Put The Pieces Together

     For 12 weeks in ’07 and ’08 I had the privilege to work with 246 Eighth students at Jacksonville Middle School .  Below are some of their comments they made in the last week when asked to write a page over what this course had meant to them.

     It is important to point out in the 06-07 school year there were five pregnancies in JMS.  There are NONE in the 07-08 year.  Also office referrals are at a 63% decrease.

...”This class has showed me activities I need to stay away from and people I need to help…I think it [the ethics class] has made me a better person and I think it will make students and kids wherever Steve presents this to have more character and passion about all the activities they participate in.”

...”I have controlled my anger and I don’t get mad as much as I used to…a lot of people make fun of others in Jacksonville, but now I can show them how we are all equal and I can have a better life.”…

“First and foremost I have learned that Steve does not come to the school on Fridays just to waste time.  Time is taken from regular classes so we can learn about ethics, not just so we are not in class, and I appreciate that.”…

…”An important thing that we have recently learned is the different types of conflict. An example of that is the pseudo conflict.  I am now able to recognize that type and help resolve it better”…

...”The most important thing I learned in ethics class was to accept where I come from…I am trying to learn to get better with my responsibilities”…

…”Others, such as your friends, should not try to pressure you from your personal rules.  Meaning you should not let them no matter what people say or do.  It’s your choice of how it affects yourself and your life.  That is what life is all about, your decisions change everything around you and others.  So think about your decisions before you act because every little thing mattes in life and affects everyone.”

...”The last ethics class hit me hard because in middle school relationships and peer pressure are very hard. We learned to make guys respect us and for the girls to do the same.  When those facts about abuse were given to me I had not a clue is was that serious.  It really got me thinking what if that was me or one of my friends”…

“In ethics I’ve learned a lot of different things.  I’ve learned about the problems with ethical decisions in the world and how I can make a difference…I’ve learned that is you live an ethical life, you will be a great person, inside and out.”

“I learned you should be respectful to your girl and not rush her, when she says no that’s what she means…if it wasn’t for that class I would still be pressuring her.”…

“Ethics has taught me a lot. Like how to perceive things differently.  Ever since the ethics class I haven’t been in as many fights with my family and siblings, especially my sister.  I always would get into a fight with my sister somehow, but now I understand how it keep happening.  I see the way she is seeing the argument and then I try to fix it, and doing that we don’t have as many problems or fights”…

“In ethics I learned many things, but mostly I learned how to perceive myself as a young person.”…