Following is a summary of the original study on which the updated report was based.

An Evaluation of the Heartwood Institute’s “An Ethics Curriculum for Children: Final Report,” by James Leming, submitted to Heartwood Institute, August 10, 1998.

Type of study
Yearlong controlled evaluation of the effects of the Heartwood program on student character. Two school districts, 42 classrooms, 965 students. All students were pre- and post-tested.

Findings

• Heartwood students at all grade levels demonstrated higher levels of ethical understanding than comparison students. Heartwood students were better able to define and demonstrate an understanding of the seven character attributes of the program. Thus, the Heartwood program was successful in developing an essential foundation of character development — a common ethical vocabulary among teachers and students.
• Heartwood students at grades 1-3 demonstrated a higher level of geographic knowledge than students in comparison classrooms, improving by more than 20% after one year of exposure to Heartwood. Thus, the research shows that when academic content and the Heartwood character education lessons were merged, student academic learning was enhanced.
• On a measure of acceptance of ethnic/racial diversity, a significant increase in respect for diversity was observed among Heartwood students at grades 1-3. The program was effective in decreasing racial prejudice among these students by 9% after one year of exposure to Heartwood. In the comparison schools, no such change was noted. Thus, the program was successful in instilling one of the cornerstones of ethics — acceptance of the worth and dignity of each individual (respect for persons).
• Teachers at all grade levels noted improved student conduct compared to teachers in the comparison classrooms. Thus, the curriculum was successful in creating a more caring and stronger academic classroom and school environment.

Contact Heartwood for a copy of this 1998 report.