AB Combs and Libraries

I'm sitting in college library right now. I love libraries. I believe they are one of the most important pieces of education today and so underutilized. I've written some of my best stuff in libraries. It's home to me.

When I was in N.Carolina for the afterschool conference, I heard about THE school in North Carolina. AB COMBS Elementary. There was nothing but praise for this place everywhere I went. As I'm finishing up the book by Stephen Covey, THE 8TH HABIT, I was reintroduced to this school again as he talked about it in his book so I did some Internet research on this place.
You can only get so much from seeing something over the web but it looks very unique.

The elementary has garnered numerous awards, in particular, its focus on student behavior and the habits taught in the book, THE SEVEN HABITS OF HIGH EFFECTIVE PEOPLE.

Jim Collins, the author of the fascinating book, GOOD TO GREAT, says this: "WHAT CAN YOUR ORGANIZATION DO BETTER THAN ANYONE?"

Now substitute ORGANIZATION for SCHOOL and ask: WHAT CAN YOUR SCHOOL DO BETTER THAN ANYONE?

And I couldn't help but think: COULD WE BE THE BEST AT BUILDING CHARACTER IN CHILDREN? Seriously.

Think about it.

We have an at-risk population where character isn't taught and cannot be assumed. By character, I involve terms like: Honor, integrity, openness, respect...Character.

Again, COULD OUTLOOK BE THE BEST AT BUILDING CHARACTER IN CHILDREN? Above all else. Above test scores, reading, math, science, social studies...above all of that and again ask: COULD WE BE THE BEST AT BUILDING CHARACTER?

How wonderful it would be to try. How glorious would it be to focus so intently on something that carries so much weight in life and has lasting, long term effects in the lives of so many.

COULD WE?