Character Education - Doing What’s Right!

Leaving the theatre after watching the movie Slumdog Millionaire I was buoyed with a sense of hopefulness.  It is the story of Jamal an orphan boy forced to fight for survival in the slums of Mumbai India.  He travels the treacherous terrain between doing what’s right and doing what’s easy.   The heart of the story answers the question how does anyone come to know what’s right about life and love.

This journey of coming to know about what’s right is one all of us must travel and like the character of Jamal each one of us must decide what is most important.  The question I must ask is: how are our values determined?

There are powerful emotions and circumstances that will influence where we line up on the character continuum.  Will we use love as our guide or bitterness?  Will we seek to do what’s right over what’s advantageous? 

There is no certainty in answering this question but one thing must not be ignored.  The environment in which we live must reflect respect, love and justice. These principles are like rich compost nourishing our spirit and our values. 

Our children need to see daily examples of character in order for them to develop and embrace it.    Creative World Connections is dedicated to being part of that compost.  Below is a sample of one of our daily messages for your school announcements.  We invite you to share it with your school population and email us if you would like more material to share.   CWC will work with each school and tailor a program to meet your needs.  Subscription can be yearly, monthly or weekly. 

Success Tip/ Doing the Right Thing

In the Harry Potter book series there is a character named Hagrid.  Hagrid is a friendly giant with a soft heart.  He is one of Harry’s teachers who also becomes his friend.

Hagrid tells Harry, “ At some time you must choose between what’s easy and what’s right.”

Hagrid might only be a fictional giant but he understands what’s most important. 

So What’s Easy for you Today?

Not doing your homework is easy.

Spreading gossip is easy.

Watching someone being bullied is easy. 

The hard things in life require commitment.  Working hard, walking away from gossip and standing up to bullies are all hard but they will determine your character.   None of you needs a giant in a storybook to tell you to do the right thing, although it helps.

You all cheer for the hero of a story and hope for the downfall of the villain.  In your own story you can become the hero, so today cheer for yourself when you do what’s right.

And know this – No one can this do hard work but you!