Hunterdon County Educational Services Commission School at West Amwell

Grades K-12  •  Lambertville, New Jersey

The ESC School at West Amwell has created the Karate Character Assessment Training Program as a way for students to manage and improve their own behavior. In recruiting children for the program, teachers, counselors, and administrators target those who exhibit leadership qualities but also have difficulty with social skills and self-discipline. At weekly meetings held over a period of eight months, students are taught to become better people through the mind-body connections that constitute an integral part of martial arts. Students begin by signing personal contracts stating their responsibility to complete the class and improve their character. Karate training serves to strengthen the students' physical abilities and self-control. Higher-ranking students are expected to act as leaders for beginners in the program. Skill demonstrations occur on set dates throughout the year as a way for the children to gain confidence in their ability to set and achieve goals. On such occasions, participants are required to do more than simply show their karate ability, however. They are also required to put on short plays about outstanding Americans, an expectation which serves to demonstrate the importance of good citizenship. Using a textbook on character as a foundation, the class uses homework assignments and movie viewings to analyze and deflect on values and behavior.