Before stepping into any classroom at Birney, you must know the "values code." And if you didn’t pay attention to morning announcements, all you have to do is look at the front of each room, in the hallway or the cafeteria for the big yellow poster listing 13 values codes ranging from honesty to self-knowledge.

"Also everyone at Birney — students, teachers and custodians — has their own personal copy of the codes," said Principal Yvonne Morse. Morse said the list is sent home to parents to put on their refrigerators

The values code is hung on the front board of kindergarten teacher Tamara Thomas-Mills’ class. Morse peeks into the class as Thomas-Mills gathers her students for story time. The students immediately move to settle down in front of their teacher and space themselves out, showing respect to her and a concern for all other people, both among the values codes. It says on the front door that today they will listen to the story of "Papagayo," but before Thomas-Mills has everyone’s attention, two girls run over and wrap their tiny arms around Morse’s waist greeting her with "Hi, Ms. Morse." Morse returns the greeting, yet attaches a stern but loving "All right, you all need to sit down and listen."

Morse, who has been principal at Birney for seven years, describes the school as an interactive learning environment that’s always reaching new standards. She said the codes are a way for everyone to reach for the same goals.

The Values First Initiative in which Birney Elementary participates was created three years ago by the Peter Schwartz Foundation. A D.C. native, Schwartz was turned on by education and giving back to the community, so he established the program to change the whole culture of schools.

"We’re making sure these values are re-emphasized to modify and enhance student character and behavior, " said Desta Benjamin, values code coordinator for the Peter Schwartz Foundation.

"Teaching has to have a proactive approach," she said. "You cannot be passive as a teacher." As a trainer, Benjamin’s job is to go to schools, observe teachers in their lesson instruction and see where values can be instilled.

"We’re not changing the structure of the curriculum, just hinging onto it," she said.

At Birney, Benjamin said she has noticed less noise in the cafeteria since the values codes were introduced. She also said she’s witnessed students actually reminding each other about their behavior.

Parent Erica Pair, who has four children attending Birney, said she has witnessed her children use the values code in their interactions with one another.

"When they see one of their siblings doing something wrong, they’d say for example, ‘You know you’re not being honest’ or whatever code applies to the situation," she said.

Pair said she recited the code with her children when they first brought them home. She said the values code is posted on her refrigerator and at work.

Morse and Benjamin both said parents have been requesting copies of the code for their homes, church and work. Benjamin said in addition to Birney and Moten Elementary School in Southeast Washington, the foundation is working under contract with seven more D.C. public schools. They are Wilkinson and Green in Southeast; Young, Drew, and Marshall in Northeast; Bowen in South-west; and Lafayette in North-west.

Benjamin said the foundation’s goal is to add one school each year until they reach all D.C. public schools. "We’re focusing on the elementary schools, because the teachers told us that’s where we need to start," she said.

In March, the foundation sponsored a dinner for teachers and major corporations called the "Dinner That Will Change Washington," which honored Birney’s efforts and success with the values program. First Lady Hillary Clinton was the keynote speaker.

"It was a way to help spread the program so all of the District’s elementary schools can adopt it," Morse said.

The Peter Schwartz Foundation is not the only outside group dedicated to helping Birney create an atmosphere that promotes community-oriented learning. Morse said Birney solicits various organizations and corporations, which donate field trips, mentors, supplies and money to the school.

"Some (corporations and organizations) usually ask us to give them a list of things we need," she said. The University Neighborhood Initiative – a group of college students from Georgetown, American and Howard universities – is one organization that has offered a daily after-school reading program and a summer program at Birney.

"Birney has been really good about bringing in community partners to help students focus on life skills and school-to-work skills," said Vincent Pan, executive director of University Neighbor-hood Initiative. Pan said he started the program in 1996 to provide the students with individual attention, positive role models and a safe place to go after school. Pan said the program also is offered at Tyler Elementary School in South-east and Bowen Elementary School in Southwest.

In addition to the values code and tutorial program, inspirational quotations and pictures of famous people like the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. adorn Birney’s walls to motivate students.

"The parents seem to reinforce the system," said Birney PTA President Nella Peterson.

Peterson, who began as a volunteer at Birney three years ago, said parents of children enrolled at the school are so active that the school recently received its third Parent Advocacy Award from Parents United.

She said some parents volunteer regularly at the school and maintain the "uniform bank," which allows parents to donate their child’s uniform for use by other students who can’t afford to buy a uniform. Besides Birney students receiving tutoring, some parents also are involved in the school’s tutoring outreach program, which helps the parents increase their knowledge in specific subjects and offers them resources to help their children.

Copyright 1998, The Common Denominator