APS graduates lack good character

Not all of them of course. But all of them compared to where they could be if the leadership of the APS were willing to "lead" in the development of student good character; qualities that make them distinct from other people; the kind of person they are.

By deliberate decision, the “leadership” of the APS and the district have abandoned any effort to help to develop good character in students in APS schools.

If we want APS graduates to enter their communities embracing good character and courage and honor, someone is going to have to show them what those look like.

There is not one single school board member or senior administrator willing to show students what those look like.

Students need role models in order to develop character because
“Example has more followers than reason.” Bovee

APS students, without direction or support, and according to school board policy, are “expected” to “model and promote” honest accountability to a nationally recognized, accepted and respected code of ethical conduct; to higher standards of conduct than the law.

When the leadership of the APS was challenged to step up to real accountability as the senior most role models in the district, they voted instead to remove the language from their own standards of conduct that was being used to compel them to set that example whether or not they wanted to; whether or not they were able to summon the personal character and courage to.

They voted unanimously to strike their role modeling clause. It had read;

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

Students are being deprived of adult role models of accountability to the same standards of conduct to which they are expected to hold themselves accountable, or forfeit their good character.

Double standards of conduct now reign in the APS.

Worse, school board members and senior administrators are arguably unaccountable even to the law; the lowest standards of conduct acceptable to civilized human beings.

Character education has been dropped from the curriculum because there is no one in the “leadership” of the APS, no one, not one, willing to stand up before students and say; this is what honest to God accountability to meaningful standards of conduct and competence looks like.

“If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.”

The APS board is under the effect of another unanimous resolution they made. Though it was made in 1994, it has only aged. It has not been amended or rescinded. Unless the board is prepared to argue that “their word” has a shelf life, the resolution is still binding.

In their resolution they reaffirmed the need to;

• actively engage in the development and demonstration of ethical behavior among youth, adults, and
• provide learners the skills and knowledge needed to become successful and productive members of a dynamic society , and
• recognize 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 the important role played by teachers and other adults in school settings in modeling good character for young people

They further resolved;

• To endorse 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;
• That the Albuquerque Public Schools is committed to creating models of ethical behavior among all adults who serve students and schools (emphasis added)

• the core curriculum should continue to give explicit attention to character development as an ongoing art of school instruction
• materials, teaching methods shall be selected, in part, for their capacity to support the development of character
• all schools examine school curriculum and practices to identify and extend opportunities for developing character, and help students learn and model caring and ethical behavior.

And now, as far as students and a handful of educators are concerned, it’s every man for himself.

When APS was still about developing good character in kids, and students were still being offered formal instruction, some student graduates were given t-shirts that on their front and back read;

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

Students standing up for what they believe in, trying to develop and maintain their good character shouldn’t be standing alone.

There should be an adult behind them offering encouragement,
an adult beside them sharing the burden, and
an adult in front of them, leading by their personal example.

Starting with school board members and senior administrators.