CHARACTER COUNTS! The Six Pillars of Character

: Trustworthiness : Respect : Responsibility : Fairness : Caring : Citizenship :

I am interested in the development of character. In fact, I agree with Aristotle who opined that the development of character is the aim of life. So that begs the question, how will we recognize when we have achieved a fully developed character? Can we understand the desired end-state well enough to describe it? Can we figure out how to measure the end-state in such a way as to facilitate scoring our current state compared to the end-state?

That is a tall order, and I suppose the answers change over time. However, I found this article helpful. Do you see anything missing, or is this list complete? How would you measure something such as, for example, self-discipline (under Responsibility)?

Enjoy! Comments welcome.

Trustworthiness

Be honest • Don’t deceive, cheat, or steal • Be reliable — do what you say you’ll do • Have the courage to do the right thing • Build a good reputation • Be loyal — stand by your family, friends, and country

Respect

Treat others with respect; follow the Golden Rule • Be tolerant and accepting of differences • Use good manners, not bad language • Be considerate of the feelings of others • Don’t threaten, hit or hurt anyone • Deal peacefully with anger, insults, and disagreements

Responsibility

Do what you are supposed to do • Plan ahead • Persevere: keep on trying! • Always do your best • Use self-control • Be self-disciplined • Think before you act — consider the consequences • Be accountable for your words, actions, and attitudes • Set a good example for others

Fairness

Play by the rules • Take turns and share • Be open-minded; listen to others • Don’t take advantage of others • Don’t blame others carelessly • Treat all people fairly

Caring

Be kind • Be compassionate and show you care • Express gratitude • Forgive others • Help people in need

Citizenship

Do your share to make your school and community better • Cooperate • Get involved in community affairs • Stay informed; vote • Be a good neighbor • Obey laws and rules • Respect authority • Protect the environment • Volunteer

- See more at: http://charactercounts.org/sixpillars.html#sthash.DmZKKVLe.dpuf