By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
Having been named a New Jersey School District of Character in March, the Lawrence Township Public School District will learn next month whether it has earned national honors, as well.
The Lawrence school district is one of 50 schools and districts named as national finalists in the 2014 National Schools of Character program. The program recognizes schools and districts that have shown that character education has had positive impacts on academics, student behavior and school climate.
Representatives of the Character Education Program, which is a national advocate and leader for the character education movement, were scheduled to visit the Lawrence Township Public School District on April 23, according to school district officials.
All candidates for national honors undergo an intensive screening process. It includes site visits, conference calls and analysis of the impact of character education-related efforts on academics, student behavior and school culture.
The winners of the 2014 National Schools (Districts) of Character will be announced in mid-May. The Character Education Program will honor them at the 20th annual national Forum on Character Education, which is slated for Oct. 30 in Washington, D.C.
Two schools the Eldridge Park School and the Lawrenceville Elementary School have already been named as National Schools of Honor. All seven schools in the district have each been named as a New Jersey School of Character.
Superintendent of Schools Crystal Edwards said she was “thrilled and so proud” of the district for earning consideration as a National School District of Honor. A character education thread runs throughout the school district and is reflected daily in the work that the staff does with the students, she said.
Ms. Edwards said that having the district earn national honors is part of the district’s five-year strategic plan, which runs from 2010-2015. The first step was to have all of the schools named as a New Jersey School of Character a goal that was finally accomplished this year.
”This is the first time that it was put in as a district goal,” Ms. Edwards said. “By the conclusion of the five-year strategic plan, the goal was to be named a national district of character. We are one year ahead of schedule. I have an amazing team. I am fortunate.”
The seven Lawrence Township public schools use the Character Education Partnership’s “11 Principles of Effective Character Education,” adapting them to suit each school’s personality.
The 11 principles range from “promoting core ethical values” which Lawrence High School does through its emphasis on scholarship and responsibility to “providing students with opportunities for moral action,” which is achieved through numerous clubs such as Operation Smile, which focuses on reconstructive surgery for children born with facial deformities.
Another principle “fostering students’ self-motivation” is accomplished by the weekly Cardinal Pride Card Program, which recognizes students who have behaved in a particularly ethical manner. Students are also recognized for improvements in academics or behavior at a monthly breakfast.
At the school district level, the same 11 principles also are implemented. The principle of “creat(ing) a caring community” is carried out at each of the seven schools. At Lawrence Intermediate School, faculty members volunteer to mentor at-risk students, for example.
And the principle that “the school engages families and community members as partners in the character-building effort” is demonstrated through character-related events such as walk-a-thons, Project Graduation (a post-high school graduation night celebration chaperoned by parents) and charity events. All of the schools work with senior citizens through the Lawrence Senior Center.
”We teach (character education) and we model it,” Ms. Edwards said. “Look at the programs. The teachers are involved. They get the students excited about helping others. The student athletes work with Special Olympics New Jersey.”
”The teachers model acceptance and tolerance. The parents help out. From a child’s perspective, if the significant people in their lives are doing this, it is good. The children are also role models for adults. I learn a lot from the children,” Ms. Edwards said.

