If character counts, who should be President?

Have you ever thought about how the Presidential candidates would get along in Iowa schools today? I sure have. Character Counts! in Iowa is part of a national program and it’s very important in schools statewide. The six pillars of character are

• trustworthiness (honest, reliable, loyal)
• respect (treat others well, tolerant, good manners, considerate, deal peacefully with anger and disagreements)
• responsibility (good self-control, self-disciplined, accountable)
• fairness (play by the rules, share, be open-minded, not blame carelessly)
• caring (kind, compassionate, grateful)
• citizenship (cooperative, involved, informed)

Each has its own set of descriptors. Read them on-line.

Do you have a sense of which of our Presidential candidates was more likely a bully as a schoolboy? Read the characteristics of a serial bully and see if any apply to either of our candidates. Think about that when you vote.

Do you think that bullying is only for boys? Current literature defines the phenomena of female bullying and relationship aggression (Odd Girl Out [sneak peak video], Girl Wars, Reviving Ophelia). What are the tools of the female bully? Gossip, character asassination, group control, exclusion of others, cliques, incitement, intimidation.

Will John McCain and Sarah Palin please report to the Principal’s Office?

photo by flickr by Eddie~S