Building CharacterBuilding Character

HonestyHonesty

““It does not require many It does not require many words to speak the truth.”words to speak the truth.”

Chief JosephChief Joseph

Being honest means being truthful.

Why Be Honest?Why Be Honest?

1.1. To build a good To build a good reputation.reputation.

2.2. To gain trust and respect To gain trust and respect from those around you.from those around you.

3.3. To be seen as reliableTo be seen as reliable4.4. To be true to yourself.To be true to yourself.

Think about it.....Think about it.....

Do you demonstrate honesty?Do you demonstrate honesty?

Take the test...Take the test...

While playing baseball with some of your friends, you accidentally break theneighbour’s window.

What do you do?What do you do?

1.1. Run away and hope they don’t notice.Run away and hope they don’t notice.

2.2. Tell the truth to the neighbour and Tell the truth to the neighbour and take responsibility for your actions. take responsibility for your actions.

3.3. Blame it on someone else.Blame it on someone else.

If you chose #2, then you If you chose #2, then you demonstrated honesty and demonstrated honesty and responsibility. responsibility.

Your friend Your friend comes to you comes to you and asks you and asks you if you can if you can help him/her help him/her cheat on a cheat on a test.test.

What do you do?What do you do?

1.1. Agree and come up with a plan to cheat.Agree and come up with a plan to cheat.2.2. Let your friend know that you won’t Let your friend know that you won’t

cheat but that you will help him/her cheat but that you will help him/her study for the test.study for the test.

3.3. Spread a rumour that he/she cheats on Spread a rumour that he/she cheats on all tests. all tests.

If you chose #2, then you demonstrated If you chose #2, then you demonstrated honesty and helpfulness.honesty and helpfulness.

On the way On the way to school, to school, you find a you find a wallet with wallet with money in it. money in it.

What do you do?What do you do?

1.1. You bring it to school and turn it in at You bring it to school and turn it in at the office.the office.

2.2. You keep the wallet.You keep the wallet.3.3. You give it to a friend who wants You give it to a friend who wants

money to buy pizza lunch. money to buy pizza lunch.

If you chose #1, then you If you chose #1, then you demonstrated honesty and demonstrated honesty and responsibility.responsibility.

You are at You are at the corner the corner store with store with your friend. your friend. Your friend Your friend dares you to dares you to steal a bag steal a bag of chips. of chips.

What do you do?What do you do?

1.1. You steal the chips and share them You steal the chips and share them with your friend.with your friend.

2.2. You tell him/her to steal them instead.You tell him/her to steal them instead.3.3. You say “no” and after you leave the You say “no” and after you leave the

store let your friend know that stealing store let your friend know that stealing is dishonest.is dishonest.

If you chose #3, then you If you chose #3, then you demonstrateddemonstratedhonesty and respect for yourself.honesty and respect for yourself.

A bunch of yourA bunch of your

friends are friends are spreadingspreading

rumours about rumours about

the new girl at the new girl at

school. school.

What do you do?What do you do?

1.1. Join in.Join in.2.2. Make friends with the new girl and start Make friends with the new girl and start

rumours about your other friends.rumours about your other friends.3.3. Let them know that what they are Let them know that what they are

doing is dishonest and hurtful.doing is dishonest and hurtful.

If you chose #3 you demonstrated If you chose #3 you demonstrated honesty, empathy, caring and kindness. honesty, empathy, caring and kindness.

Your classmate Your classmate gives a gives a presentation. presentation. You are asked You are asked to give to give feedback. The feedback. The presentation presentation was not as was not as good as it could good as it could have been. have been.

What do you say?What do you say?

1.1. You tell him/her that the You tell him/her that the presentation was not that good. presentation was not that good.

2.2. You say that it was great even You say that it was great even though it wasn’t.though it wasn’t.

3.3. You tell him/her what you liked about You tell him/her what you liked about the presentation and how to improve the presentation and how to improve it. it.

If you answered #3, you If you answered #3, you demonstrated honesty and fairness.demonstrated honesty and fairness.

Your mom Your mom comes home comes home with a new with a new look and asks look and asks you what you you what you think of it.think of it.

What You Might Be ThinkingWhat You Might Be Thinking

You think that her new look is awful You think that her new look is awful and does not look good on her.and does not look good on her.

You know that “honesty is the best You know that “honesty is the best policy” and that lying is not right.policy” and that lying is not right.

You also know that you don’t want to You also know that you don’t want to hurt your mom’s feelings.hurt your mom’s feelings.

So, what do you say?So, what do you say?

In cases where total honesty can hurt In cases where total honesty can hurt someone’s feelings, we find a way to someone’s feelings, we find a way to respond honestly and caringly.respond honestly and caringly.

PLUS

You Might Say...You Might Say...

““Mom, that’s a very unique look.”Mom, that’s a very unique look.” ““Mom, that’s different. I think it may Mom, that’s different. I think it may

take some time to grow on me.”take some time to grow on me.” ““Mom, you are very creative! I am Mom, you are very creative! I am

sure that you are the only mom with sure that you are the only mom with that look in the whole that look in the whole neighbourhood.”neighbourhood.”

How Honest is This?How Honest is This?You Decide!You Decide!

You change a You change a few words on few words on an essay you an essay you found on the found on the internet and internet and hand it in as hand it in as your own work.your own work.

Honest or Dishonest?Honest or Dishonest?You illegally You illegally download music download music from the internet from the internet and burn it on a and burn it on a CD or save in on CD or save in on your I-PODyour I-POD

Should This Be Celebrated?Should This Be Celebrated?

AlexRodriguez AlexRodriguez

uses banned uses banned substances and substances and is the youngest is the youngest player ever to player ever to hit 500 home hit 500 home runs.runs.

Honesty is....Honesty is....

Being yourself: Being yourself: accepting you who are, accepting you who are, respecting who you are, respecting who you are, being proud of who you being proud of who you are!are!

BE YOURSELF!

““Truth is proper and beautiful at all Truth is proper and beautiful at all times times

and in all places.” ~ Frederick Douglasand in all places.” ~ Frederick Douglas