Marlboro County High recognized for character education

Marlboro County High School is one of 13 high schools in the nation to be awarded the “Promising Practices” award in character education from the Character Education Partnership.

This is the fourth year since 2002 that Marlboro County High School has received the “Promising Practices” award.

“I’m extremely proud of our high school, the faculty, the staff and especially the students,” Marlboro County High School Principal Kenneth Bowen said. “I’m proud of what we’re doing and I feel like we’re moving in a positive direction. I look forward to continued success.”

The school was recognized for its “Youth Court: Character Education Through the Judicial Process” program.

The program is made possible through a collaborative effort between the high school’s Army JROTC department, Camp Bennettsville Wilderness Institute and the school’s School Resource Officer office through the Bennettsville Police Department.

Youth Court is a juvenile diversion program intended to keep young people with no criminal record out of the juvenile justice system.

The court, which is run by students at Marlboro County High and young adults of Camp Bennettsville, allow those students who made a wrong decision the opportunity to maintain a clean record.

The Youth Court functions as a traditional court and handles violations of the school’s discipline policy.

Teachers will write a referral to an administrator who would, in turn, refer it to the school resource officer for a court date to be scheduled.

Bowen said the court will hear cases in lieu of suspension or some other form of punishment.

He said students are trained to be mentors as well as hear the cases and arguments of the students, and offer peaceful resolutions.

“It gives the students leadership experience,” Bowen said. “It gives them experience at being mentors and it gives them the opportunity to take responsibility for what’s going on at the high school.”

Lt. Col. Justin F. Blum, a senior JROTC instructor who serves as the court’s judge, said the court teaches character education to first-time student offenders by offering punishments that are positive and constructive in hopes that the student doesn’t repeat his or her mistakes.

By having young adults from Camp Bennettsville participate on either the jury or administrative operational roles, Blum said, they serve as role models and mentors to students that go before the youth court.

“We convene these sessions so students at the high school will know that life isn’t a joke and here are kids that have been on the opposite side of the law and made bad decisions,” he said.

The majority of the mistakes made by the students, Blum said, are simply based on poor judgement and not considering the consequences of their actions.

The Character Education Partnership will give the awards at its 16th National Forum on Character Education, Citizens of Character — the Foundation of Democracy, to be held Oct. 29-31, near Washington, D.C.

The winning practices will be featured in the organization’s annual National Schools of Character publication and on its Web site, http://www.character.org.

Winning practices included creative ways to help students give back to their schools and communities, raise academic expectations and achievement, decrease bullying, increase tolerance, and solve conflicts peacefully, according to a press release issued by the organization.

On the Web

Marlboro County High School, http://www.marlboro.k12.sc.us

Character Education Partnership, http://www.character.org