Word: From the nineteenth by to the mid-Twentieth century, academic establishments — from elementary colleges to schools — sought to not solely develop college students’ educational talents, however to domesticate, as one textbook from 1849 put it, their “virtuous and noble sentiments.”
In 1916, the Character Schooling Establishment, a type of think-tank for analysis on ethical training in colleges, held a contest for one of the best morality code for youngsters — a code which defined the basic fundamentals of dwelling an ethical life. The successful entry was penned by William J. Hutchins, a school president. It was then checked towards lists of 650 potential ethical acts, 92 “fascinating human traits,” different contest entries, and literature on ethical training, and subsequently revised and expanded accordingly. “The Kids’s Morality Code for Elementary Colleges” was revealed in 1926 and college students have been inspired to uphold its tenets by forming classroom golf equipment devoted to its assist. We have now republished it under.
THE ELEMENTARY MORALITY OF CIVILIZATION
Girls and boys who’re good Individuals attempt to turn out to be sturdy and helpful, worthy of their nation, that our nation might turn out to be ever larger and higher. Subsequently, they obey the legal guidelines of proper dwelling which one of the best Individuals have at all times obeyed.
I. THE LAW OF SELF-CONTROL
GOOD AMERICANS CONTROL THEMSELVES
Those that greatest management themselves can greatest serve their nation.
1. I’ll management my tongue, and won’t enable it to talk imply, vulgar, or profane phrases. I’ll assume earlier than I converse. I’ll inform the reality and nothing however the fact.
2. I’ll management my mood, and won’t get offended when individuals or issues displease me. Even when indignant towards incorrect and contradicting falsehood, I’ll hold my self-control.
3. I’ll management my ideas, and won’t enable a silly want to spoil a clever goal.
4. I’ll management my actions. I might be cautious and thrifty, and demand on doing proper.
5. I can’t ridicule nor defile the character of one other; I’ll hold my self-respect, and assist others to maintain theirs.
II. THE LAW OF GOOD HEALTH
GOOD AMERICANS TRY TO GAIN AND KEEP GOOD HEALTH
The welfare of our nation relies upon upon those that are bodily match for his or her each day work. Subsequently:
1. I’ll attempt to take such meals, sleep, and train as will hold me at all times in good well being.
2. I’ll hold my garments, my physique, and my thoughts clear.
3. I’ll keep away from these habits which might hurt me, and can make and by no means break these habits which is able to assist me.
4. I’ll shield the well being of others, and guard their security in addition to my very own.
5. I’ll develop sturdy and skillful.
III. THE LAW OF KINDNESS
In America those that are totally different should dwell in the identical communities. We’re of many various types, however we’re one nice individuals. Each unkindness hurts the widespread life; each kindness helps. Subsequently:
1. I might be sort in all my ideas. I’ll bear no spites or grudges. I’ll by no means despise anyone.
2. I might be sort in all my speech. I’ll by no means gossip nor will I converse unkindly of anybody. Phrases might wound or heal.
3. I might be sort in my acts. I can’t selfishly insist on having my very own method. I might be well mannered: impolite individuals are not good Individuals. I can’t make pointless hassle for many who work for me, nor neglect to be grateful. I might be cautious of different individuals’s issues. I’ll do my greatest to stop cruelty, and can give assist to those that are in want.
IV. THE LAW OF SPORTSMANSHIP
Robust play will increase and trains one’s energy and braveness. Sportsmanship helps one to be a gentleman, a girl. Subsequently:
1. I can’t cheat; I’ll hold the principles, however I’ll play the sport onerous, for the enjoyable of the sport, to win by energy and talent. If I mustn’t play honest, the loser would lose the enjoyable of the sport, the winner would lose his self-respect, and the sport itself would turn out to be a imply and sometimes merciless enterprise.
2. I’ll deal with my opponents courteously, and belief them in the event that they deserve it. I might be pleasant.
3. If I play in a gaggle recreation, I’ll play, not for my very own glory, however for the success of my crew.
4. I might be a great loser or a beneficiant winner.
5. And in my work in addition to in my play, I might be sportsmanlike—beneficiant, honest, honorable.
V. THE LAW OF SELF-RELIANCE
GOOD AMERICANS ARE SELF-RELIANT
Self-conceit is foolish, however self-reliance is important to girls and boys who can be sturdy and helpful.
1. I’ll gladly take heed to the recommendation of older and wiser individuals; I’ll reverence the needs of those that love and look after me, and who know life and me higher than I. I’ll develop independence and knowledge to decide on for myself, act for myself, in line with what appears proper and honest and clever.
2. I can’t be afraid of being laughed at when I’m proper. I can’t be afraid of doing proper when the group does incorrect.
3. When in peril, hassle, or ache, I might be courageous. A coward doesn’t make a great American.
VI. THE LAW OF DUTY
GOOD AMERICANS DO THEIR DUTY
The shirker and the keen loafer dwell upon others, and burden fellow-citizens with work unfairly. They don’t do their share, for his or her nation’s good.
I’ll attempt to discover out what my obligation is, what I should do as a great American, and my obligation I’ll do, whether or not it’s simple or onerous. What it’s my obligation to do I can do.
VII. THE LAW OF RELIABILITY
GOOD AMERICANS ARE RELIABLE
Our nation grows nice and good as her residents are in a position extra absolutely to belief one another. Subsequently:
1. I might be trustworthy in each act, and really cautious with cash. I can’t cheat nor faux, nor sneak.
2. I can’t do incorrect within the hope of not being came upon. I can’t cover the reality from myself. Nor will I injure the property of others.
3. I can’t take with out permission what doesn’t belong to me. A thief is a menace to me and others.
4. I’ll do promptly what I’ve promised to do. If I’ve made a silly promise, I’ll directly confess my mistake, and I’ll attempt to make good any hurt which my mistake might have triggered. I’ll converse and act that individuals will discover it simpler to belief one another.
VIII. THE LAW OF TRUTH
1. I might be sluggish to imagine suspicions lest I do injustice; I’ll keep away from hasty opinions lest I be mistaken as to details.
2. I’ll stand by the reality no matter my likes and dislikes, and scorn the temptation to lie for myself or buddies: nor will I hold the reality from those that have a proper to it.
3. I’ll hunt for proof, and be correct as to what I see and listen to; I’ll be taught to assume, that I’ll uncover new fact.
IX. THE LAW OF GOOD WORKMANSHIP
GOOD AMERICANS TRY TO DO THE RIGHT THING IN THE RIGHT WAY
The welfare of our nation relies upon upon those that have realized to do in the appropriate method the work that makes civilization potential. Subsequently:
1. I’ll get the very best training, and be taught all that I can as a preparation for the time when I’m grown up and at my life work. I’ll invent and make issues higher if I can.
2. I’ll take actual curiosity in work, and won’t be happy to do slipshod, lazy, and merely satisfactory work. I’ll type the behavior of fine work and hold alert; errors and blunders trigger hardships, generally catastrophe, and spoil success.
3. I’ll make the appropriate factor in the appropriate method to give it worth and wonder, even when nobody else sees or praises me. However when I’ve completed my greatest, I can’t envy those that have completed higher, or have acquired bigger reward. Envy spoils the work and the employee.
X. THE LAW OF TEAM-WORK
GOOD AMERICANS WORK IN FRIENDLY COOPERATION WITH FELLOW-WORKERS
One alone couldn’t construct a metropolis or an ideal railroad. One alone would discover it onerous to construct a bridge. That I’ll have bread, individuals have sowed and reaped, individuals have made plows and threshers, have constructed mills and mined coal, made stoves and stored shops. As we learn to work collectively, the welfare of our nation is superior.
1. In no matter work I do with others, I’ll do my half and encourage others to do their half, promptly.
2. I’ll assist to maintain so as the issues which we use in our work. When issues are misplaced, they’re usually in the way in which, and generally they’re onerous to seek out.
3. In all my work with others, I might be cheerful. Cheerlessness depresses all the employees and injures all of the work.
4. When I’ve acquired cash for my work, I might be neither a miser nor a spendthrift. I’ll save or spend as one of many pleasant employees of America.
XI. THE LAW OF LOYALTY
If our America is to turn out to be ever larger and higher, her residents should be loyal, devotedly trustworthy, in each relation of life; stuffed with braveness and regardful of their honor.
1. I might be loyal to my household. In loyalty I’ll gladly obey my dad and mom or those that are of their place, and present them gratitude. I’ll do my greatest to assist every member of my household to energy and usefulness.
2. I might be loyal to my college. In loyalty I’ll obey and assist different pupils to obey these guidelines which additional the nice of all.
3. I might be loyal to my city, my state, my nation. In loyalty I’ll respect and assist others to respect their legal guidelines and their courts of justice.
