Dumas Junior High School Advisory Lesson Integrity

Integrity is making our actions line up with our values. A person of integrity consistently follows a strict code of personal values in a way that demonstrates moral excellence.

Integrity means: Doing the right thing all the time. And doing the right thing when no one is looking.

Integrity Bobby Jones was an American amateur golfer, and a lawyer by profession. Jones was one of the most successful amateur golfers ever to compete at the national and international level. During his peak as a golfer from 1923 to 1930, he dominated top-level amateur competition, and competed very successfully against the world's best professional golfers. Why would integrity be important in golf or in any other sport?

Integrity Watch the following video and think about the integrity that Bobby Jones had in this situation.

Integrity What did Bobby Jones do that showed he was a man of integrity? Did any one see his ball move? Do you think he did the right thing by calling a penalty on himself? Do you think you would do the same thing if your were in the same situation?

Integrity Watch the video one more time. This time pay attention to what Bobby Jones says after the officials tell him that no one saw his ball move and asked him if he was sure he wanted to call a penalty on himself.

Integrity What did he say after he was congratulated for calling the penalty on himself? He said, “Congratulating me for this is like congratulating a man for robbing a bank.” What did he mean by this? He then lost the tournament by one stroke. How do you think he would have felt if he did not call the penalty and won the tournament?

Integrity Watch the following video clip. Basketball Basketball

Integrity Do you think that Alex did the right thing? What would the easy thing have been to do? What do you think you would have done?

Integrity Think about the following scenario: You are at the store and bought a candy bar. You give the cashier a $20.00 dollar bill. She hands you your change but you don’t really look at it. You just shove it in your pocket. After you walk outside of the store, you pull the money out of your pocket and look at it. You think to your self, there is no way I should have this much money. It is obvious that the cashier gave you ten extra dollars in change.

Integrity Did anyone see this happen or does anyone know about it? What would you do? What would be the easy thing to do? What would a person of integrity do?

Integrity When are some other times we are called to act with integrity?

Integrity Integrity is something inside of you. It is the choice to the right thing at ALL times and at ALL costs. It may not always be easy, but doing the right thing even when no one is watching is integrity.

Integrity Enjoy this last clip