It was just recently when I entered Multiple Intelligence International School that I heard about the Six Pillars of Character – TRRFCC. During my interview last April, I glanced at a bulletin board outside the administration office in their grade school department. I read it as terrific and I said to myself that it was easy to remember. I created a mental picture of six Greek pillars with the letters of T-R-R-F-C-C on top of it. During our training each of the pillar was discussed briefly. Its discussion was not lengthy but it was direct to the point as it was practical. My interest on the subject grew and I started getting information about it on the internet. That is what I wish to share to the readers thru this blog.
Whether at work, at home, or at play, there are basic values that define ethical behavior. These values are not political, religious, or culturally biased.[i] The Josephson Institute of Ethics defines ethics in terms of moral duties and virtues that flow from six core ethical values. We call these values the Six Pillars of Character:[ii] Briefly put, they are Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship. The Six Pillars of Character are ethical values to guide our choices. The standards of conduct that arise out of those values constitute the ground rules of ethics, and therefore of ethical decision-making.
There is nothing sacrosanct about the number six. We might reasonably have 8, or 10, or more. But most universal virtues fold easily into these six. The number is not unwieldy and the Six Pillars of Character can provide a common lexicon. Why is a common lexicon necessary? So that people can see what unites our diverse and fractured society. So we can communicate more easily about core values. So we can understand ethical decisions better, our own and those of others.
The Six Pillars act as a multi-level filter through which to process decisions. So, being trustworthy is not enough – we must also be caring. Adhering to the letter of the law is not enough – we must accept responsibility for our action or inaction.
The Pillars can help us detect situations where we focus so hard on upholding one moral principle that we sacrifice another – where, intent on holding others accountable, we ignore the duty to be compassionate; where, intent on getting a job done, we ignore how.
In short, the Six Pillars can dramatically improve the ethical quality of our decisions, and thus our character and lives.[iii]
These Pillars have helped me filter my actions and even the words that I say. I simply ask myself, “Is this a trrfcc move?” whenever I am in a dilemma of choosing between two actions. I then find myself standing in the middle of the Six Pillars and suddenly, deciding to do what is right becomes easier because these Pillars are so strong and you can surely lean on them. In my head, I’m literally imagining these pillars protecting me from the dark forces. J
In the school, I practice referring to this whenever I notice students who are having a challenging time in choosing their proper actions. As adolescents, my students are expected to somehow slip and have some missteps along the way and it is so much easier to simply just ask them, “Is it trrfcc?” than to make long litanies that could probably bore them.
In MIIS, I have the privilege of working with Mrs. Olvido, our HS Principal whose motto is “Be punctual.” As I was organizing my thought to prepare a correspondence that I would send out to the parents of my homeroom class, her motto rang in my ears – be punctual, be punctual, and be punctual. I would imagine her face light up as she says how much she values punctuality, punctuality, and punctuality. It then came to me how this valuable habit can serve as a springboard to instilling the Six Pillars of Character to everybody. Punctuality embraces the Six Pillars of Character in so many ways. To be trustworthy means that one should be trusted to show up when needed. To be respectful means that one should respect other people’s time. To be responsible means that one should meet agreed deadlines. To be fair means that one must be fair with people who are on time. To be caring means that one must show concern to the people who are waiting. To be a good citizen means that one must obey rules and regulations, and yes, the agreed time for work or for school. Ultimately, to be punctual means that you are in control of yourself; you are in control of your time; and since you are in control, you are leading yourself.
The ripple effect of this habit is eternal when instilled to the students. It encompasses the Six Pillars of Character that MI put so much value on. We all know that character is first and foremost and character education doesn’t exclude anyone. Let us see if we can start with the simple habit of punctuality. Let us tell our students how being punctual can strengthen their character. Ultimately, let us be the models of punctuality and the seventh pillar our students can lean on. A word from Mr. Lopez, “Our father (Eugenio Lopez Jr.) never really taught us values. He merely showed them.”
