The program also accepts students who are, in the principal's opinion, about to be suspended if space is available. The goal is to return the students to the sending school. For those of you who read the Phi Delta Kappan in February and April 1997, you noticed that there were several articles on character education. What apparently is a new fad in education elsewhere is a long-standing component of the education system in St. Louis. Backed by Sandy McDonnell, chairman emeritus of McDonnell Douglas Corporation, character education has been part of St. Louis area schools since 1986.
ART is a behavioral rehearsal approach to violence prevention.
The other components of their ART program are skill rehearsal, anger control, and empathy training. The Missouri Center for Safe Schools is now working with Hickman Mills School District in Jackson County to develop their own character education program. They had 75 supportive community members at their first meeting and came up with a list of around 75 character traits. Subsequently they reduced the list to 11 by consolidating and prioritizing. They have also agreed on definitions for each of the traits.