Building CharacterBuilding Character

HonestyHonesty

HONESTYHONESTY

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

Chief JosephChief Joseph

Being honest means being truthful.

Why Be Honest?Why Be Honest?

1.1. To build a good reputation.To build a good reputation.2.2. To gain trust and respect To gain trust and respect

from those around you.from those around you.3.3. To be seen as reliable.To be seen as reliable.4.4. To be true to yourself.To be true to yourself.5.5. To avoid trouble.To avoid trouble.

Think about it.....Think about it.....

Do you show honesty?Do you show honesty?

Take the test...Take the test...

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

What do you do?What do you do?

1.1. Run away and hope they don’t Run away and hope they don’t notice.notice.

2.2. Tell the truth to the neighbour and Tell the truth to the neighbour and take responsibility for your actions. take responsibility for your actions.

3.3. Blame it on someone else.Blame it on someone else.

If you chose #2, then you showed If you chose #2, then you showed honesty and responsibility. honesty and responsibility.

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

What do you do?What do you do?1.1. Agree and come up with a plan to Agree and come up with a plan to

cheat.cheat.2.2. Let your friend know that you won’t Let your friend know that you won’t

cheat but that you will help him/her cheat but that you will help him/her study for the test.study for the test.

3.3. Spread a rumour that he/she cheats Spread a rumour that he/she cheats on all tests. on all tests.

If you chose #2, then you showed If you chose #2, then you showed honesty and helpfulness.honesty and helpfulness.

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

What do you do?What do you do?

1.1. You bring it to school and turn it in You bring it to school and turn it in at the office.at the office.

2.2. You keep the wallet.You keep the wallet.3.3. You give it to a friend who wants You give it to a friend who wants

money to buy pizza lunch. money to buy pizza lunch.

If you chose #1, then you showed If you chose #1, then you showed honesty and responsibility.honesty and responsibility.

You break a You break a vase by vase by accident while accident while playing in the playing in the house. house.

What do you do?What do you do?

1.1. Clean it up quickly and hope that no Clean it up quickly and hope that no one notices the missing vase.one notices the missing vase.

2.2. Blame the family pet.Blame the family pet.3.3. Tell someone, say that you are Tell someone, say that you are

sorry and offer to clean it up.sorry and offer to clean it up.

If you chose #3, you showed If you chose #3, you showed honesty and responsibility.honesty and responsibility.

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

What do you do?What do you do?

1.1. You steal the chips and share them You steal the chips and share them with your friend.with your friend.

2.2. You tell him/her to steal them You tell him/her to steal them instead.instead.

3.3. You say “no” and after you leave the You say “no” and after you leave the store let your friend know that store let your friend know that stealing is dishonest.stealing is dishonest.

If you chose #3, then you showed If you chose #3, then you showed honesty and respect for yourself.honesty and respect for yourself.

A bunch of yourA bunch of your

friends are friends are spreadingspreading

rumours about rumours about

the new girl at the new girl at

school. school.

What do you do?What do you do?

1.1. Join in.Join in.2.2. Make friends with the new girl and Make friends with the new girl and

start rumours about your other start rumours about your other friends.friends.

3.3. Let them know that what they are Let them know that what they are doing is dishonest and hurtful.doing is dishonest and hurtful.

If you chose #3 you showed honesty, If you chose #3 you showed honesty, empathy, caring and kindness. empathy, caring and kindness.

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

What do you say?What do you say?

1.1. You tell him/her that the You tell him/her that the presentation was not that good. presentation was not that good.

2.2. You say that it was great even You say that it was great even though it wasn’t.though it wasn’t.

3.3. You tell him/her what you liked about You tell him/her what you liked about the presentation and how to improve the presentation and how to improve it. it.

If you answered #3, you showed If you answered #3, you showed honesty and fairness.honesty and fairness.

Think of your own exampleThink of your own example

What You Might Be ThinkingWhat You Might Be Thinking

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

PLUS

You Might Say...You Might Say...

Honesty is....Honesty is....

Being yourself and being Being yourself and being proud of who you are!proud of who you are!

BE YOURSELF!