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4-H Assistant Builds Character in Clark County
Youth
By
Katie
Pratt
WINCHESTER, Ky. (Nov. 28, 2007) – Children in Clark County are
learning the importance of being honest, responsible citizens
with the help of a 4-H program assistant in the Cooperative
Extension 4-H character education program.
Many counties across the state have character education
programs, but Clark County’s program is unique because it is led
by an assistant whose sole responsibility is bringing character
education to the classroom.
The county’s program began about 17 years ago when then 4-H
Agent Rose Swope and Aleene Eury, then 4-H program assistant,
were awarded a $24,000 annual federal grant for four years to
reach out to high risk youth in the community. Over the years,
the program evolved into a school-based program.
Current 4-H Program Assistant Lee-Ann Hampton-Robinson said she
and Roy Turley and Heather Cassill, 4-H youth development
agents, instruct 56 classes in the county’s public and private
schools and reach about 1,500 children. Turley and Cassill
assist with some class instruction because of scheduling
overloads.
The program begins with basic character building exercises from
the CHARACTER COUNTS! curriculum, but Hampton-Robinson and the
county agents say they have expanded their programs to include
interactive lessons on table manners, body manners, bullying,
courtesies and telephone etiquette.
“We try to do as much hands-on instruction as we can instead of
just sitting there and lecturing to them for 30-45 minutes,”
Hampton-Robinson said.
Youth in the program watch videos, do worksheets and participate
in teamwork activities.
Program participation is optional to teachers. Participating
teachers select a topic to be taught in their classrooms and
schedule the program at the beginning of each school year.
Classes average once a week for six weeks but can last up to 10
weeks, depending on the topic the teacher selects.
Hampton-Robinson said she and Cassill developed a program
evaluation form for teachers this year. Since the program is
ongoing, results have yet to become available.
Turley said it’s hard to evaluate the program’s influence on
youth while they are still young, but qualities learned in the
program should stay with youth throughout their lives and make
them better citizens. Evaluations on the program’s youth require
several years before the effects can be measured and impact can
be determined.
“We’re going to affect some kids’ lives; it’s just hard to
measure that right now,” Turley said.
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Contact: Roy Turley, 859-744-4682
Heather Cassill, 859-744-4682
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