With news headlines about political antics, home foreclosures, bank bailouts, and failing companies, the lack of integrity seems to be rampant throughout our society today. The second entry in the 1828 Webster's dictionary defines integrity as, "Moral soundness; honesty; freedom from corrupting influence or motive; — used especially with reference to the fulfillment of contracts, the discharge of agencies, trusts, and the like; uprightness; rectitude." While our current leadership attempts different ways to fix the problems, we realize that moral soundness through Jesus Christ is the only answer. Along with all the wonderful knowledge Christian schools bestow to students, character development is crucial in building the next generation in wisdom instead of pride. Here are a few ways to make your classroom a bulwark for integrity.

Impose on Elementary Students
"Train up a child in the way he should go" (Proverbs 22:6). This common verse in Christian education instructs teachers to steer students in the right direction. Every child matures differently, but younger students are still concrete in their thinking and need to be told what is right or wrong. An explanation should not be necessary, but make sure to consistently and sternly enforce the rules you have for your classroom. Though grace is wonderful, consequences are necessary. Impose integrity on each of your elementary students, so that "when he is old, he will not depart from it."

Expect from High School Students
Jewish law ushers a boy into manhood at age 13, but godly manhood requires personal integrity. Your high school students should know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you expect nothing less. Jesus commands us in Matthew 5:48, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Although this is idealistic, you must foster an atmosphere in your classroom where you and your students try to be more like Christ, and the best way to reach that goal is through interpersonal accountability. When your students understand perfection is Christ's ultimate goal for them, they will look beyond good grades for themselves and help each other toward that goal of personal integrity.

Practically Speaking
In both elementary and high school classes, temptations should be as minimal as possible to encourage students to make the right choices. Here are some ideas that may help your students avoid one of the most common temptations, cheating.

1. Create a testing station where students take their final tests. For Switched-On Schoolhouse®, a separate computer could be designated as the testing computer, and for LIFEPAC®, a desk or table away from other students would work. Through these uses of location, a student will be less likely to look at notes he has taken on paper or in a word processor file.

2. Plagiarism can be caught many times by simply typing a sentence of a paper into a search engine to see if it is on the Internet. Your students should know that you are aware of the ease of plagiarism using the Internet and that you will be checking regularly.

3. Be aware that students no longer have to physically pass notes. More and more students have cell phones they can use to send text messages to each other. Cell phones can even access the Internet to look for information. You may want to make sure cell phones are turned off during class time to minimize this element of temptation.

From creation until now, God has given man the ability to choose. Integrity is simply making the right choices. May your students see the literal mess our country is in because of a lack of integrity. With your direction and God's help, may they realize the great importance of making the right choices every day both in and out of your classroom.