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Character training draws critics
By JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK, Times Staff Writer BROOKSVILLE -- Hernando County government leaders are backing away from a controversial character training program introduced just days ago. Several department heads raised concerns that Character First! promotes some traits, such as obedience and meekness, that do not fit well with the county's leadership philosophy, community relations coordinator Brenda Frazier said Monday. "After I got to looking at it in that light, I saw it is pretty authoritarian and could be seen as dictatorial," Frazier said. After talking with commissioners, Frazier recommended a slower approach in selecting a program that suits the county's needs. "It would be cool if the board would keep the money in the budget, let us research it and come back with some recommendations," she said, noting that the staff had not looked at all the options before asking to include Character First! in next year's budget. Commissioners concurred with Frazier's assessment. "If there are some concerns about Character First!, maybe we need to look at some character programs that are more palatable," said Commissioner Chris Kingsley, a proponent of the initiative. "Because it is a good concept, I think we should leave it in the budget." But it is critical to have full employee support for such a program to succeed, he said. Commissioner Betty Whitehouse suggested that the county take a long look at its true needs for employee continuing education before grabbing a single program. Annual refreshers on issues such as workers' compensation and hostile work environment might have to come first, she said. "Maybe we need to put (Character First!) on hold to explore if there are other alternatives out there that may work better for the government," Whitehouse said. County Administrator Richard Radacky insisted that he needed some sort of program to help improve the way government works. "We definitely have problems with folks with their own agendas," Radacky said. "I'd like something to build trust and goodwill between department directors and departments." He rejected the notion that he had decided unilaterally to recommend Character First!, and said he had asked for the presentation last week so directors would have information from which they might ask questions. Radacky also said the idea that he wanted obedient "yes men" was wrong. "That's the opposite of where I want to go," Radacky said. He planned to seek the input of department directors at an upcoming staff meeting. News of the reconsideration came as a relief to Commissioner Diane Rowden, who had researched Character First! and found it to be unsuitable. She suggested that the program promoted anti-American characteristics, ones that the United States fought against during World War II. "I understand the part about character and how important it is to instill in our children: honesty, integrity and trust," she said. "But this program really has some really scary comparisons to past history." Commissioner Mary Aiken, meanwhile, scoffed at the thought of trying to instill character into adults who come to work for the county. "If they don't have it by now, forget about it," Aiken said. -- Jeffrey S. Solochek covers Hernando County government and can be reached at 754-6115. Send e-mail to solochek@sptimes.com.
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