APS Board adopts Character Counts! by unanimous resolution!

The Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education passed a resolution adopting Character Counts! for the APS.

The Resolution reads;

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 part 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 among youth and adults;

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 fairy 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

Because the Resolution does not include a sunset clause, and because it has never been rescinded or repealed, it is as binding today as it was the night it was passed almost 20 years ago.

In the intervening decades, the administration of the APS has failed to carry out resolution in a number of respects;

1. They have failed to 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, and,
2. They have failed to create models of ethical behavior among all adults who serve students and schools, and,
3. They have failed to give explicit attention to character development in the core curriculum and, as an ongoing part of school instruction, and,
4. They have failed to select materials, teaching methods, partnerships, and services to support school programs, in part, for their capacity to support the development of character among youth and adults, and
5. They have failed to examine school curriculum and practices to identify and extend opportunities for developing character.

In the interim, they did take the time to abdicate their duties, obligations, and responsibilities as role models of student standards of conduct by repealing the role modeling clause in their own standards of conduct.  It used to read;

In no case shall the standards of conduct for an adult
be lower than the standards of conduct for students.

It no longer does.

The board needs to live up to their resolution or repeal it.
They intend to do either.

The one would require more character and courage
than they can summon, and well,  the other would too.

They will follow a third path; pretend there is no problem.

They are joined in that endeavor by Kent Walz' Journal, and by the news directors at KRQE, KOAT, KOB, and KKOB radio.

Submitted; Letters to the Editors, Albuquerque Journal, upon posting.