THOUGHTS: CHARACTER BUILDING CORNER

School is starting and many of us can still remember the song "School days, school days, good ol' golden rule days. " Remember the golden rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. " This rule should be on every teacher's blackboard and in every school handbook. Parents and grandparents should post it in their homes and remind children regularly. Encourage your child to think about the rule and what it means. Train your children to apply the rule. Give them examples such as: "Before you start to tease someone stop and think if you would want someone to say that to you."

Quoting of this rule should not stop in grade school. Although laying the foundation of the rule is important at a young age, reinforcement should continue throughout the school years. Yes, every middle school, junior high and high school blackboard should also have the golden rule posted. These critical periods of growth involving peer pressure and building a child's self-esteem make the golden rule even more important.

Seek out library books and stories, discuss times in your childhood and even now as an adult where the golden rule was applied or needed to be applied. Make this rule of love the focus in your home and school this week and all throughout the year.