Building Character Honesty

HONESTY “It does not require many words to speak the truth.” Chief Joseph

Being honest means being truthful.

Why Be Honest? 1. To build a good reputation. 2. To gain trust and respect from those around you. 3. To be seen as reliable. 4. To be true to yourself. 5. To avoid trouble.

Think about it..... Do you show honesty? Take the test...

While playing baseball with some of your friends, you accidentally break the neighbour’s window.

What do you do? 1. Run away and hope they don’t notice. 2. Tell the truth to the neighbour and take responsibility for your actions. 3. Blame it on someone else. If you chose #2, then you showed honesty and responsibility. If you chose #2, then you showed honesty and responsibility.

Your friend comes to you and asks you if you can help him/her cheat on a test.

What do you do? 1. Agree and come up with a plan to cheat. 2. Let your friend know that you won’t cheat but that you will help him/her study for the test. 3. Spread a rumour that he/she cheats on all tests. If you chose #2, then you showed honesty and helpfulness. If you chose #2, then you showed honesty and helpfulness.

On the way to school, you find a wallet with money in it.

What do you do? 1. You bring it to school and turn it in at the office. 2. You keep the wallet. 3. You give it to a friend who wants money to buy pizza lunch. If you chose #1, then you showed honesty and responsibility. If you chose #1, then you showed honesty and responsibility.

You break a vase by accident while playing in the house.

What do you do? 1. Clean it up quickly and hope that no one notices the missing vase. 2. Blame the family pet. 3. Tell someone, say that you are sorry and offer to clean it up. If you chose #3, you showed honesty and responsibility. If you chose #3, you showed honesty and responsibility.

You are at the corner store with your friend. Your friend dares you to steal a bag of chips.

What do you do? 1. You steal the chips and share them with your friend. 2. You tell him/her to steal them instead. 3. You say “no” and after you leave the store let your friend know that stealing is dishonest. If you chose #3, then you showed honesty and respect for yourself. If you chose #3, then you showed honesty and respect for yourself.

A bunch of your friends are spreading rumours about the new girl at the new girl at school. school.

What do you do? 1. Join in. 2. Make friends with the new girl and start rumours about your other friends. 3. Let them know that what they are doing is dishonest and hurtful. If you chose #3 you showed honesty, empathy, caring and kindness. If you chose #3 you showed honesty, empathy, caring and kindness.

Your classmate gives a presentation. You are asked to give feedback. The presentation was not as good as it could have been.

What do you say? 1. You tell him/her that the presentation was not that good. 2. You say that it was great even though it wasn’t. 3. You tell him/her what you liked about the presentation and how to improve it. If you answered #3, you showed honesty and fairness. If you answered #3, you showed honesty and fairness.

Think of your own example

What You Might Be Thinking

In cases where total honesty can hurt someone’s feelings, we find a way to respond honestly and caringly. In cases where total honesty can hurt someone’s feelings, we find a way to respond honestly and caringly. PLUS

You Might Say...

Honesty is.... Being yourself and being proud of who you are! Being yourself and being proud of who you are!

BE YOURSELF!