SCHOOLS TO PUT EMPHASIS ON MORALS, ETHICS

Should teachers report a student who confides her parents have a marijuana
grow-operation?

That's the kind of ethical dilemma Ron Rubadeau wants teachers and students
to tackle in class. The superintendent of Central Okanagan schools says a
lack of ethics has fuelled news stories like the Enron scandal, the Glen
Clark trial and the Walkerton disaster. Yet too little is being done in the
classroom to improve students' ability to make moral choices.

"Everyone has an opinion on how to fix the national deficit, rising crime
rates and downtown parking. Few have the answer for an adolescent
terrorist, road rage or schoolyard bullying," he said.

To instill in students a greater sense of honesty, compassion,
responsibility, fairness and respect, Rubadeau wants to incorporate what he
calls "moral courage" in the curriculum.

After a lengthy debate, trustees at Wednesday night's board meeting gave
Rubadeau the green light to work with parents, students, teachers and
principals to create a program of ethical fitness and moral courage in
local schools.

Seminars on ethics will be taught during professional development days in
the coming months. Rubadeau estimates the cost at about $10,000.

He wants to start ethical leadership training for staff and parents this
school year and add students later. To convince his audience, Rubadeau held
up a newspaper covered in highlighted articles that question the ethics of
corporations, government ministries and individuals. The board must "create
citizens with moral courage who become active members of a community of
learners" so the same scandals aren't repeated, he said.

"Unless the business ethics of this country change, none of us can retire,"
he said. "The board has the power to say this is an important value and
this is the direction to go."

Trustees spoke of discipline hearings where a student confesses he hit a
girl because his three friends told him to, or a student refuses to point
to his friend as the culprit who vandalized a school.

"We've got to decide where we want this education train to go," said
Kelowna trustee Don Ennis. "It's a good opportunity for everyone to get off
at the same place."

In other developments, the board approved the tendering of contracts so
construction of the new Rutland Elementary School can start.

Sawchuk Developments offered the lowest bid at $4.16 million; R & L
Excavating will complete the off-site work for $315,800.