Sample of C2: Classroom Format

Here are two C2 lessons, Lessons 1 and 4, that deal with one character strength: Responsibility. Each strength is covered in 5 lessons. The first three involve the presentation and each includes Key Notes and a movie clip. The fourth involves answering the Journal Questions and the fifth is a discussion of their answers.

If you like these samples , you will love the curriculum. Remember, this is an excerpt from the presenter’s manual. The student doesn’t get a copy of this but only of the Key Notes and the Journal Questions.

PASSION: Responsibility 1

Introduction: [Please read or present the following to the class.]

Will you devote the next few minutes to change your life?

Will you think about your life and what you will make of it?

Will you examine your belief system to determine why you believe what you believe?

Will you dedicate yourself to do what will make your life richer, better, and more successful, even if doing so is hard work?

Will you think with me about responsibility?

Movie Clip #1: “Coach Carter” View a list of all lessons and movies.

Quotations:

Dr. Albert Schweitzer - “Man must cease attributing his problems to his environment, and learn again to exercise his will — his personal responsibility.”

Allan Massie - “We are responsible for actions performed in response to circumstances for which we are not responsible.”

Review:

C2 training covers six virtues: Insight, Passion, Love, Cooperation, Discipline, and Transcendence. For the next four weeks, we are talking about Passion and its four character strengths: Responsibility, Integrity, Courage, and Perseverance.

Passion in character doesn’t mean romance. Rather it is one’s passion for doing the right thing no matter who or what tries to stop you. If you want to be a person of character, you will have many enemies: Laziness, hatred, prejudice, fear, lying, and wanting to take the easy way. Passion to do what is right will help you face these enemies and fight them until you win!

Presentation: Developing Your Responsibility, Part One

Webster’s defines responsibility in two parts. First, a responsible person is “able to choose for oneself between right and wrong.” This means we not only know the right choicewe make the right choice. Also, we know the things to avoid and we avoid them.

Second, a responsible person is “able to answer for one’s conduct and obligations; accountable; reliable, trustworthy.” This means we can admit when we make a mistake or a bad choice, suffer the consequences, and learn not to do it in the future.

So responsibility is knowing right and wrong, choosing to do the right thing most of the time, and admitting when we mess up. Responsibility is a big part of maturity.

How do we determine what is right and wrong? Obviously the law tells us what is wrong to do and punishes us if we do it.

For example, when I get a checking account, I have a responsibility to make sure I have money in the bank before I write a check. If I make a mistake and write a bad check, I have to get the money to cover the check in the bank immediately plus pay a $30 fee for writing a bad check. If I am not responsible to cover my mistake, then I am breaking the law. I will be held responsible to pay that amount to avoid going to jail.

But we have many more decisions to make about what is right and wrong in life. For example, there is no law against lying to a friend. Someone at school can call you horrible names and they won’t get suspended. Who says any of this stuff is wrong?

Our movie clip next time will be from Pirates of the Caribbean. In it, they talk of “The Code,” a book of rules that all pirates must follow or they aren’t real pirates. The code isn’t the law. Rather, a code is a way of life we chose because we believe it is the right way to live.

We have codes in real life. Every group has its own code, including this one. The guys on Coach Carter’s basketball team had to sign a code of conduct in order to gain the privilege of playing on his team. Yet his code was temporary.

Other groups write a permanent code for every day life. Are you a member of a group that has a code to live by? Some examples are Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, religions, orders such as Masons, and service groups like Kiwanis and Rotary.

These groups provide a great service to our culture by showing us how we should treat each other and how to get along with one another. They also challenge us to be responsible in our attitudes, words, and behavior.

Of course, a code is only as good as our commitment to follow it. If we fail in our commitment, we remove ourselves from being a true member of our group.

Many of us have not been given a code or a standard of responsibility. We have no real standard to follow and no guidelines for life. While the phrase, “No rules!” has become popular, it is anarchy and really doesn’t work. Just think what driving would be like with no rules! We think the roads are dangerous now!

Having a code to live by is an important part of becoming responsible. What code have you chosen?

Key Notes:

1. Responsibility has two parts:

a. A responsible person is “able to choose for oneself between ____________ and ____________________________.”

b. A responsible person is “able to answer for one’s conduct and obligations;

accountable; ________________________________, __________________________________________.”

2 .Responsibility is a big part of ______________________________________.

3. Having a _____________ to live by is an important part of becoming responsible.

PASSION: Responsibility 4

Introduction: [Please read the following to the class.]

Will you devote the next few minutes to change your life?

Will you think about your life and what you will make of it?

Will you examine your belief system to determine why you believe what you believe?

Will you dedicate yourself to do what will make your life richer, better, and more successful, even if doing so is hard work?

Will you think with me about responsibility?

Quotation:

Rose Lane - “As novices, we think we're entirely responsible for the way people treat us. I have long since learned that we are responsible only for the way we treat people.”

Review:

A responsible person is able to choose for oneself between right and wrong and to answer for one’s conduct and obligations. A responsible person is accountable, reliable, and trustworthy.” Responsibility is a big part of maturity.

Having a code to live by is an important part of becoming responsible. What is your code?

Some people choose never to be responsible because they can’t admit doing anything wrong. A person who refuses to admit his mistakes will continue to make the same bad choices over and over. Others only admit that they did something wrong when they actually get caught.

People have a sense about us that we are either trustworthy or untrustworthy. Responsibility earns trust and freedom.

Some people believe they are right in whatever they do, regardless of what others think and say. Taking responsibility for your words, actions, and attitudes is essential to be a healthy, happy person.

Journal Questions:

[Please distribute a copy of the Journal Questions to each student. You may explain, “The Journal Questions help us apply all we have learned to our life. It is very personal, a time to be alone with our thoughts and record them. Please reflect on each question and write down your best answer.” Please tell them that these sheets will be collected at the end of the period. Assure them that you will not read their answers and that they will be kept in a confidential place so that they may be available for discussion in your next session.]

1. In the movie, “Coach Carter,” the players were held responsible for their grades and behavior. Some upheld their responsibilities

and some didn’t. Who is the most irresponsible person you know? What proves their irresponsibility?

2. In the movie, Timo Cruz’s irresponsibility hurt the team, but it hurt him worse. What really bothers you about the person’s

irresponsibility you named in #1? Who is s/he hurting most by his/her irresponsibility?

3. In the movie, the “young men” went from irresponsible to very responsible during the gym “lock-out.” How would you grade

your level of responsibility on a scale from A – F? In what ways are you most responsible? … least responsible?

4. Do you think people respect you for the ways you are responsible?

5. In the movie, Timo Cruz quit twice but came back asking to get back on the team. Later he told Coach that he had saved his life. Can you admit when you do something wrong? What is the last thing you did wrong?

6. In the movie, the contract became the team’s code. Have you chosen a code to live by? What is it?

7. On a scale of 1-10 with 1 being “awful,” how would you rate your success in living by your chosen code? Why?

[When students complete their answers, please collect them face down.]

Next: Discuss the Journal Questions