Rewarding kids for kindness

Sometimes the simplest ideas are the most profound. A new effort called the Kind Acts program, created by a former Montana teacher, gives teachers a simple and easy way to honor students for acts of kindness.

The program is being piloted in Montana and Utah this year. Teachers can log onto the Kind Acts Foundation website at www.kindacts.org. The foundation sends a personalized certificate detailing the child's kind act along with a Kind Acts lapel pin to any teacher making a request at the website. The teacher decides how to present the certificate and pin to the student.

Because the Kind Acts Foundation is privately funded, there is no cost.

A Kind Acts "kickoff" took place in October at Helena's Central School with the awarding of certificates to two students by Superintendent Linda McCulloch and Kind Acts officials.

"I was a high school teacher and administrator for 25 years," said founder Dave Hall. "This is an idea I've had for some time - using the incredible reach of the internet to offer educators a simple and free way to honor their students."

The Kind Acts program plans to expand nationally next year. "We're getting support at every turn," said Hall, "probably because we have no agenda other than trying to provide a valuable and free service for Montana teachers and kids." For more information, visit the Kind Acts web site at www.kindacts.org.