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Cardinal Coin of Respect

The process of building a strong character connection for youth begins with setting in place effective cognitive anchors that can be used to define and strengthen specific character themes like integrity, commitment, and ownership. A cognitive anchor is an idea that is simple, but that is effective in setting direction for character development. It must feel like something real to the youth. Cognitive anchors must be clear and precise enough for students to picture their own positive behavior and strong character.

One of the most effective cognitive anchors for guiding character development is "the line". The youth is taught that there is a line, and you can choose to live your life above the line, or you can choose to live your life below the line. You can think above the line, you can work above the line, you can talk above the line, and you can live above the line, or you can choose to do these things below the line.

This concept creates an immediate and strong anchor for young people. They can easily picture the line, and individuals of all ages can begin to define what kind of behavior is below the line and what kind of behavior is above the line. You can then use the line to help them work on specific character themes like integrity. We can define integrity to mean that your actions line up with what you know to be right. Stated another way, integrity means your actions and behaviors line up with your beliefs and values.

The Coin of Respect may be the most powerful anchor ever developed for youth, and should be considered an essential ingredient for developing character. It is an anchor that ties down character themes. Character themes such as integrity, commitment, loyalty, ownership, and courage float unless securely anchored by this coin. To understand this let's consider an example.

Consider the events of 9/11 in New York City when hijackers crashed airplanes into the World Trade Center towers. Let's consider this from the standpoint of the hijackers. Were the hijackers in alignment with integrity? Perhaps our first reaction is to respond with a no, but careful consideration will reveal that they were. Did their actions and behaviors line up with their values and beliefs? The answer to this question is yes. Were they committed? Yes. Did they take ownership for their actions? Yes. Were they loyal to their cause and other members of their group? Did they display courage in giving up their lives for what they believed was right? The answer to each of these questions is yes.

This is what we mean when we say that character themes float. We need the Coin of Respect to Anchor these themes. Without the Coin our efforts will eventually unravel in the thinking of a youth leaving confusion in their place. Let's examine the Coin of Respect and then test it to see if it anchors character themes.

The coin has important words written on both sides. On one side of the coin we see the words: people, property, and self. The youth is taught that this means we must have respect for people, property and self to be in alignment with this coin. We teach that if we are out of alignment with any aspect of the Coin, then we are below the line. For example we cannot have respect for self and property and not have respect for people and still live above the line. If we have respect for people and property, but do not have respect for self, we live below the line. If we are doing anything that is physically or mentally harmful to ourselves, we are below the line and out of alignment with respect for self. A youth using illegal drugs lives below the line. If we are not working diligently to develop our potential we are out of alignment with respect for self.

On the other side of the Coin of Respect we find the words life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. These words come from the Declaration of Independence which states, "We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, and that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness."

Now let's put the Coin of Respect to the test. Consider again the events of 9/11. Did the hijackers have respect for people? No. If you are out of alignment with even one aspect of the Coin of Respect you are already below the line. But let's keep going. Did the hijackers have respect for property? No. Did they have respect for self? This one could be argued in behalf of the hijackers based on their beliefs. Now consider the other side of the coin. Did they have respect for life? Did they have respect for liberty or the pursuit of happiness?

Even though a member of a gang might be in alignment with commitment and loyalty they live below the line if they are out of alignment with any aspect of the Coin of Respect. The coin always anchors the principles of strong character. A youth learning about the Coin need never be confused about the character themes they have been taught and told are principles that lead to success. What a precious understanding this is, and how important it is to teach it at an early age.

The actual aluminum coin functions as a physical anchor to remind the owner of the concept associated with the Coin of Respect. Whenever they touch or see the coin they are reminded of the principles for which it stands.