The Cube in public schools

Introducing the concept of the cube into the classroom is vital to help students realize the importance of valuing one another by treating each other in a way that is consistent to living the Gospel. The demographics of my class is varied: some Christians, 4 Jews, 3 Muslims and some nonbelievers. Two have one parent in prison. Most have single parents. How could I introduce the Cube to this eclectic group?

One day two boys were angry with each other. I sat the class down and we began a discussion about the "Golden Rule." Most of them hadn't heard of this. They agreed that if people practiced this the world would be different. I asked the class if they would be interested in living the Golden Rule. They all said a loud, "Yes!" I know public schools in the U.S. present a particular difficulty to introduce spirituality to kids. [I used on the cube] the secular language that parallels the Gospel phrases and that might help us live the Golden Rule.

Each morning at the beginning of the day a student rolled the die. The phrase was then posted on my computer monitor for everyone to see throughout the day. Throughout the day I reminded the students of the phrase or I would recognize someone whom I caught living it.

At the end of each day we have 10 minutes before dismissal to share experiences of how the point that had been rolled that morning was lived.
The fruits of this effort impacted the class in many ways. First, the class was the most unified group of kids I have ever taught. Conflict was at a minimum and friendships were profound. Next, parents came to me and told me that their child was coming home and telling them what the phrase was for the day. They decided to try it in their homes. Third: the teacher with whom I teamed saw the effects and decided to do it with her students. Finally, the Assistant Principal wanted to know what the phrase was on the monitor. She was very happy and encouraged me to go ahead. My vision is to introduce this to the other teachers during a planning session for next school year.

--Tom Rowley, public school fourth-grade teacher, Houston, Texas