Character Counts

She came into the Kindergarten classroom smiling and squealing one Monday morning. She was ecstatic after learning from her mom that their dog was going to have puppies.

“That’s wonderful!” I managed to say before she blurted out the most important part of the story in squeaky exhilaration. “Yes, and we didn’t know it, but sometime in the night, my dog’s boyfriend came over and they ran off and got secretly married! So now she can have puppies!” 

Now, that IS exciting! Not just the puppies ... the fact that she understood the value system in place all around her. It was important that even the dogs in her family accept and follow the unwritten code of conduct established in her best interest.

At 6 years old, values have become established. Whether they were blatantly taught or silently modeled, they are present in these little people and they are constantly monitored in their minds as they watch you and me.

“I know why that president got impeached,” one Kindergarten student announced following several weeks of learning about the U.S. presidents. “He LIED under the court!” Well, maybe “oath” was what she meant. But this student knew that men or women of integrity do not lie under oath or under the court! 

Building character is equally important to building academics at Darlington School. As parents and teachers work together, we strive to build good character through example, through character education programs and through service beyond self. We want our students to begin to recognize integrity and honor in the lives of their leaders every day. The tiniest Tigers often exhibit good character. Their kind words and deeds impact the lives of their peers. The examples set before them by parents and teachers are replicated in their words and actions.

Sometimes the explanations from 5- and 6-year-olds are a little different; sometimes we realize they didn’t quite get the whole meaning. The important thing is that they are absorbing and processing information through what they see, hear and feel that will help shape their character as they try to make sense of the world around them. They are seriously contemplating the essence of good character! One way we can help is to provide excellent choices in books that we read to them and books that they read alone.

Good children's literature plays a vital role in allowing children to exercise their values as if they were facing a major decision in a difficult situation. The literature can take them there emotionally without physically altering their safe, secure learning environment.  Good literature challenges the mind to assess a situation, predict the outcome and make a wise choice as to what you might do. It gives a child the freedom to think on his own and make a mental choice, review the consequences of that choice and store that insight for possible real choices in the future. 

Choosing a school and an educator whose value system complements your own is an important step in furthering the development of good character in your child. We, at Darlington, seek to grow and teach the whole child as we strive for excellence in education and character.