We have all seen so many of these kinds of stories that we typically just shake our heads and say, “Seriously. Does anyone have any integrity anymore?” I remember when I was teaching this class on character and leadership back in 2001 and Kobe Bryant, a married man, was accused of raping a woman in a Denver hotel room. While we …
True Heroes: A Story of Courage & Bravery
Imagine that you are on spring break and going out for a late bite to eat. Suddenly, a car races past you and crashes into a tree and bursts into flames. What do you do? Seriously? What would you do? Well, Cody Decker and Luke Vaughn, two teenagers from DeWitt High School in Michigan, MI, found themselves in just this …
Still Think Honesty Doesn’t Matter?
Jermaine Jones, also known as the Gentle Giant, on American Idol was booted off the show because he had four warrants out for his arrest. Apparently, he did not disclose this information or the incidences that led to these charges. In this video clip below, the producers say that they would have worked with him to clear up his record …
A Unique Comparison on Public Assistance
I am providing 3 links below. The first link is about a woman, Amanda Clayton, who won 1 million dollars in the Michigan State Lottery last year. At the time, she was receiving $200 in food stamps each month. She did not cancel her public assistance and continued to receive these food stamps. The next two links are from the movie, …
Final Thoughts On Joe Paterno
I have seen lots of individuals, who were considered positive role models, let us down. The names of Tiger Woods, Bill Clinton, OJ Simpson and Michael Phelps come to mind. To be honest, it really hurts to see Joe Paterno on that list. For me personally, it’s difficult to see a legend, who did so many great things, go out like this. It seems that …
Attitude Goes A Long Way…Literally
I woke up at 6:40 a.m. to the sound of my wife saying, “Aren’t you supposed to be at the airport?” I flew out of bed, but as I rubbed my blurry eyes, I instantly knew that it was too late. For the first time that I can recall, I missed a flight and it was my own fault. I forgot to …
Penn State: Lessons Learned
The Penn State Scandal is tragic, shocking and upsetting. A few weeks have passed since the revelation that Jerry Sandusky, a former assistant coach for the football team, had been sexually abusing young boys for decades. The grand jury report suggests that many individuals had direct or indirect knowledge of this abuse and didn’t do enough to stop it. Consequently, the head …
Author Requests Help on Updating Book
My plan is to write three new chapters for each trait. We will then make it part of the online version, allowing teachers to select the chapters they want the students to read. Perhaps students could even make their own individual choices. With more role models, the book will be more diverse and contemporary. We also hear from individuals around the globe. I heard from …
Purpose of this Blog
The main purpose of this blog is to provide weekly teaching resources to the teachers and students involved with the Character Development & Leadership Curriculum. Most of this will be based on current events, but not always. For instance, I might provide a link to a website that will allow the class to watch a short video and discuss. Students can comment in …