Fred Rogers, the host of Mister Rogers Neighborhood, testified before the Senate in 1969 discussing the need for the continued support of public broadcasting. Towards the end of his testimony, Rogers quotes the words to his song, What Do You Do with the Mad that You Feel? His statements before the Senate describing the need for educational and developmentally appropriate programming in which children can learn that feelings are mentionable and manageable earned Public Broadcasting $20,000,000 in funds for continued work.

The last stanza of Rogers’ song describes the ability to control one’s emotions and behavior choices.

I can stop when I want to Can stop when I wish I can stop, stop, stop at any time.

And what a good feeling to feel like this

And know that the feeling is really mine.

Know that there’s something deep inside

That helps us become what we can.

For a girl can be someday a woman

And a boy can be someday a man.

Throughout the month of May, the children of Stepping Stone School will focus on the character trait of Ownership as a part of our Communities of Character™ curriculum. Children will learn that they are in control of their feelings as Fred Rogers so powerfully states.

Here are some ways, we can work together to support children’s understanding and development of Ownership:

Providing children with the words to identify their feelings and the understanding of how their actions determine an outcome, allows children to develop a sense of ownership for their actions and behavior

For the words to the full song: http://www.neighborhoodarchive.com/music/songs/what_do_you_do.html