William F. Smith: “Mr. Speaker, a good definition of character is summed up in the old saying ``Character is what you do when no one is…”

“Mr. Speaker, a good definition of character is summed up in the old saying ``Character is what you do when no one is looking.'' Men and women of character are guided by standards of right and wrong. They do not look to others for approval or bend to peer pressure. National polls indicate that moral concerns and family decline are some of the most important problems facing the country today. Too many of our children grow up in a culture that acknowledges no right or wrong. Americans are concerned about the quality of their children's education. They are also troubled about the decline in our Nation's values and its effect on our children. Although parents should be the primary developers of character, educators play an increasingly important role. Communities across the Nation recognize that character education is an integral part of a well-rounded curriculum. Our Nation's teachers are aware that character education can establish standards for behavior. President Bush has made character education an important component of his education reform bill.”