Throughout October, The Ethics Institute at Kent Place School (EIKPS) presented a series of assemblies titled, “Ethics 101 – Jr.” at the Lincoln-Hubbard Elementary School and Franklin Elementary School in honor of NJ Respect Week.
The goal of the assemblies was to promote the value of respect and kindness through the use of video prompts, discussion groups, engaging stories, role-plays and reenacted case studies. In a developmentally-sensitive fashion, students were introduced to the concept of values and to the EIKPS ethical decision-making model. The highlight of the program was an interactive role-play of an ethical dilemma presented by the KPS Middle School Peer Mediators.
Presenters at the event from Kent Place School included Director of the Ethics Institute, Dr. Karen Rezach; Program Coordinator of the Ethics Institute, Dr. Eva Lazar; Director of the Primary School, Dr. Adunni Anderson; Kent Place Primary School teacher, Amy Heuer; and the Kent Place Middle School Peer Mediators.
Matt Carlin, principal of the Lincoln-Hubbard School commented that the assemblies represent, “a wonderful partnership between both our schools.”
The Ethics Institute at Kent Place School and Summit Public Schools share a common mission of raising awareness and promoting discussion surrounding values and ethical decision-making. The series of assemblies hosted at Lincoln-Hubbard and Franklin Schools gave students the tools and framework needed to feel empowered to develop their own sense of values with which they can make competent and thoughtful ethical decisions. Making ethically thoughtful decisions is a character strength that all students need the opportunity to develop. Confidence in making ethical decisions helps increase independence, competence as global citizens and courage for leadership. This event served as an opportunity to exercise a rich partnership between the private and public schools within the wider Summit, NJ, community.