Hamilton’s Character Education Initiative wins state award

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By Richard O Jones, Staff Writer Updated 9:49 PM Monday, February 1, 2010

HAMILTON — Four years ago, when Coach Jim Place took over the Hamilton High School football team, he set up expectations for his players that went beyond academic requirements.

He insisted on good character as well as academics.

Superintendent Janet Baker, who had already started working character education into district programming, was so impressed she put Place in charge of creating a district-wide Character Education Initiative.

“With the increasing emphasis on academic accountability and test scores, a lot of the valuable teaching that can be done often takes a back seat,” Baker said. “I wanted to ensure that didn’t happen in our school district.”

Place said the concept initially involved a Character Day, and now has 100 programs districtwide.

The program has been so successful that the district was recently selected as the 2010 Ohio School District of Character by the Ohio Partners in Character Education.

This award qualifies the district for the Character Education Partnership’s National Schools of Character award, which will be announced in March.

According to Lucy Frontera, executive director of Ohio Partners in Character Education, the application process for the award is so rigorous that it’s an honor to even be able to apply.

A district must have had a character education program for at least three years and demonstrate that it adheres to the national Character Education Partnership’s “Eleven Principals of Effective Character Education,” Frontera said.

“Character education is clearly something Janet Baker feels so enthusiastic about that they’ve integrated it into everything they do,” Frontera said.

“We start early in developmentally appropriate ways in kindergarten and continue all the way through high school,” Baker said. “Not only would they have strong basic academic skill, but also have the skills to be a good person.”

»On the Web

For more information on the Ohio School District of Character award, visit www.charactereducationohio.org or www.character.org

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HHS football mom,

The big deal?
When a city or county employee retires after they receive enough credits for the County pension. That person still has 10+ years before retirement age (65) so off to work for the state (schools in this case) for 5+ years to earn enough state pension credits. Then lives happily ever after with a bankroll bigger than a retired Fischer Body worker ($3k+) with guaranteed COLA's.

Your tax dollars are being plucked like a ripe cherry & you don't even realize it.

Reality
3:03 PM, 2/2/2010

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The tiresome "double-dip" argument is pretty lame. Unless the second job is one that is created expressly for that person, they would be hiring someone for that position anyway, so what's the big deal? Are they supposed to hire someone and NOT pay them for their work?

HHS football mom
11:43 AM, 2/2/2010

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I really expected a more educated response. I guess character is based on how much money you make.

Blue Fan
10:27 AM, 2/2/2010

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If he does, more power to him! It sounds like you're just jealous you don't make that much money.

HHS football mom
10:12 AM, 2/2/2010

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Let's face it. Jim Place was a great coach at one time, however, the only reason he came to Hamilton was because his retirement is based on his 3 highest years pay. $92,000 a year at Hamilton the last four years. Nice retirement! Maybe he can find a way to double dip and really make out!

Blue Fan
10:07 AM, 2/2/2010

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