Video chronicles character education program

By Staff
Georgia E. Frye / staff writer
Feb. 6, 2003
Meridian Public School District officials will head to Jackson this month armed with a newly produced video documenting the success of Mississippi's first character education program.
Cindy Burt, program coordinator, and Thomas Burton, with Cook Communications, were shooting the video this week. When finished, it will be available for clubs and organizations interested in the program.
Meridian public schools began the character education program during the 2000-2001 school year after receiving a $1 million grant from the federal government.
The program focuses students' attention on one specific character trait each month including courage, respect, honesty, responsibility, citizenship, compassion, self-discipline, friendship and perseverance.
Schools use daily morning messages on their intercoms, interactive classroom programs and other methods to explain the meaning and importance of character traits.
Besides that, staff members from Meridian public schools also have trained 19 other public school districts across the state about how they can begin similar character education programs.
So far, 23 out of 152 school districts statewide have begun similar programs. Burt hopes that every district in Mississippi will offer a character education program in the near future.
Even students are literally singing the praises of the character education program.
A group of public school children from West End Elementary School visited the Meridian City Council at its Tuesday regular meeting to sing a song about the character trait of "friendship."
Harvey's definition of a friend is, "someone you can talk to." She also said she is learning a lot about character and last month she learned about self-discipline.