Grades K-12 • Hamilton, New Jersey
As the adage goes, "Give a man a fish, and you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish, and you have fed him for a lifetime." The Fish! Philosophy is at the heart of Hamilton Township School District's efforts to create a culture of character. Motivated by information presented at the 2004 Summer Institute in Character Education at SUNY, Cortland, the Hamilton Township Teaching and Living Character (TLC) Core Team embraced and spread the message of a moral school environment to nearly 100 school leaders and 1,000 school employees. Using state funding set aside for character education as well as district funds, the program provides training for district administrators and staff to help them create, sustain, and nurture school communities that are conducive to student learning and staff professional growth. District staff presented the Fish! Philosophy to school leaders and Board of Education members. Attendees were provided a resource booklet and feedback sheet. A similar presentation was made to district instructional and support staff. Professional development follow-up sessions are planned, to maintain the current momentum. Staff members in individual schools have advocated for the philosophy, by creating bulletin boards and by planning ceremonies to recognize coworkers who model the Fish! attributes.
Center for the 4th and 5th Rs. Cortland, NY: State University of New York School of Education. Web site: www.cortland.edu/character.