Rotary 4-Way Test Programs in Junior High Schools - Rotary Club of Fort Collins, Colorado  USA
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Phone: 970-482-2566
E-mail: maxgetts@email.msn.com

The Rotary 4-Way Test

One of the most widely printed and quoted statements of business ethics in the world is the Rotary 4-Way Test. It was created by Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor in 1932 when he was asked to take charge of the Chicago based Club Aluminum Company, which was facing bankruptcy. Taylor looked for a way to save the struggling company mired in depression-caused financial difficulties. He drew up a 24-word code of ethics for all employees to follow in their business and professional lives. The 4-Way Test became the guide for sales, production, advertising, and all relations with dealers and customers, and the survival of the company was credited to this simple philosophy.

Herb Taylor became president of Rotary International during 1954-55. The 4-Way Test was adopted by Rotary in 1943 and has been translated into more than 100 languages and published in thousands of ways. The message should be known and followed by all Rotarians.

What has happened to our values? by Jan Bertholf

Everywhere we go it seems that the fabric of America's values is being ripped to shreds. Morality and honor is only a memory of the past. Crime and drug abuse are all over the land-not just the cities. The family is being broken up-and those that cherish the traditional family are under assault. Parents are so busy they have abdicated the responsibility of raising their children to others. Young people are joining gangs and cults like never before. Role-models are no longer men and women of character, but shallow, pop-culture artists. Criminals are considered victims. Instant gratification is the new order of the day from credit availability to sex outside the commitment of marriage. Business advertising is glitz rather than truth. TV and music honor violence, infidelity, drugs, and drinking-and go so far as to ridicule religion, marriage, and respect for authority. Our judicial system is beginning to confuse liberty and license. We seem to have forgotten that there is such a thing as truth and standards.

There is hope. There is a way to be an influence for the truth, fairness, friendship, and goodness-both personally and corporately. The answer, however, will not come from the national level, but down here with each of us.

The purpose of this booklet is to provide ideas for Rotary Clubs to implement the 4-Way Test inside your club (for personal accountability) and outside your club in the community.

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A Club 4-Way Test Program

Most Rotary clubs showcase the 4-Way Test passively. Luncheon place mats, speaker gift coins are common. An annual program featuring a 4-Way Test can be done with great enthusiasm and results.

Procedure
Announce that you are going to have a program on the 4-Way Test about 3 weeks ahead of time. Place sheets of paper on the tables and ask Rotarians to think of an ethical dilemma they have encounter recently. Provide an example on the sheet. The situation should be only several sentences and should conclude with "What would you do?"

Gather them up. Pick about 8-10 situations that would be interesting and target a wide spectrum of vocations. Remove anything that might suggest a certain individual did something inappropriate. Edit for clarity as necessary. Put each on strips of paper. Make enough copies for your Club. If you have 15 table make 15 copies of each situation. Put the 4-Way Test on each table for all to see.

Here's an example:

You carry considerable insurance on your ‘97 BMW. A month ago, you damaged the tail light haven't had time to get it fixed. Just last week your were rear-ended by a teenager causing about $4,000 in damage. The teenager's Dad is furious that his insurance must pay, but is glad no one was hurt. You make it clear to the body shop that you damaged the light, but he offers to add $158 to the insurance bill. He says, it’ll save you your deductible." What do you do?

Table Instructions
At your Rotary program, put an envelope on each table with 8 to 10 situations. Provide some instructions like:

  • This is a discussion-centered exercise with ethical situations you have developed.
  • In the center of the table is an envelope. Each Rotarian around the table is to act as the facilitator for one question. When I say so, open the envelope and the first Rotarian reads the first scenario out loud.
  • Discuss the situation for 3-7 minutes each, try to come to a consensus on what you would do-no fence sitting. Pass the envelope to the person on the left for the next Rotarian to read. Throughout the discussion, use the 4-Way Test as a "thinking guide."
  • After about 23 minutes, ask each table (or as many as possible) to select a spokesperson to stand and give their most challenging situation.

Sample Rotary questions are provided on the disk that is included.

A School-based 4-Way Test Program - Community and Vocational Service 
A tremendous opportunity for service lies with the junior and senior high schools. Teachers and administrators are hungry for community and parental involvement and have lauded the 4-Way Test as a positive program that promotes strong values. Rotary, with our emphasis on vocations, is particularly welcome. Testing the waters at the district and principal level is extremely effective to get started - but what really counts is to get a teacher interested who has a heart for where young people are going today. Speech and Civics classes at the 9th grade level are especially appropriate because the ideas of community responsibility and group communication skills fit into all school district standards.

9th Grade Speech Class Format 

We have found that the "In-School Field Trip" format works extremely well. The teacher organizes all her speech (for example) periods for a special 4-Way Test Discussion Exercise in a continuous, two- or three-period event. School libraries or cafeterias work best putting 5-6 students with one Rotarian around a table. 60 students and 12 Rotarians is a good number. (We once did 120 students at a time and it was noisy and a little difficult to control.) Doing one in the morning and another in the afternoon may catch every 9th grader in school!

 Relevancy is extremely important and so the students should write their own situations. Furthermore, the exercise must belong to the teacher in terms of organization, format, and preparation. We recommend the teachers have the students each prepare and hand in one question several weeks ahead of time. The best ones end in, "What would you do?" That will give the teacher enough time to select the best ones and prevent duplication. Instruction on the group process, how to lead a discussion, and cooperation is part of the speech curriculum and should be done prior to the event.

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Some excellent examples of 9th grade situations are provided on disc.
EXAMPLE 1 You are in the 9th grade You and your girlfriend have been going together two years. Your families know each other well. Both Dad and Mom are respected. Your girlfriend is pregnant by you. What would you do?

EXAMPLE 2 Mo is one of the best athletes in school — star running back and over 950 yards this year. Your  school has just won district and will be going to state next week (first time in 8 years). Mo has a borderline D-F in  Civics and his class notebook is due in 3 days. The school already has given him his last chance. If he does  not pass, he can’t play. Your classmates know you have  one of the best notebooks and ask if you will loan it to Mo to copy. What would you do?
 
Provided on each table
 
DISCUSSION IS COOPERATIVE
A GOOD DISCUSSION MEMBER...........
  1. Contributes information and is an asset to the group.
  2. Listens carefully.
  3. Maintains eye contact with the others.
  4. Shows courtesy and respect to other group members.
  5. Does not interrupt or monopolize the conversation.
  6. Asks questions and is aware of involving everyone in the group.
  7. Shows a positive, cooperative, open attitude.

In loving memory of Rotarian Wendell H. Bragonier, father, husband, teacher and life-long educator.  
Directions and Time Schedule for Discussion Groups 

Arrival 
Rotarians arrive 15 minutes before the event and receive orientation from teacher and 4-Way Test Chair. Name tags for Rotarians. Last minute instructions. Teacher provides a form to the Rotarian to take notes on and a student evaluation sheet to grade them as a leader and a participant. 

Introduction to entire group - 8 minutes 
Teacher opening. Brief "What is Rotary" and intro of 4-Way Test by a Rotarian. Each Rotarian stands and introduces him/herself and describes his/her profession or business (20 seconds each). 

Introduction Ice Breaker at Individual Tables - 6 minutes 
One person begins by telling his/her name, where born, occupation they would like someday, and favorite TV or movie character. The person to their immediate right repeats the first person's intro and introduces him/herself. The third person repeats both the 1st and 2nd person's intro, then introduces him/herself. Go all the way around. Person #1 gets to see if they can remember all the group.

Main Exercise 
20 seconds - One student reads "Discussion is Cooperative" 
1 minute - Rotarian reads the 4-Way Test and may make a comment 
4-8 minutes per question - The student to the left of the Rotarian begins as leader by drawing one of the discussion questions from the cup in the middle of the table and reads it to everyone. It is that person's responsibility to take on the leadership role for that discussion question. Each student makes a comment, the leader comments, then random comments are shared. The leader stays in control throughout the discussion, then brings the discussion to closure with a summary. Participants do not need to speak in seating order. The next student draws a question and leads the next discussion. This process continues so that every person is the leader. The Rotarian at each table acts as a guide, but does not dominate the discussion, and provides appropriate experiences that may best utilize the 4 Way Test. If the entire session is only two periods long, one 5minute break can be planned. A three-period event can have two 5-minute breaks. 
3 minutes - Each table will elect a spokesperson and choose a situation that was the most interesting or had the most heated discussion. The group helps the spokesperson develop several points. 
10 minutes - All spokespersons come to the front of the room and present a 30-second summary on their chosen situation. 

Evaluation for Accountability 
Students complete an evaluation form. Place their name tag on the bottom of the form. Each student writes a thank you note to the Rotarian from their table.

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Following the students' departure, each Rotarian fills out the grade sheet.

The Following Items are Necessary for the Process
Discussion is Cooperative
Suggested Directions and Time Schedule
Rotary 4-Way Test
Adult Evaluation Sheet
Adult Observation Sheet (for notes)
Student Self-evaluation
Thank You Note for students to give Rotarians (4x6, not included)

Adult Evaluation Sheet
Thank you for being a part of the discussion group! Students must pass a performance standard for group process to graduate from High School. This activity is the culmination of our unit on group process. Please evaluate each student in your group on a scale of 1 to 5:

5=Excellent 4=Good 3=Average 2=Poor 1=Very Poor

Adult Observer Note Sheet (included on disk)
To help with the evaluation, you may wish to keep track of participation using the squares below. You might make a "tick" mark each time a student participates or jot notes regarding eye contact or enthusiasm.

Areas to Key On
Summarizes or builds on others' ideas
Eye contact
Verifies accuracy of information
Seeks or gives information or opinion
Explores new possibilities and pushes the limit
Recognizes and encourages others
Mediates within the group
Maintains standards and procedures
Keeps the group moving towards goals
Interrupts or attacks others
Demands attention from others
Insists on being in control

Criticizes others' contributions

© 2001 Rotary Club of Fort Collins
MediaTech Productions-Video Production
Colour & Design-Production, Graphic Design
CopyCo Quality Printing-Printing Production
Paragon Press, Inc.-Printing Production

 

SITUATIONS
Developed by 9th Graders

Special thanks to 9th grade speech teachers Carol Ballain and Tyann Kuehnast

Following are examples only. Important for the participants to develop their own situations.

  • You are 15 and pregnant. If your family finds out, they'll kick you out of the house. Do you take the risk of abortion or tell your family?
  • Your friend tells the police that she is abused. You know she is lying. What do you do?
  • Someone throws a grenade into a crowd. Do you jump away from it and save your life or do you jump on it and save everyone else?
  • You are watching your best friend's house while they were on a camping trip. The house gets robbed because you forget to lock the door. What do you do?
  • Your best friend is on the football team and they're doing steroids to be the buffest team. What do you do?
  • You have just recently been getting to be friends with a very popular person at school. He asks you for answers to a geometry quiz. What do you do?
  • Your best friend is being beaten at home. She tells you not to let anyone know or she will never be your friend again. One day, she suspiciously doesn't show up for school. What do you do?
  • Your close friend's boy/girlfriend starts to come on to you. He/she is sooooo fine. Do you accept his/her offer?
  • You are at a party and a drunk girl starts making advances toward you. You know she's drunk and not making all the right decisions, but she's really good looking. She wants you to go somewhere with her where it's quiet and private. What do you do?
  • Your parents are good parents, but they want you to have friends and date within your race, but you are dating someone outside your race. What should you do?

Developed by the Rotary Club of Fort Collins, Colorado
Club #416
P O Box 1206, Fort Collins, Colorado 80522 970-482-3883

BROCHURE DESIGNED AND PRODUCED BY COLOUR & DESIGN 970-482-1254

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Copyright for the Rotary Club of Fort Collins, Colorado, USA by Landis L. Boyd, January 18, 2002

 

R O T A R Y   I N T E R N A T I O N A L
District 5440
"Service Above Self"

Max E. Getts
District Governor 1993-1994
5809 Park Ridge Ct
Fort Collins, CO 80524 USA
Res. (970) 482-2566  Fax (970) 482-5969
Email: maxgetts@msn.com

Order Form

 

We have created a NEW video and DVD! Use this order form to purchase "An Ethics and Vocational Program for Rotary Clubs and Schools" 4-Way Test DVD TODAY! For more info, go to http://www.rotary5440.org/fortcollinsco/4waybrochure. For the cost of $20 in American dollars (shipping and handling included), you will receive one 4-Way Test packet that includes the following materials:
  1. A 10-minute professionally produced video "How to start a 4-Way Test program in your school"
  2.  The DVD will include printable documents and a "How-To" for setting up a program in your schools, including an eight page brochure showing the mechanics of the program, and partnership ideas.

The 4-Way Test program in junior high schools was started in 1994 by the Rotary Club of Fort Collins, Colorado USA in speech and civics classes in the public schools. After 9,000 Junior High Students and over 4,500 Rotarian hours, we wanted to share this simple but unique program with the Rotary World.

We encourage that you order for your club.

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