Building Character Honesty

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

Being honest means being truthful.

Why Be Honest? 1. To build a good reputation. 2. To gain trust and respect from those around you. 3. To be seen as reliable 4. To be true to yourself.

Think about it..... Do you demonstrate honesty? Take the test...

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

What do you do? 1. Run away and hope they don’t notice. 2. Tell the truth to the neighbour and take responsibility for your actions. 3. Blame it on someone else. If you chose #2, then you demonstrated honesty and responsibility. If you chose #2, then you demonstrated honesty and responsibility.

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

What do you do? 1. Agree and come up with a plan to cheat. 2. Let your friend know that you won’t cheat but that you will help him/her study for the test. 3. Spread a rumour that he/she cheats on all tests. If you chose #2, then you demonstrated honesty and helpfulness. If you chose #2, then you demonstrated honesty and helpfulness.

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

What do you do? 1. You bring it to school and turn it in at the office. 2. You keep the wallet. 3. You give it to a friend who wants money to buy pizza lunch. If you chose #1, then you demonstrated honesty and responsibility. If you chose #1, then you demonstrated honesty and responsibility.

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

What do you do? 1. You steal the chips and share them with your friend. 2. You tell him/her to steal them instead. 3. You say “no” and after you leave the store let your friend know that stealing is dishonest. If you chose #3, then you demonstrated If you chose #3, then you demonstrated honesty and respect for yourself.

A bunch of your friends are spreading rumours about the new girl at the new girl at school. school.

What do you do? 1. Join in. 2. Make friends with the new girl and start rumours about your other friends. 3. Let them know that what they are doing is dishonest and hurtful. If you chose #3 you demonstrated honesty, empathy, caring and kindness. If you chose #3 you demonstrated honesty, empathy, caring and kindness.

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

What do you say? 1. You tell him/her that the presentation was not that good. 2. You say that it was great even though it wasn’t. 3. You tell him/her what you liked about the presentation and how to improve it. If you answered #3, you demonstrated honesty and fairness. If you answered #3, you demonstrated honesty and fairness.

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

What You Might Be Thinking You think that her new look is awful and does not look good on her. You think that her new look is awful and does not look good on her. You know that “honesty is the best policy” and that lying is not right. You know that “honesty is the best policy” and that lying is not right. You also know that you don’t want to hurt your mom’s feelings. You also know that you don’t want to hurt your mom’s feelings. So, what do you say? So, what do you say?

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

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 take some time to grow on me.” “Mom, that’s different. I think it may take some time to grow on me.” “Mom, you are very creative! I am sure that you are the only mom with that look in the whole neighbourhood.” “Mom, you are very creative! I am sure that you are the only mom with that look in the whole neighbourhood.”

How Honest is This? You Decide! You change a few words on an essay you found on the internet and hand it in as your own work.

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

Should This Be Celebrated? AlexRodriguez uses banned substances and is the youngest player ever to hit 500 home runs.

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

BE YOURSELF!

“Truth is proper and beautiful at all times and in all places.” ~ Frederick Douglas