values transcend cultural, religious and socioeconomic differences.
6. Character education is, first and foremost, an obligation of families and faith communities, but schools and youth-service organizations also have a responsibility to help develop the character of young people.
7. These responsibilities are best achieved when these groups work in concert.
8. The character and conduct of our youth reflect the character and conduct of society; therefore, every adult has the responsibility to teach and model the core ethical values and every social institution has the responsibility to promote the development of good character.




photos Mark Bralley