Additional 'Character Counts' Information

What Are Our Character Traits And What Do They Mean?

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

How Can We Remember Our Character Traits? Remembering your character traits is simple. Just remember the acronym TERRIFIC!

How Do We Practice Our Character Traits In The Real World?

1. Trustworthiness:

2. Respect:

Golden Rule:
- DO:
  - Treat others the way you want to be treated
  - Respect the dignity, privacy and freedom of all individuals
  - Value and honor all people, no matter what they can do for you or to you
  - Respect others’ property — take good care of property you are allowed to use and don’t take or use property without permission
  - Respect the autonomy of others — tell them what they should know to make good choices about their own lives
- DON’T:
  - Use or manipulate others
  - Abuse, demean, or mistreat anyone
Tolerance and Acceptance:
- DO:
  - Judge others on their character, abilities, and conduct without regard to race, religion, gender, where they live, how they dress, or the amount of money they have
  - Be tolerant, respectful, and accepting of those who are different from you
  - Listen to others and try to understand their points of view
Nonviolence:
- DO: Resolve disagreements, respond to insults, and deal with anger peacefully and without violence
- DON’T: Use threats or physical force to get what you want or to express anger
Courtesy:
- DO:
  - Use good manners
  - Be courteous, polite and civil to everyone
- DON’T: Use put-downs, insults, yelling, or ridicule to embarrass or hurt another

3. Responsibility:

Duty:
- DO:
  - Know and do your duty
  - Acknowledge and meet your legal and moral obligations
Accountability:
- DO:
  - Accept responsibility for the consequences of your choices, not only for what you do but what you don’t do
  - Think about consequences on yourself and others before you act
  - Think long-term
  - Do what you can do to make things better
  - Set a good example
- DON’T:
  - Look the other way when you can make a difference
  - Make excuses or blame others
- Pursuit of Excellence
- DO:
  - Your best
  - Persevere
  - Be prepared
  - Be diligent
  - Work hard
  - Make all you do worthy of pride
Self-Control:
- DO:
  - Take charge of your own life
  - Set realistic goals • Keep a positive outlook
  - Be prudent and self-disciplined with your health, emotions, time and money
  - Be rational — act out of reason not anger, revenge or fear
  - Know the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do
  - Be self-reliant — manage your life so you are not dependent on others; pay your own way whenever you can

4. Fairness:

Justice:
- DO:
  - Be fair and just
  - Treat people equally
  - Make decisions without favoritism or prejudice
  - In imposing punishment be sure the consequences for wrongdoing are consistent, certain, and proportional (not too harsh or lenient)
- DON’T:
  - Take more than your fair share
  - Take advantage of or blame others unfairly
Openness:
- DO:
  - Be open-minded and impartial — consider what people have to say before you decide
  - Be careful — get the facts, including opposing viewpoints, before making decisions (especially blaming or accusing another)

5. Caring:

Concern for Other:
- DO:
  - Be compassionate and empathetic
  - Be kind, loving, and considerate
  - Be thankful and express gratitude for what people do for you
  - Forgive others for their shortcomings
- DON’T: Be mean, cruel or insensitive
Charity:
- DO:
  - Be charitable and altruistic — give money, time, support, and comfort for the sake of making someone else’s life better, not for praise or gratitude
  - Help people in need

6. Citizenship:

Is a good person, someone to look up to and admire.
Knows the difference between right and wrong and always tries to do what is right.
Sets a good example for everyone.
Makes the world a better place.
Lives according to the Six Pillars of Character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and good citizenship.

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