The Durham Public Schools Board of Education believes that it is vital that the public schools support the efforts of families and our community to teach all young people certain fundamental, commonly agreed upon character traits. Support for character development will strengthen the Durham Public Schools' efforts to establish a safe and orderly environment where students will have optimum conditions for learning. The Board of Education further believes that everything a school does teaches values to students. The school system employees, then, should strive to teach the agreed upon character traits by example. These traits include the following:
1. Citizenship Serving a community by assuming the duties, rights and privileges of belonging to the community
2. Courage Demonstrating the will to face challenging situations
3. Fairness Considering all points of view without self-interest or prejudice
4. Honesty Demonstrating truthfulness, fairness, and trustworthiness
5. Kindness Exhibiting gentleness, goodness of heart, compassion, friendliness
6. Perseverance Pursuing objectives with great determination and patience
7. Respect Acting with tolerance, courtesy, and dignity toward one another
8. Responsibility Accepting accountability for one's own words and actions; dependability in carrying out one's duties and obligations
9. Self-Discipline Demonstrating the will to gain control of one's behaviors.
The administration, and instructional staff, and site-based decision-making committees shall work together to integrate instruction that teaches and reinforces these character education goals into the curriculum and other activities of the Durham Public Schools. These efforts should focus on the following three (3) areas: 1. Curriculum, including the Standard Course of Study, extracurricular activities, and other curricular activities.
2. School Climate, including rules and procedures, student behavior, modeling by staff and students, parent education, and other(s)
3. Service Learning, including peer tutoring, volunteerism, community outreach, service projects, and other(s).
Legal Reference: G.S.115C-36, -81(h), -276
Adopted Effective: November 12, 1996
Revised Effective: July 1, 1999
