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AMERICAN FREEDOMS COMPACT PROGRAM

Student's Name________________________________  School________________________  Grade     First     

CHARACTER ATTRIBUTE: TRUTH

Democratic Principle No. 6: Each individual is responsible for his/her own actions.

Students' Concept of the Principle: We believe that telling the truth is one such action and with it we are responsible for being truthful.

MY FREEDOMS COMPACT GOALS:

I will...  Strive to never tell a lie.

MY FREEDOMS COMPACT ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

I have tried to tell the truth, but forgot once and lied to my brother. I'm sorry I did. I asked his forgiveness. You always feel good when you tell the truth.

YOUNG AMERICAN FREEDOMS GUILD
Compact Goal for First Grade "Truthful".
Story

GEORGE WASHINGTON CUTS DOWN THE CHERRY TREE

The story is told that when Gorge Washington was about 6 year old his father brought him a small hatchet. He wanted his son to have the responsibility of cutting small pieces of wood for the fire place.

"George," he said, "It is work that gives us the many pleasures that we now enjoy. Someone has had to work to make your clothes. People have worked to make the carriage in which we ride. It took the work of many persons to build the house in which we live. This little hatchet will give you an opportunity to cut some wood for us to put in the fire place to heat our house in winter and enjoy the warmth of the fire. I hope you will spend some tim each afternoon after school in chopping some wood."

George did spend some time after school chopping some wood. One afternoon he noticed a little cherry tree not far away. He wondered what it would be like to chop down the tree, not thinking that he should not do it. But he did. He then hated to think what his father would say when he found out about it. Over and over in this mind he pondered what he should tell his father whom he thought would be very angry and might punish him severely. Should he deny chopping down the tree or should he tell the truth. His conscience, the silent little voice within told him to tell the truth.

That night when George's father returned home and saw the cherry tree chopped down he was very grieved. He said, "Son who chopped down that fine little cherry tree? Now it will die and we will have no more cherries from it."

George hung his head. He could not look his father in the face. "Father," he said, "I cut down the cherry tree. I cannot tell a lie."

Mr. Washington was very sad to think his son had chopped down the tree, but his joy of having his son tell the truth overcome his sadness. "I am so proud of you for telling the truth," He said to George, "I hope you will always be truthful" Forever after George help this in mind. telling the truth was an attribute that helped him to become the Father of our Country.