BASSETERRE, St Kitts (30 March 2011) - It had the aura of a class of moral instruction, but it was not held by a pastor or any of the school’s teachers; it was held by members of the Rotary Club of Liamuiga (RCL). On Friday, 25 March 2011, students at the Washington Archibald High School (WAHS) witnessed the launch of Rotary Four Way Test Signs Project and Unveiling of the First Sign.
The Four Way Test can be described as the ‘ethical yardstick’ used by Rotarians to ensure that the decisions they make and the actions they take are based on sound principles and entrenched in high moral standards.
Based on the truism that actions could have negative or positive consequences, this Test is used to ensure that only positive impacts can result. At their weekly meetings Rotarians around the world verbally remind themselves of this moral code by reciting the Four Way Test.
“Of the things we think, say or do
1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?”
It is this level of standard-setting that the Rotary Club of Liamuiga is seeking to build in all schools with its introduction of the Four Way Test Signs Installation Project.
President of the Rotary Club of Liamuiga, Eustace Warner, welcomed the gathering, introduced his team to students of WAHS and gave a brief history of the 4 Way Test stating that this act of installing the signs in Schools was also a historical event for St Kitts & Nevis. Students learnt that although this Four Way Test was started by one man in Chicago many years ago, it is now used worldwide and has been translated into 100 languages.
Main Speaker for the Rotarians at this Launch was Dr. Ismay Taylor, a Rotarian for eight (8) years, who gave the students an overview of what being a Rotarian was all about. “Imagine one and a quarter million people worldwide dedicated to helping and serving others ... and who were working to achieve goals of Friendship, Service and Peace!” she said. “How cool it would be,” she encouraged, “if every time you made a decision, you applied to it the 4 Way Test. Then you would always be sure you made the right decision.”
Her talk was illustrated and enlivened with videos illustrating how by applying the 4 Way Test, a project could be made more beneficial to all who had a stake in it.
Truthfulness, Fairness, Goodwill and Friendship were the principles upheld in the story of Andy and the Apple Dumplings, the story of the young successful entrepreneur who applied the 4 Way Test to his business. Her parting words to the students were: “The Rotary Club of Liamuiga wants to encourage you to use the 4 Way Test... May life treat you as kindly as you treat it!”
The other main speaker at this Launch was Minister of Education & Information, the Honourable Nigel Carty. He commended Rotarians for promoting this exercise and referred to them as “busy people who share their time.... who care about other people...who want to help the youth to grow up to become worthy citizens.. and who helped to make our space a better place”. He proceeded to re-emphasize the importance of the 4 Way Test and how it could be applied in the lives of the students. If you answer ‘No’ to any one of the questions in the 4 Way Test, he opined, this could lead to a world of mayhem, confusion, loss of life and chaos.
The unveiling of the first Four Way Test Sign by the Minister of Education & Information took place at the “Breezeway” reception area of the WAHS where it can be easily and regularly viewed by students.
Attending the historic launch of the RCL’s introduction of their ‘ethical yardsticks’ were the visiting members of Rotary International’s Group Study Exchange (GSE) Team from the UK, Rotary District 1210. Later, Team Members were also able to view in action another project the RCL introduced some months ago at WAHS. This was the Computer Assisted Literacy Solutions (CALS) Programme – a software programme that facilitates literacy and math comprehension among students.
On the same day the Second Four Way Test Sign Installation Ceremony was held at the Basseterre High School (BHS). After a similar introductory ceremony explaining the value of such the Test, the second 4 Way Test Sign was unveiled by Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Mr. Curt Lewis. This sign is mounted just above the entrance to the BHS auditorium. One of the Signs has also been installed on the Eastern Campus of the BHS. Book markers inscribed with the Rotary Four Way Test were distributed to students and teachers of each school.
Both schools in their Vote of Thanks expressed gratitude to the Rotary Club of Liamuiga and praised the Club for helping to raise moral standards in decision making at the Schools.
Members of the public may have observed 4 Way Test signs mounted along the main highway of the island. RCL hopes that by bringing this consciousness to Schools, the cradles of our cultural and social attitudes, the standard of life for the entire society could be raised. As Melvyn Edenojie, a young Rotaract Club Member, observed during one of the launching ceremonies, “It will help you deal with problems every day.
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