GROUP AIMS TO BUILD VALLEY KIDS' CHARACTER

With a bumper sticker that read "Character Counts!" on Isis Porro's desk,
the Sunny Sands fifth-grader listened intently on how to be trustworthy.

"You shouldn't lie or deceive. You should always tell the truth," she said.

That is important "so when you grow up you don't end up in jail and you
don't have to be an inmate," said Porro, 11.

Trustworthiness is just one of six core values Mike Scacco, Cathedral City
Police Department Youth Diversion Counselor, teaches fifth graders at five
schools in Cathedral City.

It's part of an overall program called Character Counts! aimed at
strengthening the character of young people.

The six values are trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness,
caring, and citizenship.

"What I'm teaching is no different than what moms and dads want for their
kids," Scacco said.

In 1992, the nonprofit and nonpartisan Los Angeles-based Josephson
Institute of Ethics held a conference with educators, ethicists and
nonprofit leaders to share ideas about character development.

They developed a consensus on ethical values now referred to as six pillars
of characters that could be taught at home, in the classroom and at the
office that transcend divisions of race, creed, politics, gender and wealth.

To further those goals, the Institute in 1993 formed the Character Counts!
Coalition, a nonpartisan, nonsectarian alliance of schools, communities,
government agencies and human service organizations.

In Cathedral City, the Character Counts! program has replaced the Drug
Abuse Resistance Education program, said Scacco.

"They'll wear T-shirts that say D.A.R.E. and (say) I won't use drugs and I
don't believe in using alcohol. Then later on in life when kids in their
own age group pressure them into using drugs or using alcohol or becoming
involved in gangs or violence, it's almost like D.A.R.E.'s the last
thought," he said.

"We're hoping that (Character Counts!) leaves a more lasting impression."

There's no existing curriculum for the Character Counts! program so Scacco
draws on his own experiences including working as a counselor with the gang
unit.

"In dealing with kids involved in gang activity and violence, it always
made me wonder could we reach them at an earlier age," he said.

He sees the six-month program as a way to try to help young people develop
strong character.

Although the program has been in effect for the past two months, Scacco
caught a peek at how it may be affecting students when he told them his car
broke down and had to be towed.

"I shared with them my car had died and that it will cost $4,600 to fix my
car. Three kids looked up and (one) said, 'I'm sorry Mike.' The other one
said, 'Sorry.' The third kid said, 'I'll help you pay for it,'" he said.

"It broke my heart. These kids don't know me and here they were offering
sympathy, caring and respect and they trust me."

Through a resolution, the U.S. Senate designated the week of Oct. 17 as
National Character Counts Week.

President George W. Bush issued a proclamation honoring the week.

"People of character strengthen our country through their daily actions,"
the proclamation said.

"To help children fulfill their potential and build a more hopeful future
for our nation, we must continue to encourage and support the character
development of our young people and support the institutions that give
direction and purpose: our families, our schools, and our faith-based and
community organizations," stated the proclamation.

Character Counts!

The six pillars of character taught through the program are:

Trustworthiness: Be honest. Don't deceive, cheat or steal.

Respect: Treat others with respect. Don't threaten, hit or hurt anyone.

Responsibility: Think before you act -- consider the consequences.

Fairness: Play by the rules. Don't take advantage of others.

Caring: Be kind. Forgive others.

Citizenship: Be a good neighbor. Respect authority.

Information: www.charactercounts.org