I stand on the broad shoulders of my ancestry to proclaim, that
as a nation, we must recognize, accept and glorify the realization that we are
all of "one body." Though this
axiom has been articulated in many forms, in many tongues, and throughout many
periods of human existence, we contin
e to resist and struggle to embrace this
most basic philosophy. We have been
infused with the notion that "he who has the most gold wins."
I must insist that this cliché, as prevalent
as it is, has and will continue to retard and obstruct the extraordinary
achievements that we as a people could ever realize.
There can be no better way to free the minds of all people, and
break the barriers of hatred, than for us to acknowledge the contributions of
all. We have been taught to look for the
worse in our brother. We must however,
embellish the positive characteristics rather than continue to articulate the
negative. We must celebrate the benefits of the many, rather than succumb to
the terminating self-serving attitude that evolves from a selfish society.
"The best in the 'worst' of us.......is
far more desirable than the worse in the 'best' of us." All of us, from those relegated to a position
of the less fortunate to those who we have been entrusted with our government,
all of us, have the right, and indeed, moreover are obligated to be a
contributor to, or will certainly become a burden to society. Certainly, because of our personal
preference, each of us has our own individual and distinct responsibility, but
nonetheless, each has a valued role in humanity.
When my brother struggles, I struggle. When my sister pains, her pain I also
share. If there is one paradigm that
will keep mankind from fulfilling our finest potential, it will be because we
choose to look past the needs of the less fortunate as if we have no
association to their plight, and moreover, when so much is riding on our
universality. We must replace the
negative stimulus that surrounds us constantly with the positive contributions
that are equally visible, if we will but look for them. We have been so conditioned to the negative
stimulus that surrounds us constantly that many feel perfectly satisfied with
our dilemma. We have been led to believe
that "this is just the way things are."
Slowly, and ever so methodically, we have
been desensitized. Society would have
you believe that you must not assist those in need. My dear friend, this attitude is not only
destructive to our physical and emotional spirit, but this attitude is most
certainly devastating to the innermost spirit that each of us possess; a spirit
whose very existence rests with and is amplified when united with the spirit of
others.
You, my friend, represent the very best that is available in all
of us. You must however, seek to find
your own positive place in life; a life that is maximized as we utilize the
talents that each of us are gifted. For
certainly, it is only in helping others that we can be greater than and realize
our greatest potentiality. In truth, we
will only realize our fullest potential when the sharing of ourselves is the
primary function of our daily endeavors.
At Knowledge-First, we are built upon the philosophy that
"To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a
menace to society"
-Theodore Roosevelt-
Our vision is to provide an enriching educational environment
that provides for our learners, a realization that each of us has value and
that each of us has a contribution to make in this life.
What we do in life-echoes in eternity.
I am because we are. . . We are, therefore, I am.
~James H. Allen
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Character Education is a national movement creating
schools that foster ethical, responsible, and caring young people by modeling
and teaching good character through an emphasis on universal values that we all
share. At Knowledge-First, we are helping schools provide an environment
t
at instills in their students important core, ethical values such as respect
for self and others, responsibility, integrity, and self-discipline. Our
attention to this area provides long-term solutions that address moral,
ethical, and academic issues that are of growing concern about our society and
the safety of our schools.
Character education may address such critical issues as
student absenteeism, discipline problems, drug abuse, gang violence, teen
pregnancy, and poor academic performance.
Six Pillars of Character
Trustworthiness
Be honest • Don’t
deceive, cheat or steal • Be reliable — do what you say you’ll do • Have the
courage to do the right thing • Build a good reputation • Be loyal — stand by
your family, friends and country
Respect
Treat others with respect; follow the Golden Rule •
Be tolerant of differences • Use good manners, not bad language • Be
considerate of the feelings of others • Don’t threaten, hit or hurt anyone •
Deal peacefully with anger, insults and disagreements
Responsibility
Do what you are supposed to do • Persevere: keep on
trying! • Always do your best • Use self-control • Be self-disciplined • Think
before you act — consider the consequences • Be accountable for your choices
Fairness
Play by the rules • Take turns and share • Be
open-minded; listen to others • Don’t take advantage of others • Don’t blame
others carelessly
Caring
Be kind • Be compassionate and show you care •
Express gratitude • Forgive others • Help people in need
Citizenship
Do your share to make your school and community
better • Cooperate • Get involved in community affairs • Stay informed; vote •
Be a good neighbor • Obey laws and rules • Respect authority • Protect the
environment
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