1. Identify through a community survey and staff survey which core ethical

virtues are paramount to your staff and community. Our Bureau provides a

survey you can use. Values in Action Guide pg. 103

2. You can also preview activities in the Values in Action! Coordinator and

Teacher guides. Many examples can be found in our On Line Newsletter,

Values in Action “The Best in Ethics Education”. Keep in mind that these strategies and

solutions were developed over a 25 year period, to be used for a 7 year

ethics/character program.

3. We recommend that schools consider using one Core Ethical Virtue per year,

beginning with responsibility. Responsibility is the foundational value upon

which all other values are based. In the Values in Action! Program,

initiative rather than responsibility is used. Initiative is the highest form

of responsibility. Use all the “adult words” in this program, because children

of all ages can learn them. Values in Action! Guide pg. 327

A Responsibility Management Seminar is available for your staff.

4. Consider using a child with the body reference points on a school bulletin

board and in each of the classrooms. (This is a trademark symbol and

concept so you must have a license from the publisher.)

In secondary schools we include them on bookmarks. Refer to the body parts

and behavior as you proceed to explain the 7 values, using the picture of the

child. ™ Encourage students to memorize the various body parts with the

corresponding value. Values in Action! Guide pgs. 81-85

5. The core ethical virtue of respect is the second value we encourage

schools to implement.

Value Venture Steps pg. 232 are provided as well as weekly activities.

Values in Action! Guide pg. 179

New Teen Seminar for Respect is available!

6. Implement some of the school-wide ideas during your first year, i.e.

“Monday Memos” read over the intercom by the principal, VP, students, or

different teachers. Values in Action! Guide pp 174-202-221 222-223-224-225-269-270-310

Design a school “C-” Shirt (Character Shirt) with the yearly value theme.

Values in Action! Guide pp 173-201-308

7. Post a school-wide bulletin board around the theme, i.e.. Arrows of

Initiative, or Rainbow of Respect. Make it interactive to display students

acts of initiative or respect! Values in Action! Guide pp 327-175-166-167-168

8. Have a school-wide Student Poster Contest using your annual theme. Display

posters that best represent your theme. Values in Action! Guide pp 227-233-245-248

9. Write a Daily Pledge (using our Trademarked student reference points p16)

that students can recite daily in their classrooms. Values in Action! Guide p 119.

10. Study each character’s “Character” in stories you read. Write and request

our updated list of books for each Value you study. You can also find this On

Line at our web site. Values in Action! Guide p 91

11. Initiate a School Climate/Character Committee whose major function is to

provide 4 activities each month (one per week) that teachers can use in their

classrooms. Activities and ideas are in VIA Teachers Guide or from our web

site! This keeps the program active and growing .

12. Start an Active Citizenship Campaign by encouraging “Courtesy Cards”

given to community members for community service projects, beginning with

the “classroom community”. Values in Action! Guide p 170

13. Develop a Code of Conduct/Ethics including Ethics and Rules – Incorporate

a pledge for players, coaches and parents for all team sports. Chart Sample Values in Action! Guide p 84

14. Initiate a Better Choice Program and Solution Centers from the seminar on

Responsibility Management.

15. Review The Bureau of Essential Ethics Education web site Newsletter: The

Best in Ethics Education. If you have purchased the Values in Action! Program

you receive a complete set of the Character Classic Music Series and are

licensed to use all web site ideas found in the Newsletter. Schools in the

Values in Action! Network share their best ideas with each other through the

ON Line Newsletter!

www.ethicsusa.com

(c)1998 Gene Bedley Values in Action! Character Education for Schools

– Gene Bedley