The 2006 news story of the year is the continuing story our community working together to make positive character traits part of what our children and grandchildren experience every day, at home, in school, and in the community. The First PLACE program is a commitment by teachers, school administrators and support staff, area businesses, parents, relatives, friends, local government entities, the College of the Ozarks, and others to “foster a community where character is highly valued and intentionally taught.”
“Oh come on Seagull, you have to be kidding. With all that’s going on down at city hall, the New Branson, 25 story sky scrapers, the city of Branson trying to hijack the term ‘Branson’ for its own use, law suits on Branson Landing, etc. how can that be the local news story of the year?” Quite simply, because, to most people, the future of their children and grand children means much more to them than Branson Landing, the status of the convention center, 25 story sky scrapers, or even the community’s perpetual preoccupation with bringing more first time visitors to Branson.
Each month of the year a particular character trait is taught and emphasized in the schools. That teaching is then reinforced within the community and at home through First PLACE Partners, businesses and individuals, who have committed to “demonstrating one visible action each month that ties into the trait of the month.” The First PLACE character traits are:
Respect – treating others with courtesy and honor (September)
Responsibility – taking ownership of what you say and do (October)
Citizenship – being loyal to your country (November)
Compassion/Kindness – caring for others (December)
Commitment – being true to your word (January)
Honesty – being truthful in what you say and do (February)
Cooperation – working together toward a common goal (March)
Perseverance – demonstrating persistent determination (April)
Self-discipline – training and control of yourself (May)
Hospitality – welcoming others in a friendly way (June)
Patriotism – showing love for one’s country (July)
Patience – waiting calmly (August)
The story grows exponentially in importance when the fact that it’s not a matter of whether or not our children are going to have character is acknowledged. They are; it’s just a matter of what type of character they are going to have good, bad, or indifferent. On an individual basis, character is acquired, learned, and developed on a daily basis based on, among other things, environmental factors and the choices individuals make about how they live their lives and what they fill their minds with.
Proverbs says it best, “For as he thinks within himself, so he is.” In an Ole Seagulls life this basic truth has evolved into a simple irrefutable master guide line, “We will become what we think we are and that is controlled by what we have placed in our minds.” The First PLACE program is dedicated to filling the minds of our children and grandchildren with positive character traits that will help empower them to live up to their fullest potential in a way that will be a blessing to themselves and to others.
The Ole Seagulls favorite verse of scripture is, “Whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, of excellence, or worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.” As a community and as individuals, the First PLACE program provides the opportunity to not only “dwell on these things” but make them a vital part of the lives of our children and grandchildren, ourselves, and the very community that we call home. The First PLACE program, and the community’s continuing commitment to it, gets the Ole Seagulls vote for the top local story of 2006. What do you think?
