Show-Me 4-H’ers Character

Module 3
The Six Pillars of Character
 PILLAR ONE

Trustworthiness
 Even Small Lies
and Deceptions
Can Topple Towers
of Trust
Towers of trust are
built stone by stone,
yet no tower is so tall
or so strong that it can
stand when lies and
deceptions undermine
the stones at its base.
Trustworthiness
Embodies Four
Ethical Principles

 Integrity
 Honesty
 Promise-keeping
 Loyalty
Trustworthiness

Integrity
 Integrity

Integrity is moral wholeness

demonstrated by a consistency of:

 Thoughts – what we think

 Words – what we say
 Deeds – what we do
 Duties – what we should do
 What is right is
right even if no
one else is doing
it.

What is wrong is wrong even

if everyone is doing it.
Trustworthiness

Honesty
 Honesty

 Do:  Don’t:

 Tell the truth, the

 Lie.
whole truth and  Cheat.
nothing but the truth.  Steal.
 Be sincere.  Be sneaky,
 Be forthright and tricky or
candid. deceptive.
 White lies often look very
different from the
perspective of the person
lied to.
So,what else
Thank you have you lied
for caring to me about?
THE TEST:
Upon learning
of the lie,
would the
person lied to
thank you for
caring, or feel
manipulated or
betrayed?
 Trustworthiness

Promise-Keeping
 Reliability &
Promise-Keeping
 Keep your word.
 Honor your commitments.
 Be dependable — do what you are
supposed to do, return what you
borrow; pay your debts.
 Show up where and when you are
supposed to.
 Be prepared — do your homework
and bring what you need to do your
work.
Trustworthiness

Loyalty
 Loyalty
Do
 Stand by, stick up for and protect your family,
friends, school and country.
 Be a good friend.
 Look out for those who care about you.
 Keep secrets.
Don’t
 Betray a trust.
 Let your friends hurt themselves.
 Do anything that is wrong, even for a friend or
just so others will like you.
 Ask a friend to do anything wrong.
 Spread hurtful rumors or gossip.
PILLAR TWO

Respect
 Two Aspects of
Respect

 What You Think of Others

 How You Treat Others
 RESPECT

• Follow the Golden Rule

• Be tolerant and accept
differences
• Be nonviolent
• Be courteous
 PILLAR THREE

Responsibility
 Responsibility

Responsibility requires you to

recognize that what you do —
and what you don’t do —
matters.
 Responsibility

• Duty
• Accountability
• Pursue Excellence
• Exercise Self-Control
PILLAR FOUR

Fairness
 Fairness

• Play by the rules

• Take turns and share
• Be open-minded; listen to others
• Don’t take advantage of others
• Don’t blame others carelessly
 What is Fairness?

Fairness is concerned with

actions, processes, and
consequences that are
morally right, honorable and
equitable.
 Procedural Fairness
Requires…

1. Fair Notice
2. Impartiality
3. Gathering of the Facts
4. Fair Hearing
 Substantive
Fairness

Results — what we decide, the

substance of the decision.

 The moral obligation is to

make fair decisions; this is
called substantive fairness.
 Six Theories of
Substantive
Fairness
1. Merit
2. Need
3. Might
4. Equality
5. Seniority
6. Effort
PILLAR FIVE

Caring
 Caring

• Be kind
• Be compassionate and show
you care
• Express gratitude
• Forgive others
• Help people in need
 A Caring Person Is
Not:

 Mean, cruel or insensitive

 Selfish or self-centered
 Too busy to lend a helping
hand
 Elements of
Caring:

 Concern for others’ well-being

 Compassion
 Empathy
 Kindness
 Charity
PILLAR SIX

Citizenship
 Citizenship
• Do your share to make your
school and community better
• Cooperate
• Stay informed; vote
• Be a good neighbor
• Obey laws and rules
• Respect authority
• Protect the environment
 The Six Pillars of Character

• Trustworthiness
• Respect
• Responsibility
• Fairness
• Caring
• Citizenship