I was with the group from Alberni that came to Victoria last November. Since that time, our grade 7 and 8 teams have made this a regular part of their every day teachings and the enthusiasm is spreading by the energy that has been created. The following are essays from Krista Dillon's 8th grade language arts students that I thought I would share with you. Their message is loud and clear. These are going to go in our local newpaper.
Take care, Gio Mussato
Co-principal, Ecole Eric J. Dunn Middle School, Port Alberni, BC
Does virtues education work?
Here's what middle school students say. (Read the full essays below.)
It makes us and our school a better place.
It encourages me to have more compassion and tolerance.
These virtues can be used all together to create a harmonious community.
Think of the virtues even when you're down because most of the time they will get you back up.
This project helps me find out what I really need to look for in family and friends: love.
Its helped me to understand people better and to look deeper into people.
My attitude has changed quite a bit on the hockey bench, by not getting mad even when it costs us a goal.
It teaches you to think before you speak and when you speak to say something you won't regret saying.
I'm more aware of how I'm acting and trying to improve the negative things I might do.
The project is good for not only kids, but adults as well.
Do you use virtues in your life? Do you realize how important they are? Make the world a better place one virtue at a time.
We couldn't exist without them.
By: Sam K.
Do you know what the virtues project is? Would you like to know what it is all about? The virtues project is a type of awareness program used in schools. It teaches people about the quality character traits of life. The “project” is good for not only kids, but adults as well. The virtues project helps me in my life. It encourages me to have more compassion, and tolerance. When I get in arguments with my dad, I try not to get into a confrontation, but rather have a discussion instead. The foundation of the virtues project is a tree with fifty-two virtues. If everyone had all of these virtues the world would be perfect. The whole point of this project is to encourage people to live by these virtues. I am very thankful to my parents because through my childhood they have tried to instill these virtues in me. Passing on good virtues to your child is showing the virtue of responsibility. Using this plan in our life can be as simple as saying thank-you. Do you use virtues in your life? Do you realize how important they are? Make the world a better place one virtue at a time. Try to say please or thank you. Help someone today.
By: Elyssia S.
Here at EJ Dunn have been learning about a project called Virtues ever since the beginning of Term two. I find it very interesting that these virtues can be used altogether to create a harmonious community. I believe that these virtues can help anyone ranging from changing someone’s life to just making someone smile! This virtue project is so amazing because it can help so many people out. What really makes virtues important is that we couldn’t exist without them. For example, one of the virtues is Reliability. If there is no reliability then we would never know if the bus would come because we rely on the bus to get to school. If there was no honesty the world would just be a big pack of lies. If there was no commitment nothing would ever get done. That is why we need virtues. Being truthful helps your friends believe what you say so they can rely on you for advice. Respecting others will make others respect you. All you have to do is practice these things! Remember to always think of virtues even when you’re down because most of the time they will help you get back up. Never forget to greet people with a cheery smile because it just might make their day.
By: Nicole V.
One of my favourite virtues is self-discipline. The reason why I like it is because I think I could use more in my life. I use a lot of self-discipline, but I think I could use more. An example where I do use it is in karate. I always try my best and push myself a littler further each time. An example where I can use more is in school. I try my best in all subjects and do the best I can. Sometimes I think to myself that I could try harder. For example, with homework I need to start trying harder. I need to spend more time on it. My goal for this year is to practice more self-discipline.
By: Krystal P.
When I think about virtues I think about commitment. I believe that commitment is one of the most important virtues especially to live by. You go day by day living your life, but what kind of life are you living without this gift of character. There are fifty-two virtues in all. They are inspirational words to try to live by. The virtues project started out in our class as a virtues name project, but some people decided to take it a little more seriously, so we stepped up the assignment and made it a regular discussion during class time. My English class is currently trying to figure out how to demonstrate all the virtues. We are thinking of using different coloured bracelets for every virtue. If we can get people to make a commitment and use these virtues by wearing the color of virtue they are trying to live up to, maybe other people in other places will try this same thing. We plan to learn to use one virtue a month for our school, so for example if our first virtue was love, then we would perhaps wear a red bracelet for that month. We would then try and live up to this virtue for the whole month.Now that school has started up again for 2005, I hope to see an even greater change at the end of the year.
By: Troy H.
My favourite virtue is thankfulness because if there was no thankfulness the world would be a disaster. Everyone would be so greedy. Everyone would hate each other and nobody would share. I am very thankful. I might not be an angel but every time someone does something for me or is nice to me, I thank them. I am not a greedy person. I share with people and when I see the kids in Africa, Afghanistan, and Thailand I just want to cry and give them all of my money. I am also thankful for what God does for me. When my parent went away for a week I stayed with my grandma and she prays. So when I left I got her to give me the words she says when she prays and she gave me her praying book. Last night and for the rest of my life I am going to pray. I can’t memorize it yet but I soon will. When my parents got back they got me presents I was so thankful for that. So now every night I do everything I am expected to do without a fuss, because some kids would give the arm for a mouth-watering meal. That is why I am so thankful.
By: Alex P.
A virtue that means a lot to me is love. Love is important to me because if I was in this world and my parents or family and friends didn’t love me that would be hard. I know because I’m really close with my friends and family and I know in my heart that I can trust them. I think this project helps me find out what I really need to look for in family and friends: Love.
By: Cody G.
I value kindness. Kindness looks to me like being nice to people I don’t know or people I don’t get along with. I already shoveled nine people’s driveways and it makes me feel good. I also asked these not to pay me for the work. I want to do something greater though!
By Darryl P.
The thing that I value most in my life would be my family because they are always there for me in good times and bad. My family helps me out by providing food and a shelter for me. They are continually making sure that I am a good student and being the best I can be. My parents would do anything to make me a better person. They try to make sure that I never give up and overcome my challenges, and also achieve my goals in life. I am very privileged to have such a good family. Many people are not as fortunate as I am to have such a loving and caring family. Not only do they support me and encourage me, they are also my close friends. We enjoy spending time doing family activities together. I have been very blessed to have a mother, father and a sister.
By: Alie O.
The Virtues Project has helped me to understand people better and to look deeper into people. My favourite virtue would have to be trustworthiness. This is my favourite virtue because without trustworthiness, no one would trust one another, every one would be isolated and irritable because people would keep everything bundled up inside, and that’s not good for anyone. Everyone should always have someone they can really trust, even if it’s one of your family members. You would probably get sick if you kept everything inside. I personally think that I am trustworthy, and I hope my friends think I am too. I only have about four friends that I can really trust, and only two friends that I can tell anything and everything to. Also, it’s not quantity, it’s quality of friends that counts. You could have thirty to forty friends, but you might only trust two or three of them. I feel really sorry for anyone who doesn’t have someone they can really trust. If you are one of those people, you should really find someone to be friends with. I bet you, if you do, you will be a lot happier!
By: Rajin G.
How many virtues are there? There are fifty-two. Imagine trying to narrow it down to one.Try to pick your favourite. It’s pretty hard, but I found one virtue that has three in one: Diligence. Diligence means to go after something with a will and focus. Things in life don’t come easy, so if people didn’t have diligence they wouldn’t get what they wanted or very far. I chose this virtue because I can relate to it in two ways. The first way was when I was in Karate. I wanted to be just like Bruce Lee. I went to as many practices as I could even if I really didn’t want to go and all those practices paid off. I went through six tests and passed them all. The only reason I’m not in Karate still, is because I injured my knee really badly. Another way I can relate happened just recently, about a year ago. I became a drummer. I became one because I stuck to my guns and went to all of the tryout practices and practiced morning, noon and night. Once again it paid off. Now back to the “three in one” virtue. I said diligence has two other virtues in it. That’s not entirely true. By having diligence you can learn these two virtues which are respect and responsibility. You learn responsibility by understanding that what your going for is important and you need to be responsible and stay on track. You learn respect by respecting what you are doing and by respecting yourself for doing it. To achieve your goals you must stick to what you’re doing and go forward in life. Diligence is very important to have.
By: Ryan C.
This virtue project has helped me because I have gotten to value more things in the world, and my attitude has changed quite a bit on the hockey bench, by not getting mad even when it costs us a goal. It has changed me by having a way better attitude towards my parents, and friends and, like I said, a better attitude on the bench and on the ice. My favourite virtue would be thankfulness, because if you say thank you, or thanks to people you gain their trust a lot better than not saying thank you. Thankfulness helps me in hockey. If you say thanks and act like a gentleman, there is a better way you will get drafted and scouted for College hockey. Thankfulness also helps you when you are talking to adults it makes you sound more mature, and also saying it to the elders will make them want to have you over again where ever you are.
By: Tina H.
My favourite virtue would have to be courtesy because I am really polite and respectful when I meet someone. Whenever I got really mad at a family member or someone and I really didn’t mean what I said, then I think back on what I said and apologize. Sometimes people don’t think over on what they just said and feel bad afterwards. I really value this virtue because without this virtue you would be a rude person, and no one would want to be this.
By: Darin O.
I think that when you learn the virtues, you use them more and more everyday. My favourite virtue is determination. It is my favourite because most people have it and if you use it, you can accomplish many things. I show determination by always trying and tring to do something until I get it right. For example, when I am trying to learn a new move or shot in hockey. I keep trying until I finally get it right. My mom is the person that I think displays the virtue of determination the most. Like in hockey, she tries and tries to learn a new drill to teach her team. That shows me that she has the virtue of determination. I think that if everybody used their virtues the world would be a better place.
By: Arun D.
I think the virtues project is very educational. It teaches you to think before you speak, and when you speak to say something you won’t regret saying .The virtues project has effected me in wide variety of ways. For example when your having a really bad day, and you drop your books, and someone comes and helps you pick them up, this project teaches you to appreciate that. And when someone else is having a bad day and drops something you feel compelled to help them out. And when you help them you feel good. I really hope the virtue’s project keeps going through middle school and up to the high school.
By: Alyssa H.
Ever since we started in the virtues project at the beginning of this year, I have noticed that I’ll stop and think: did I say thank you to that person? Or I’ll start the day thinking today I will be more polite and things like that. The virtues project has affected my life in a good way. I find myself being more aware of how I’m acting and trying to improve the negative things I might do. My favourite part of the project was the interview because you could open up to the person and not be judged. It was nice to get a compliment. The virtues project is a great thing that other classes should do because it makes us and our school a better place.