2003 Senate Bill 222: Establish school "character development" program

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Introduced by Sen. Valde Garcia (R) on February 26, 2003, to require the Department of Education to develop a model "character development" program and encourage public schools to provide it.
- Referred to the Senate Education Committee on February 26, 2003.
- Reported in the Senate on March 24, 2004, with the recommendation that the substitute (S-4) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
- Substitute offered in the Senate on March 30, 2004, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that specifies that the "character development" program be the same or similar as those in the "Character Counts" program, the "Character First!" education series, or the "Character Unlimited" program; and require that the program be based on the principles of effective character education published by the National Character Education Partnership. The substitute passed by voice vote in the Senate on March 30, 2004.
Passed 34 to 2 in the Senate on March 31, 2004, to require the Department of Education to develop a model "character development" program and encourage public schools to provide it. This would have to be the same or similar as those in the "Character Counts" program, the "Character First!" education series, or the "Character Unlimited" program; and be based on the principles of effective character education published by the National Character Education Partnership.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
Received in the House on March 31, 2004.
- Referred to the House Education Committee on March 31, 2004.
- Amendment offered by Rep. Brian Palmer (R) on December 9, 2004, to move back the effective date of the requirement, and only implement it if the Department of Education has funding "available to fulfill its duties" under this bill. The amendment passed by voice vote in the House on December 9, 2004.
Passed 56 to 43 in the House on December 9, 2004, to require the Department of Education to develop a model "character development" program and encourage public schools to provide it. This would have to be the same or similar as those in the "Character Counts" program, the "Character First!" education series, or the "Character Unlimited" program; and be based on the principles of effective character education published by the National Character Education Partnership.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
Received in the House on December 9, 2004.
- Motion by Rep. Leon Drolet (R) on December 9, 2004, "to give notice that on the next legislative session day I will move to reconsider the vote by which the House passed the bill." Coming as it did on the last day of voting in the 92nd legislature, this notice had the effect of preventing the bill from being enrolled and sent to the governor's desk for approval or veto, despite the fact that the House and Senate had passed the same version of the bill. Therefore, the bill will not become law.

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1) The Schools Have a Role . . . by Anonymous Citizen on December 30, 2004
>”Some of us do not believe that it is possible to develop true character apart from a belief in Jesus Christ and a commitment to follow Him.”<

And with due respect, the truth is that anyone who believes that is quite wrong, although it probably would be impossible to persuade him or her otherwise.

>”This bill requires schools to somehow teach children character. Schools can't even teach children how to intelligently read our Constitution, much less teach some amorphous concept like "character".”<

Well, I agree that schools should not teach character. But not because schools are incapable of teaching, because they aren’t. I just believe character is something learned by immersion rather than in a sterile, academic classroom setting.

As we see, even the person who made this statement quite incorrectly believes that one cannot have “true” character without being a devout Christian. But he believes it, and if that’s what it takes for him to behave himself in keeping with good character, and to get his kids to behave likewise, then that’s OK with me. So I conclude parents ought to teach it, starting, probably, with modeling good character in their own lives.

However, I do believe that schools can promote and foster the habits of good character, such as honesty, punctuality, respect for legitimate authority, personal responsibility and The Golden Rule. Provided, that is, members of the communities in which our schools function can agree on standards and support their imposition on students in the form of enforced behavioral expectations.
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2) Character Development by Mike Hignite on December 29, 2004
This bill makes any character development program be secular; no religion. Some of us do not believe that it is possible to develop true character apart from a belief in Jesus Christ and a commitment to follow Him.

This bill requires schools to somehow teach children character. Schools can't even teach children how to intelligently read our Constitution, much less teach some amorphous concept like "character".

Go ahead and pass this law. There is no way to enforce it anyway. Waste our time and add to the list of laws that continue to develop like some malignant, cancerous, life-choking disease.
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3) Say no to Character First by BukHix on December 19, 2004
I oppose all government sponsored character education programs but everyone should take a very close look at the Character First program mentioned in this bill.

You can find out some information here:

http://www.liberty1st.org/cfirst.aspx

You can also do a search on the forum of that site, which will provide even more information about the Character First program.
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