Posted on Apr 24, 2015
Do you think character and integrity based education should be taught in K-12 schools?
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I've had some really inspiring talks recently with Col Matthew Fritz & Brig Gen John Michel and they brought me to thinking more deeply about the military core values and how we as service members & veterans might teach the younger generation about these important principles. While they pertain heavily to our everyday military lives, most of the civilian world isn't taught these values in any formal teaching or instructional environment.
My question to you is, how do you think teachers, schools and parents across America would receive & support such instruction? Would you volunteer to mentor or teach character and integrity based education to local children in classrooms?
Col Fritz & Brig Gen (Ret) Michel have started a pretty revolutionary program called "Mentors Matter". The goal is to have veterans support mentorship in thousands of K-12 classrooms across the US to develop character, leadership and civic responsibility. If interested, I highly encourage you reach out to them and learn more about the program linked below. I see this as being a great way to get our kids on the right path with values that will help them both personally and professionally. I'd enjoy hearing everyone's thoughts on this or potential ways you would structure a teaching syllabus around this topic. Thanks in advance!
My question to you is, how do you think teachers, schools and parents across America would receive & support such instruction? Would you volunteer to mentor or teach character and integrity based education to local children in classrooms?
Col Fritz & Brig Gen (Ret) Michel have started a pretty revolutionary program called "Mentors Matter". The goal is to have veterans support mentorship in thousands of K-12 classrooms across the US to develop character, leadership and civic responsibility. If interested, I highly encourage you reach out to them and learn more about the program linked below. I see this as being a great way to get our kids on the right path with values that will help them both personally and professionally. I'd enjoy hearing everyone's thoughts on this or potential ways you would structure a teaching syllabus around this topic. Thanks in advance!
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Edited >1 y ago
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 44
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Col Matthew Fritz
I second that "Bravo!" Sgt Branden W.
If your class would like to join the #MentorsMatter initiative as a recipient of character/leadership/integrity education based upon a curriculum developed by Medal of Honor recipients and delivered by veterans who volunteer to be a mentor, please let me know. You can learn more about the program at http://generalleadership.com/programs-2/mentorsmatter/
If your class would like to join the #MentorsMatter initiative as a recipient of character/leadership/integrity education based upon a curriculum developed by Medal of Honor recipients and delivered by veterans who volunteer to be a mentor, please let me know. You can learn more about the program at http://generalleadership.com/programs-2/mentorsmatter/
MentorsMatter - General Leadership
MentorsMatter is an education program spearheaded by The General Leadership Foundation (GeneralLeadership.com) and Choose2Matter (Choose2Matter.org)
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Sgt Branden W.
Col Matthew Fritz I've accepted a position at the VA and will be leaving the teaching profession after 5 years of steadfast service. Next chapter begins June 1. This initiative/program is exactly what modern day schools need and I applaud the steps you've taken this far.
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Col Matthew Fritz
Best wishes for continued success, Sgt Branden W. -- and thank you for leading the way! Please consider participating as a mentor, then, as a way to stay connected to the classroom and sharing your hard-earned skills and perspectives. Have fun at the VA and keep on leading!
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Loyalty, Duty, Responsibility, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, Personal Courage -- I am voting a big YES on all these values being taught to children. The younger the better.
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AB-SO-LUTLEY! They should get the LDERSHIP cards for their little wallets and 2 LDRSHIP dog tags...
;o)
;o)
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Col Matthew Fritz
Agree, completely, SFC Chad Sowash! Leadership is a learned trait--and veterans have lots of experience in both learning and sharing. Check out http://generalleadership.com/programs-2/mentorsmatter/ to learn how you can be a part of this program!
MentorsMatter - General Leadership
MentorsMatter is an education program spearheaded by The General Leadership Foundation (GeneralLeadership.com) and Choose2Matter (Choose2Matter.org)
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I believe that military core values are integral to public education. I am old enough to remember these same values, in different guise being part of my elementary and secondary education in the 50's in rural Missouri. Honesty, integrity, respect for one's seniors/teachers, and self-motivation were presented as the cornerstone of being a good student and good member of one's community. During the latter years of my military service as a senior officer, I detected a waning of personal understanding of accountability and personal responsibility on the part of junior enlisted and even junior officers. It is obvious that personal core values are no longer as well understood by our younger people today as they were in the past. I am sure that they are no longer taught as they once were. Our military core values are part of what our country is all about - it is time they were brought back, not only in school but at home.
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Col Matthew Fritz
Bravo--I absolutely could not have said it better, myself, CAPT Phillip Hunt ! Can we count on you to be a part of the #MentorsMatter program? You can sign up over at http://generalleadership.com/programs-2/mentorsmatter/ and it is extremely easy to participate via your smartphone, tablet or computer on a schedule that works for you.
MentorsMatter - General Leadership
MentorsMatter is an education program spearheaded by The General Leadership Foundation (GeneralLeadership.com) and Choose2Matter (Choose2Matter.org)
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great idea, not religious, not controversial, material already out there, shows that you can be strong and still civil---maybe that would do something about violence too.
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Col Matthew Fritz
I certainly hope so, SGT William Rasmussen! #MentorsMatter was designed to bring character, integrity and values-based education back into classrooms stifled by budget cuts which drive program losses. You can learn more--and see how you can sign up to be a mentor/facilitator--at http://generalleadership.com/programs-2/mentorsmatter/
MentorsMatter - General Leadership
MentorsMatter is an education program spearheaded by The General Leadership Foundation (GeneralLeadership.com) and Choose2Matter (Choose2Matter.org)
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Col Matthew Fritz
The beautiful thing about this program is that it fits to your schedule...and your own special talents. You register to be a mentor, then you are contacted with requests that you get to choose from...ones that are good fits for when you are available. No strings, no attachments, and no commitments. It's as simple as that...and it has to be in order to work. The more who sign up to facilitate and mentor, the more active and engaged the program can be. 52,000 classrooms are ready to go and waiting for someone like you to be a part of their future.
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Absolutely. As an Army veteran, I became familiar with the Army Values: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Sacrifice, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage. These are solid values. Any student would benefit from learning these values. These values all involve developing character.
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Col Matthew Fritz
That's great to hear, SPC Peter Hawley ! Check out http://generalleadership.com/programs-2/mentorsmatter/ to learn how you can participate in the #MentorsMatter program...it's a blast!
MentorsMatter - General Leadership
MentorsMatter is an education program spearheaded by The General Leadership Foundation (GeneralLeadership.com) and Choose2Matter (Choose2Matter.org)
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I would be proud to participate in a program that would help instill almost any type of value into today's youth.
It seems like the only value I hear about, on a regular basis, is "I deserve it".
It seems like the only value I hear about, on a regular basis, is "I deserve it".
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Col Matthew Fritz
Bravo, MAJ (Join to see)! Have you signed up to be a Mentor at http://generalleadership.com/programs-2/mentorsmatter/
MentorsMatter - General Leadership
MentorsMatter is an education program spearheaded by The General Leadership Foundation (GeneralLeadership.com) and Choose2Matter (Choose2Matter.org)
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I whole heartedly agree with the concept. The only suggestion I would make is tying the discussion to sound morals and their importance to living an honest life. I have strong morals that I am told need to flex on a daily basis. It was because of my up bringing that I know how important integrity is and standing by your word especially if you are surrounded by people that don't see morals in that perspective.
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Capt Brandon Charters
Such an important point here and great suggestion on focusing the discussion around morals. Many in our society don't think twice before bending rules. This is a large reason why companies seek to hire veterans. We uphold standards and core values to a much higher level as second nature. It's ingrained from the beginning and stays with us professionally.
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SGT Ronald Audas
What a failure of parents and society,that morals should be taught by an outsider.I agree that someone needs to teach our younger people to respect others.As a parent and grandparent,I would hate to think someone else needed to replace my failures.In my generation,morals and integrity were in place way before I became a soldier.
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Col Matthew Fritz
Excellent input, SGT Nia Chiaraluce ! And that's exactly what the curriculum, designed by Medal of Honor recipients, is intended to do. The value comes from the veteran--a person who has lived by and exemplifies the subject--who delivers it. Take a look at the #MentorsMatter program over at http://generalleadership.com/programs-2/mentorsmatter/ and see how it might be a good fit with YOU as one of the mentors!
MentorsMatter - General Leadership
MentorsMatter is an education program spearheaded by The General Leadership Foundation (GeneralLeadership.com) and Choose2Matter (Choose2Matter.org)
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Great topic! I recently wrote a letter to the editor, to rebuttal critics of a local Junior ROTC Program. I said some thing in the order of: " I met very few former, Jr. ROTC during my time during the Vietnam Era, but I think it's a good idea, to teach discipline, and just give them an idea, of what they are getting in to."
During my formative education, many of my teachers had military service: my high school Vice Principal, a tail gunner. A few Korean Vets, one a POW. My 7th grade teacher, WW II Infantry, Europe. My high school Algebra teacher, an Engineer Officer, captured in The Ardennes. My Biology Teacher, a Navy Corpsman. I figured out, that despite, the usual put down of The U.S. Army, that it had a great scope of opportunity and room for advancement, than the other services.
During my formative education, many of my teachers had military service: my high school Vice Principal, a tail gunner. A few Korean Vets, one a POW. My 7th grade teacher, WW II Infantry, Europe. My high school Algebra teacher, an Engineer Officer, captured in The Ardennes. My Biology Teacher, a Navy Corpsman. I figured out, that despite, the usual put down of The U.S. Army, that it had a great scope of opportunity and room for advancement, than the other services.
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Col Matthew Fritz
I'd love to read that, SGT Fredrick Ramm -- do you have a link to it online? You sound like you'd be a great candidate to join the #MentorsMatter program to facilitate the program on your schedule. Check out http://generalleadership.com/programs-2/mentorsmatter/ to learn more about it and to register to become a mentor today!
MentorsMatter - General Leadership
MentorsMatter is an education program spearheaded by The General Leadership Foundation (GeneralLeadership.com) and Choose2Matter (Choose2Matter.org)
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No doubt about it! Children these days lack discipline, respect for themselves and others, moral values, and manners.
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Col Matthew Fritz
Ethics, moral values and manners are all rooted deeply in character and integrity--and you've already got that message loud and clear, SPC (Join to see) ! Check out http://generalleadership.com/programs-2/mentorsmatter/ to see how you can register to help facilitate this program...and invite your friends to do the same!
MentorsMatter - General Leadership
MentorsMatter is an education program spearheaded by The General Leadership Foundation (GeneralLeadership.com) and Choose2Matter (Choose2Matter.org)
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