We love our Students! A Character Lesson, Individually Planned for them!

Route 1961 is a Character Education Lesson, planned being mindful of each individual student's character educational needs. 

How it all started:  why character education, why motorcycles, why the freedom riders of 1961

Opportunity to Excel: Freedom Riders Pre-test this week at Morgan School

2/21/11 - 2/25/11:
This week every class and every student at the Morgan School, K-12 exceptional children will be given a Pre-opportunity to excel; to evaluate their knowledge on the 1961 Freedom Rides prior to any exposure to Carolina Character's project Route 1961.

"Words have meanings and meanings impact our feelings.  Change the word, change the feelings, and if the feelings change, then change will occur in the outcome!"
- Adrienne D. Barnette

 "TEST are just Opportunities to Excel"
- Dr. Abrams

Many students experience test anxiety.  That one four letter word; TEST, seems to have an impact on all students irregardless of the student's level of development and academic performance.  TEST tend to make students nervous and anxious and in some cases can cause a level of crisis to arise within the student where the only resolution they feel is available in the moment is that flight or fight syndrome.  Unfortunately, too often the flight syndrome takes over and many students seek to run away from the test by either refusing to take, walking out of class, not showing up for the test, causing class interruptions/disruptions, or guessing throughout the test. 

In fact, as I think back to my own personal experiences with test, I would get nervous, get head aches, stomach aches, get anxious, and before long I would have caused myself unnecessary worry over material that I was already prepared for and knew!  However in the moment to hear the word test, I had already given it a meaning, and that meaning impacted how I felt, which impacted my ability to cope within the situation.  I got overwhelmed in the moment because of that one dreadful word "test." 

Reflecting on graduate school I am often reminded of a wonderful professor I had who amazingly gave no "test"!!  I thought to myself; well it's about time, someone got it!! I was overjoyed until one day in class, that same professor asked everyone to clear their desk for.  Dejavoo; I have been here before! And too often before.. those are usually the precursor of the word "test"!  Everyone in class looked up at the professor astonished!!  The professor calmly stated, no worries, you all are about to take your "opportunities to excel," which really meant that we were about to take a test.  Amazingly though, without hearing that word Test, my levels of nervousness and anxiousness were overpowered by my ability to connect to this new word.  A new word that told me I was given a special opportunity, an ability to show how I could excel.  It was my opportunity to perform!  Who knew that changing one word changed my entire perspective, my reaction, and yes my results!


This week every class and every student at the Morgan School, K-12 exceptional children will be given a Pre-opportunity to excel; to evaluate their knowledge on the 1961 Freedom Rides; prior to any exposure to Carolina Character's curriculum on Route 1961: the Freedom Riders of 1961.

Carolina Character is also providing this pre-opportunity to excel to the faculty and staff at the Morgan School. 

So whether you attend Morgan, or work at Morgan; whenever you are given a "test" realize that someone just mispronounced the word, it should be pronounced "opportunity to excel" and then just  show off.. show how you are able to take advantage of this opportunity and achieve your greatness!  Say goodbye to the nervousness and the anxiousness and hello to a new perspective of achievement!

Thank you Dr. Abrams for helping me change my language, which changed my meaning, which changed my feelings, which ultimately changed my outcome.  Thank you Dr. Furr in helping me view the importance of listening to data (pre/post opportunities to excel).  Data is always speaking we must increase our awareness so that our ears are attuned to its voice.  (click here to learn more on how to become a professionally trained counselor.)

School Counselors meet the client/student where they are! Even if it means riding 3193.78 miles on a motorcycle!

why a motorcycle, why the freedom riders, why character education ?

“Everyday I ride to work on my Harley-Davidson motorcycle, the kids hang their hands out the windows of the school bus as if revving the motorcycle, yelling
VROOM-VROOM MS. Barnette. This is why I ride, I ride for my students, for their education, for their character development"
   -Adrienne D. Barnette

Why do I ride?  It is a question many motorcyclists ask themselves.  It is also a question 50 years ago that was asked many Freedom Riders who decided to risk their very lives.  The reason I have chosen to ride ROUTE 1961 is for my students.  Being a counselor, it is imperative to meet the client/student where they are.  My students are drawn to the motorcycle; it engages them everyday, they ask questions about it continuously and they’re always intrigued by the very essence of the machine.  Meeting my clients/students where they are means using my motorcycle, that enticing intriguing piece of equipment, which grasps their attention more than any book or paper I have seen.  So it only makes logical educational sense to use my motorcycle as the tool for this character educational lesson.

The purpose of CAROLINA CHARACTER, ROUTE 1961 is to educate, celebrate, inspire, and rejuvenate the spirit of determination and motivation within students of today to become active in their search for their own history and become active in the forming of their future and character. Recruiting for this project I called Mr. Zachariah Cashion, a long-time friend and motorcyclist.  I introduced him to the idea and he has whole-heartily joined me in my character educational curriculum plan.  Zachariah has an array of travel experiences across continents that touch none other in his field. His passion and understanding of the 1961 Freedom Riders makes him the obvious choice.  He is a student of people and culture.

The culture of motorcycles and freedom go hand-in-hand! There is no motorcyclist who will not associate being on a motorcycle with what freedom feels like!  America was founded on the very principal of freedom. For some reason the idea of freedom is attractive and is something that many risk all to even experience what the freedom may feel like.  Fortunately, due to the Freedom Riders of 1961 we are able to experience the exercising of freedom that they worked so tirelessly at achieving. 

ROUTE 1961 takes today’s symbol of freedom, motorcycle travel, and combines it with one of the greatest epic journeys towards freedom with the intentional purpose of character education.  The curriculum for ROUTE 1961 has been developed and established; as well as a detailed route planned; and a list of contacts that are to be interviewed along the historic memorable ride.   ROUTE 1961 is an academic mission within the context of school counseling through the use of the American history.  ROUTE 1961 aspires to inspire students to seek out history to study character within individuals and themselves.  

a Great Book!

The Freedom Riders: 1961 and the Struggle for Racial Justice 
-by Raymond Arsenault.

The Freedom Riders: 1961 and the Struggle for Racial Justice is a wonderful well-written account of the Freedom Rides and Riders of 1961.

The book is about the best possible map one could hope for, to travel ROUTE1961.  Arsenault, did an absolutely wonderful job of providing the facts and insight into the rider's, the country in 1961, and the people and places involved in the struggle for racial justice. 

I am not too much a fan of picture books, rather a fan of books with words that allow the reader to develop their own visual images based upon the colorful illustrated words that the author has painted. 

I believe, Arsenault provided the best of both worlds!  He provided pictures within the book from 1961 as well as colorful words, which engage readers and allows them to feel part of the text and able to navigate between 1961 and the present.

I would suggest reading this book as it is an excellent key to unlocking one of the greatest American treasured character historical stories within American History.

Thanks No Limit Motor Sports

2007 Yamaha Vstar Custom

No Limit Motor Sports! Check them out!  I knew it was always my dream to ride motorcycles, but I wasn't sure when that dream would come true or if it would! Surfing the web; day dreaming about motorcycles, I came across No Limit Motor Sports and then I met Kevin!  Located in South York Rd Gastonia, NC 28052; I felt like I had walked into the candy shop.  My mouth dropped, my heart started pumping, I was in love!!

Kevin sold me my first motorcycle; a 2007 Yamaha Custom 650 Cruiser Style! I was in like when I saw it, but quickly fell in love when I heard it.  Sweet pipes, chrome for days and a blacked out low-riding feel. 

Check them out... if you have been dreaming about motorcycle riding; dream no more... make it your reality. 

These guys will take care of you; ask for: 

• Bryan: (704) 913.9886
• Walt: (704) 913.5922
• Johnathan: (704) 516.2000
• Shop : (704) 869.8333