4-H character development

Aretha Franklin's song "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" has been popular for many years. Ask your parents, grandparents or older neighbors to sing it for you.

That song reminds us how we want people to treat us. We all want a chance to be ourselves, make decisions, be accepted and be treated in a polite, decent way and have a little privacy.

Respectful people give others the information they need to make decisions about their lives. Respectful people treat others with consideration. They do what is tasteful and proper in dealing with others. They don't stoop to violence, meanness or rudeness.

Respectful people tolerate other people's beliefs and accept individual differences without prejudice. They don't insist that everyone be like them. Respectful people treat others as they want to be treated.

They value others. They build up others. They help other people value themselves.

In the Southwind District, respect is one of the most important pillars of character we try to teach. Through events like judging, Day Camp, Rock Springs 4-H Camp and project meetings, we teach our 4-H members to be respectful of each other and of those around them.

We are basically asking each of us to follow the Golden Rule.

Everyone wants to be treated with respect. That means they want to be accepted, treated as individuals, treated politely, have some privacy and be judged on their merits. People have gotten a little careless with respect lately. We don't always treat others like we want to be treated.

Respect is an important part of 4-H life skills:

* Head -- before you act, always think, "will this hurt or disturb someone else?"

* Heart -- be nice to others

* Hands -- practice good manners

* Health -- respect your body and take care of yourself

National 4-H has been a member of the Character Counts! coalition since its beginning. Several state 4-H programs have been very involved with the Character Counts! movement.

Kansas 4-H Youth Development joined the Character Counts! coalition in 2005 because: 1) Kansas extension agents asked for support in curbing inappropriate behaviors surrounding competitive settings; 2) the six pillar language and imagery has sustained itself over the last decade and is the most widely known and recognizable character development movement and 3) Character Counts! has reliable and valid evidence that Character Counts! increases "good" decision making when applied in a comprehensive, community youth development approach such as 4-H clubs, groups, after-school and military settings.

Additional information about Kansas 4-H and Character Counts! can be found at www.kansas4-h.org/CC.