April 2025 Update: - New Alliances, Advocacy, and Bright Futures

WOW, what a month it has been.

For the new members who have downloaded the curricula and this is your first monthly update.

I. We have signed an exclusive partnership agreement with IYKYK, the Hi Tech company that has and continues to develop value-oriented interactive programs which complement our curricula.

Left to right: Felix, Ivy, Rex

Meet Felix, Rex, and Ivy

They were introduced at an education show in New York City this past month. The reception was so good that they are attending three more before the new school year starts in September.

II. We responded to Pennsylvania’s governor, who is proposing to add $20 million to the anti-violence program. Below is a copy of the article. We anticipate it being published nationally. If you care to copy and use it, feel free to do so. (Click here to view the previous blog posting about this topic.)

Opinion: A Better Way to Reduce Youth Violence Starts in the Classroom

By Donald (Don) Evons, Founder & CEO, Ethics-4-Kids

A recent article titled “Backing a Trend” brought welcome news: youth violence is reportedly declining—“except” among children and adolescents. That exception should stop us in our tracks. Because while progress is always worth celebrating, we must ask ourselves—are we solving the problem, or merely managing its consequences?

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s has proposed $20 million increase in violence prevention programs, raising the total to $75 million, which is a strong step forward. So are legislative efforts like Senate Bills 92 and 471, which focus on stricter penalties and immigration-related crime reporting.

But here’s the uncomfortable truth: none of these efforts address what’s happening in the hearts and minds of our youngest citizens.

Prevention doesn’t begin in courtrooms. It doesn’t start with policy. Moral development of children starts at home,  in the classroom, and youth organizations. How can we blame a child for making bad decisions if they do not know what is right?

What if we taught our kids ethics before they needed therapy?

More than two thousand years ago, Aristotle said, “Give me a child until he is seven, and I will show you the man.” That wisdom still rings true today. Core values—kindness, respect, and responsibility—are formed early. And yet in 2024, many public schools continue to treat ethics education as off-limits, as if helping children develop character is somehow “too controversial.” Some districts purchase programs to “teach the teachers” but fail to equip them with direct, age-appropriate tools and the time to actually use them with the students.

Instead, we’re leaving children to learn values from TikTok, YouTube, and the streets. How’s that working out?

We are losing 25 children every single day to violence and suicide. That’s over 9,000 young lives every year—a statistic that should break every heart and shake every conscience. These tragedies are happening in classrooms, on buses, on playground,s and in communities everywhere. A six-year-old shooting his teacher in Newport News, Virginia, isn’t just an isolated tragedy—it’s a wake-up call.

We cannot afford to treat kindness, empathy, and conflict resolution as optional. They are survival skills. And just like reading or math, they must be taught—intentionally, early, and consistently.

The good news? Real solutions already exist.

Ethics-4-Kids, in partnership with IYKYK Education, has developed age-appropriate ethics curricula and interactive programs designed specifically for Kindergarten through 3rd grade. These lessons are rooted in 59 universally accepted values, drawn from major world religions and philosophies—values like the Golden Rule, truthfulness, forgiveness, and perseverance.

III. We have been approached to write a series of books for K through 3rd graders using Felix, Rex, and Ivy value-oriented experiences. This is in its infancy, so if you have thoughts, feel free to voice them.

 TOOLS TOOLS TOOLS

                        Our monthly Used Tool Fundraiser continues to be a success! Each month, we collect donated tools—from screwdrivers to power tools—and sell them to raise funds for our mission. This is a great opportunity to declutter your garage or workshop while making a meaningful impact on our youth. Contact me at: <ethics4kids.de@gmail.com> so we can arrange a pickup.

Together, we’re shaping a brighter future for the next generation.

Best,

Donald (Don) Evons

Founder & CEO, Ethics-4-Kids

ethics4kids.org