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CHARACTER: Kernersville third-graders get four-way lesson with gift of Rotary Club book
Monica Young Photo
Cash third-grader Camron Masters starts reading his book.
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Published: November 20, 2008
Several members of the Kernersville Rotary Club went back to third grade yesterday.
And they brought with them the code of ethics that was adopted by Rotary International in 1943.
After their weekly breakfast meeting at First Christian Church, club members delivered a colorful hardcover book called Andy and Elmer's Apple Dumpling Adventure to every third-grader at Cash, Kernersville and Piney Grove elementary schools.
The book will introduce the children, who have already begun character-education programs at their schools, to the Rotary's four-way test.
The creed, which has been translated into more than 100 languages, is recited at each meeting. Members ask, "Of the things we think, say or do, one, is it the truth? Two, is it fair to all concerned? Three, will it build goodwill and better friendships? Four, will it be beneficial to all concerned?"
The book tells the story of Andy, a boy who makes apple dumplings after his neighbor's apple tree drops an apple on his head. As Andy begins his business of selling his apple dumplings, he realizes that his neighbor Elmer really owns the apples. The story follows Andy's realization that being honest, fair and loyal to his friend and neighbor is the right choice to make. Throughout the book, the Rotary four-way test is emphasized. Originally, the book was written for distribution by Rotary Clubs in Ohio.
Arnold King, a member of the Kernersville Rotary Club, told the club that providing the books gave Rotarians an avenue to introduce the four-way test to the children at the local schools.
All three schools have begun character-education programs. The book dovetails with the schools' emphasis on character.
Principals Judy Jones and David Fitzpatrick from Cash and Kernersville schools attended the breakfast meeting, along with the home-school coordinator at Piney Grove Elementary, Sharon Landreth. Each administrator received a personalized copy of the book. They also spoke to the Rotary Club about the character-education programs at their schools.
Fitzpatrick noted that Kernersville Elementary wants to emphasize "the right side of the report card" as much as the academic grades found on each report card's left column. Behavioral marks are recorded on the right side of the report cards.
"We believe that little things make the biggest difference," he said.
The school began character-education lessons every week. Periodically, the cafeteria is transformed into a banquet hall with tablecloths and place mats, and students who are expected to use correct table manners.
Judy Jones spoke about Project Wisdom, a time spent each day reinforcing such character traits as loyalty, honesty and compassion.
Sharon Landreth shared that Piney Grove has a lunch-buddy program in which community members can eat lunch with students who need positive adult interaction. The school also holds Panda Pride Nights to recognize children who excel or who have perfect attendance, or both.
The club purchased 500 books with proceeds raised from its summer Pedal the Piedmont bike ride in June. The club hopes to make the race and the book program an annual event.
"If you introduce the four-way test in a book or in a meaningful way, it will stick," King said.
In the coming weeks, Rotary Club members plan to revisit the third graders at the three schools to review the lessons found in the book about the four-way test.
Camron Masters, a third-grader at Cash Elementary, started reading his book as soon as Mike Shaw, the president of the Kernersville Rotary Club, handed it to him.
"I like it. It's really interesting," Camron said. "And I never ate or heard of apple dumplings before this."
His teacher, Amy Taylor, was pleased to have her class participate.
"It encourages reading. It brings the community into the school. With the story being about honesty, it's another way to get the point across,'' she said. "Plus, it's not just coming from parents and teachers. The kids see that other people care."
■ Monica Young can be reached at cyoung9@triad.rr.com.
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