The character quality of forgiveness is a tough one for most people to practice on a consistent basis. Most people when they are wronged want to forgive because in reality the reason they are forgiving someone is for their own mental health. Unfortunately a person may forgive another person but may have a tough time forgetting what was done to them. So they bounce back and forth between forgiveness and resentment. The quality of forgiveness defined is the ability to cease feeling bitter toward one’s offender and not holding a grudge against him or her. The opposite of forgiveness is resentment. Everyone knows that is better to forgive someone, but often a person will say that they forgive another but way down deep they still harbor bitterness. Often that bitterness will rear its ugly head in the form of angry outburst that could be directed at their friends or loved ones, who often wonder why they are so miserable and unhappy.

The Bully Proof Classroom

For some reason people in society believe that there is nothing wrong with lying or bending the truth. People can usually find a way to justify their actions by saying, "Oh, that was just a little white lie," and they really do believe that there is nothing wrong with lying. What is truthfulness and why is it so important? The definition of the word truthfulness is earning future trust by accurately reporting past facts. People who are truthful earn trust and are viewed by others as being honest. A person's reputations is based upon their ability to tell the truth, and their lives can be ruined if they are viewed as liars.

The Bully Proof Classroom

When people don't understand the importance of time or money, they will waste it. Often people will be given resources and really not understand how to use them. All people are given twenty four hours in a day, a certain amount of money, and a certain amount of ability to use in areas of their life. When a person waste or uses their resources incorrectly, problems will always occur in areas such as employment, family, and in their attitude about life. Listen in as Jim explains why the quality is so important and why it needs to be taught to out children 

The Bully Proof Classroom

  It is true that there is no substitute for hard work. Often time’s people don’t take their jobs seriously enough or view the jobs that they do as so menial that they don’t do the job to completion or they don’t put forth their best effort. Children in school who may not understand their subject matter tend to give up when the work becomes to hard, and don’t have the drive to put their mind to the work in order to complete assignments. Parents whose children don’t behave and are disrespectful and irresponsible may give up trying to discipline their children because they feel like a failure as a parent. Workers who feel less than appreciated by their employer become unmotivated on the job and just go through the motions job and feel like they don’t have any purpose at work or in life. Listen in as Jim explains the importance of the quality of diligence.

The concepts of self-control, delayed gratification and discipline seem so counter to our cultural values. We use our credit cards because we want things right away. We become impatient if we wait more than a few moments at a drive-through at McDonalds. We eat ourselves into obesity and poor health because it feels good, with little consideration of the long-term consequences. Self-control should be graded in school and looked at as a quality necessary for success as an adult. We need to teach our children this important as I believe it is a quality necessary for lifelong success. Listen in as Jim holds court. 

The definition of the character quality of initiative is: Recognizing and doing what needs to be done before one is asked to do it. The opposite of initiative is unresponsiveness. The idea that a person can survive and succeed in this world without initiative is ridiculous and wrong headed. Having initiative doesn’t mean that a person is pushy or obnoxious; it means that a person can see what has to be done and can take the personal responsibility to make things happen. One who possesses the character quality of initiative doesn’t allow circumstance or environment to get in the way and doesn’t make excuses for behavior, or inability to complete a task. One doesn't allow the roadblocks of life to bring one a full stop, but rather works to come up with a solution to the problem. Listen in and learn how to teach this quality to your children or students. 

The Bully Proof Classroom

Many years ago schools used to take lateness much more seriously than they do today. If you have ever been in a high school and observed students milling around in the hall between classes what you would notice is that the students don’t start moving to their class until the late bell rings. I have spoken to many teachers who have complained about student tardiness and asked them what they consider late? Most of the teachers said that they consider a student late if they arrive in class about one minute after the bell rings. That’s not on time, that’s late. Schools today are contributing to the problem of tardiness in society by not holding students accountable for either being late to class or late to school.

The Bully Proof Classroom

The quality of proactivity is in a larger sense related to one's response when one is under stress and how one handles difficult situations. People who are proactive know how to choose their response in any circumstance because they have a set of values and principles that they have learned that are plugged into their heart and soul. 

Reactive people on the other hand are very emotional and when they are faced with a problem they become angry, frustrated, depressed and so filled with anxiety that they tend to blame others or circumstances for their problem.

Listen in as Jim explains why we need to teach this quality to our children/students and why we have to develop our own proactive muscles as well.

The Bully Proof Classroom

When we make demands on kids do they even know what were talking about. "Oh grow up." Or "Act your age, not your shoe size." Character needs to be taught directly and by example. You can't tell them without showing them. In this first of a 10 part series we will be exploring the quality of maturity and really put the feet to it. In this manner students and children will not only grow physically bur emotionally as well. 

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The Bully Proof Classroom

Listen in and you will discover the items for your school to include in any type of behavior management plan. The plan should always promote respect, encourage responsibility, and addresses the mental health issues associated with addiction and bullying.

The Behavior Management Teacher's Toolbox