IntegrityBy:

Michelle Jansen van Vuuren

What is……………WHAT IS

Integrity is a moral and ethical principles, soundness of moral character; honesty the state of being whole, entire, or undiminished.

This word really comes to mind when I think about teaching children about integrity, honor, honest, innocence, decency, truth, and trust. Integrity is a

great value to instill in children to boost their self-esteem.

Being a modest person about one’s self with the capability of earning the respect of others, choosing to make the right choices regardless to what your peers do or desire to do.

?

The Historical Origin• The root of integrity is from the Latin word integritatem, meaning

“soundness” or “ wholeness.” “integrity (n.) c.1400, ‘innocence, blamelessness; chastity, purity,’ from Old French integrité or directly from Latin integritatem (nominative integritas) ‘soundness, wholeness, blamelessness,’ from integer ‘whole’ (see integer). Sense of ‘wholeness, perfect condition’ is mid-15c" (Harper, 2001-2013).

• The word integrity is derived from the Latin word integri, meaning wholeness. It is defined as a ‘state of being whole or undiminished.’ It is also defined as a state of ‘soundness of and adherence to moral principle.’ Since integrity is an aspect of one's character and behavior, the definitions are highly related. It has been argued that a leader's character cannot become whole and integrated unless it is grounded in a solid infrastructure of moral values. It is noted that “specific behaviors of a leader associated with integrity are identified as a superordinate value on which character is rooted” (Sankar, 2003, p. 48).

WholenessConsistency of

character

Loyal to principles and

values

Doing right regardless of

consequences

Integrity

The major elements terminology

Back into the ClassroomBr

ingi

ng In

tegr

ity

Teaching integrity in the classroom is a very difficult task to achieve. According to Edwin J. Del Attre, morals can only be a learned behavior after it is demonstrated multiple times. It is a task that can only be learned by example time and time again. One cannot simply walk into a classroom one day and teach one lesson and expect students to respond. Just like learning multiplication tables, it is learned out of a good habit. Modeling integrity on a daily basis and talking about why we made those decisions help students have good morals. Character is based on forming habits and repeating the action several times until it become natural (Wiley, 2010). However, “because people can become habituated by repeated behavior under responsible and loving training and supervision, the habits of morality can be learned.” (Wiley, 2010).

Teaching Integrity• How? Integrity can be a part of the curriculum and the classroom environment through teacher modeling and praise of

students or characters in books who exhibit integrity. • When? Daily! Integrity can even be used in class meetings. Discussing morals and values as a class. Lickona (1991) states

that “once a teacher has identified an opening in the curriculum for exploring a moral value, the next step is to plan an effective lesson or unit around that value” (p.170).

• Where? In the classroom and in any subject that allows discussion of integrity. For example, during a unit of money word problems, a teacher could discuss how a person who borrows money from another should return the money because that is showing integrity and it is the right thing to do.

• One avenue of teaching integrity in the classroom is to ask the questions that will cause the student to consider others. Covaleskie (2012) tells of what happens to a student and teacher in the hallways after an altercation when the teacher asked the student, who had bullied the other student, which side was he on. This question initially startled the student but caused him to reflect on his action (as cited in Meier, 2012).

Classroom Application• Bring in articles, videos or books about people with integrity.• Have students write a list of do’s and don’ts for people with integrity• Have students role play of scenarios where children may be faced with issues that may interfere with their integrity. • Students can write how they can be people of integrity. • Create an Integrity Wall to praise students that made efforts to show integrity within the classroom.

• CLICK ON Classroom Ideas for some more great ideas!

Billy Graham

Famous pastor who once bailed Martin

Luther King Jr. out of jail, he taught

people about the importance of doing what was right and

just.

Charles Stanley

Like Graham, he has a TV

broadcast that provides

sermons on virtues

.

Warren Buffett-Famous business man,

Buffett is seen as a philanthropist at heart.

He is known for pledging to give away 99% of his

money to charities.

Martin Luther King- Famous civil

rights activist and pastor. Despite being

persecuted for being a different skin color, he

encouraged peace among all people.

PEOPLE WITH INTEGRITY

Please see notes

Dr. Tricia Bertram GallantDirector, joined UC San Diego in August 2006. Dr. Bertram Gallant is an internationally known expert on integrity and ethics in education.

FINDING FORRESTER

This video is about the character Jamal Wallace who faced being put out of a prestigious school for suspicion of plagiarism.

He faced this risk with integrity because of a promise made to a friend.

Videoclip

RESEARCH SOURCESPEER REVIEWED ARTICLE• Covaleskie, J. (2011). Philosophy of education yearbook. Essay. 308-315, 8p. ISSN: 87566575. Retrieved February

6, 2014.SCHOLARY RESOURCES

• Anderson, A. (2012, November). Success will come and go, but integrity is forever. Forbes. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/anyanderson/2012/11/28 success-will-come-and-go-but-integrity-is-forever/.

• Gravois Lee, R., & Burns, L. (n.d.). 50 ways to jumpstart academic integrity discussions in your class. Retrieved from http://www.quinnipiac.edu/prebuilt/pdf/wac/database_fifty_ways_academic_integrity_0811.pdf

• Integrity. (n.d.). Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved February 04, 2014, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/integrity.

• Lickona, T. (1991) Educating for character: How our schools can teach respect and responsibility. New York: Bantam

• UC San Diego. (2014). Academic integrity office. Retrieved from https://students.ucsd.edu/academics/academic-integrity/about/.

• Sankar, Y. (2003). Character Not Charisma is the Critical Measure of Leadership Excellence. The Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies: Vol 9, No.4 , 45-55.

• Wiley, J. (2010, December 31). Teaching integrity. Education Week. Retrieved from http://www.education.com/reference/article/teaching-integrity.

Pictures and Video References

• CNS News. (2013, November 7). Billy Graham: Perhaps My Last Message to Our Nation. Retrieved from http://cnsnews.com/news/article/michael-w-chapman/billy-graham-perhaps-my-last-message-our-nation.

• Greene County Democrat. (2012, January). Martin Luther King Jr. Retrieved from http://greenecountydemocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Martin-Luther-King-Jr-.jpg.

• Imdb. (2011, May 23). Finding Forrester photo gallery. Retrieved from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0181536/mediaindex.

• Stream4 truth. (2011). Charles Stanley. Retrieved from http://www.stream4truth.com/site/channels/speakers/dr-charles-stanley-intouch.

• The AOL102. (2000, December). Finding Forrester-Losing family speech of Jamal Wallace. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYNRKhmS310