Our Centers for Ethics:

Weekly writing prompt

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May 17 - 23, 2009 American Red Cross Clara Burton helped organize the founding of the American Red Cross on May 21st, 1881. The daughter of liberal parents, she experienced an upbringing more priviledged in its freedoms and finances than many. Yet she was a remarkable woman who convinced Americans of the need for the Red Cross in times of disaster other than war. The broader implementation of Red Cross services brought America the name "samaritan of nations" throughout the world.

Write or discuss it! Foundations for Life gives teachers an easy way to improve students' critical thinking and composition skills. Each of these weekly prompts comes with a maxim illuminating an ethical issue. Students can analyze it and apply it to current events and their own lives, through discussion or writing. Each prompt also references at least one of the Six Pillars of Character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. As a result, students can easily tie the author’s words to community values. Suggestions for using the prompts:

• Read the biographies in the Teacher’s Resource.
• Present the maxim to the students.
• Briefly discuss:
  •   What did the author mean?
  •   Can you think of ways the statement applies to something in your life?
• Point out the Pillar related to the maxim.
• Present the writing prompt to the students and have them answer these questions in their draft book or other format.

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Elementary level

"It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be."
– Professor Dumbledore, in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Focus Pillar: Caring
Think about your future self. Write a letter to that person telling them about your dreams and hopes for the future now. Include details about your friends and environment. What ambitions do you have for your future self? Include:

• Details about your personality
• Who influences you
• What career ambitions you have
• What steps you will take to reach your goals

Secondary level

"No one could make a greater mistake than those who did nothing becaue they could do only little."
– Edmund Burke, British statesman and political philosopher (1729-1797)

Focus Pillar:Caring
Clara Barton helped found the American Red Cross. Throughout her life she sought to improve the lives of others by offering a "hand up, not a hand-out", in her own words. Write an essay about the life of Clara Barton. Include:

• Description of what her early life was like
• How the Civil War affected her
• Her journey to Europe which led her to learn about the International Red Cross
• What steps she took to found the American Red Cross

 

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