Chris Dodd: “today Senator Domenici and I are submitting a resolution designating the third week of October as ``National Character…”

“today Senator Domenici and I are submitting a resolution designating the third week of October as ``National Character Counts Week.'' I have worked for many years on the issue of character education and hope that by designating a special week to this cause, students and teachers will come together to participate in character building activities in their schools not only this week but all year long. In 1994, Senator Domenici and I first established the Partnerships in Character Education Pilot Project and have worked regularly since then to commemorate National Character Counts Week. Character education is about celebrating what's right with young people while enabling them to develop the knowledge and life skills necessary in order to embrace ethical and responsible behavior. I am pleased that we are continuing our efforts today to help expand States' and schools' abilities to make character education a central part of every child's education. Our schools may figuratively be built with the bricks of English, math and science, but character education certainly provides the mortar. Trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship are the six pillars of character. The standards of conduct that arise out of those values constitute the foundation of ethics, and therefore of ethical decision-making. Character education looks like young people learning, growing, and becoming. It feels like strength, courage, possibility, and hope.”