Wednesday, July 9, 2003

My husband and I are a retired Army chaplain's family which has been called in to the character building business wherever we find ourselves. We were both able to contribute to the U.S. Army Chaplaincy's "Moral Leadership Manual" before retiring from active duty. We have tried to "fight the fight and run the race" by observing moral education around the world and by encouraging people to do the moral thing in their everyday lives.

My husband and I presently have an unfulfilled vision which would join both sides of the family together in an educational mission to teach character/citizenship education ("anti-racism" is one of the major focuses) and competency/academic skills education.

I am a old elementary school teacher and presently a teacher educator who is passionate about moral education. Moral issues have traditionally been included in our American public schools' curriculums. I discovered character/citizenship education when I was looking for a dissertation topic in l987 while I was studying at Georgia State University that would really make a difference in the public education system of this country.

I have been trying to stay involved in Georgia's character education programs for years, but up to now, I have only been able to push it as an adjunct teacher educator at the State University of West Georgia and Kennesaw State University. Being retired military, we have no political power. I have circulated for years a proposal to be the character education coordinator for the state of Georgia from the offices of Johnny Isaakson, of President Betty Siegel (KSU), the Georgia Humanities Council, the Bagwell College of Education (KSU), the Center for Leadership, Ethics & Character (KSU), and the Georgia Board of Regents.

Now the Georgia Center for Character Education Library has been "orphaned," and the issue, I feel, is getting lost in the funding and political struggles of the Georgia Capitol building. There are groups like the New Common Sense who feel like me that politics has no place when educating children.

The main present concern for Georgia educators is to come in to compliance with President George Bush's "No Child Left Behind Act." The Capitol Education Center on June 16-18, 2003, held a Character Education and History Conference sponsored by the Secretary of State's office and the Georgia Humanities Council. A great idea, but registration was limited to only 30 participants. Small attempts are being made but I feel a concerted, "fly-over," "whole-truth" approach to character and competency is needed.

Let me hear from you if you are interested in this effort. Of course money is needed, but the office and phones, etc. are already set up in our home. The passion is there and the knowledge is there. The love for people is there. Let's get with it!

Dr. Knox Herndon and Dr. Lydia Herndon

Fayetteville, Ga.

KHERN2365@aol.com

[Knox Herndon writes a column for The Sunday Citizen.]