Phil Baker breaks the ice at the Darmstadt Middle School Thursday prior to teaching children about the six pillars of character. (Jessica Inigo / S&S)
Phil Baker breaks the ice at the Darmstadt Middle School Thursday prior to teaching children about the six pillars of character. (Jessica Inigo / S&S)
Darmstadt Middle School students take part in Phil Baker's program on Thursday. (Jessica Inigo / S&S)
DARMSTADT, Germany — Good moral fiber in children is just a song away.
The European Parent Teacher Association invited performing artist Phil Baker to teach children at U.S. military posts about building character.
Using a guitar and a song, Baker teaches how character can be built with the acronym TRRFCC (pronounced terrific). The letters stand for: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship.
These are the six pillars of character, according to Baker, and he teaches them through his program “Character Rocks.”
Baker’s program goes in line with the education framework “Character Counts,” which comes from a nonprofit and nonpartisan teaching organization based in Los Angeles, and teaches young people right from wrong in the classroom, living room and locker room.
“This program gets kids to ask themselves questions about the kind of person they’re becoming,” Baker said.
He explained, though military children may have more maturity and worldly views having traveled and lived in areas throughout the world, Character Counts can still help shape their character.
Though there’s singing and dancing, it’s not all fun and games during Baker’s performance.
Children are asked important questions and put through serious scenarios to teach them how different character traits can be beneficial, Baker said.
Baker will be performing for students at schools in Germany, Italy, Spain, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
In Germany, Baker will perform at Aukamm Elementary School and Dexheim Elementary School on Tuesday, Bitburg Elementary School on Wednesday, Ramstein High School on Thursday, Landstuhl Elementary School on Oct. 15, Ramstein Middle School on Oct. 15, in Mannheim on Nov. 1, Robinson Barracks Elementary School on Nov. 2, Ansbach Elementary School on Nov. 3, and Schweinfurt Middle School on Nov. 3.
In Italy, Baker will perform at Aviano Elementary School and Middle School on Oct. 18, Vicenza Elementary School on Oct. 19, Naples Elementary School on Oct. 20 and 21, Gaeta American School on Oct. 22, La Maddalena Elementary and Middle School on Oct. 25, Sevilla Elementary School on Oct. 27.
In Spain, he’ll perform at Rota Elementary School on Oct. 28. He will end his tour at the American International School in Kuwait on Nov. 6 and Bahrain School on Nov. 8.
For more information go online to www.charactercounts.org.
