I know President Bush supported character education in Texas, and I sincerely hope he will support this important bipartisan initiative. The Etheridge-Wamp plan authorizes the Secretary of Education to provide grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with, state educational agencies, local educational agencies, institutions of higher learning, tribal organizations, and other public or private organizations to carry out research, development, dissemination, technical assistance, and evaluation activities that support character education. Etheridge, who pioneered North Carolina's early efforts in character education as State Superintendent of Schools from 1989 to 1997, said that the Tar Heel State is well positioned to receive grants under this program. Etheridge cited successful character education efforts in Wake, Johnston and Nash counties as examples of programs that would be eligible for grant funding and that could serve as models for other local school systems seeking grants under his bill. Finally, CBS News has profiled the successful character education initiative in the Nash-Rocky Mount school system.
Character education works because it teaches our children to view the world through a moral lens.
It works because children learn that bad actions have consequences, and that honesty, integrity and discipline are rewarded. As a society we have a moral obligation to ensure that our children have every opportunity in life to succeed. However, our students cannot be successful in schools torn apart by violence, misbehavior and disrespect. Character counts in life and it counts in our schools as well. I am pleased to be working with Congressman Wamp on this initiative, and together we are going convince Congress that character education should become a priority for our nation's schools.