Parents, educators and employers all seem to agree that ethical
awareness and strength of character are as important as academic
skills to young people getting ready to enter the workplace. Yet
traditional character development programs
are generally credited
with limited success, despite their scale and cost.
The Center for Cowboy Ethics and Leadership has developed a unique model Program that inspires kids to "do the right thing ~ the cowboy way." Based on the Ten Principles of the Code of the West, the four-week unit helps high school students build the personal qualities they will need to achieve true career and life success.
The Center's Program goes beyond traditional approaches aimed at "instructing" students in character development. Instead, it focuses on inspiring and engaging young people in an active process of deciding which values and character traits they want to embrace as the foundation for adult life.
A model Program has been adopted by Cherry Creek High School, a top-ranking public school in the Denver area. The Program has received overwhelmingly positive responses from students, teachers and parents ~ so much so that it is already being expanded. Comments Ann Moore, the Cherry Creek teacher who partnered with the Center to develop and test the program: "I have seen how these concepts can absolutely transform the lives of young people, motivating and inspiring them to reach for the best in themselves."
Click here to view an inspiring DVD about the Chery Creek Program and the students whose lives it has changed.
Click here to view a Cowboy Ethics: A Life-Changing Approach to Character Education.
Click here to view a Cowboy Ethics: The 11th Principle.