Bullying, tattling, cursing and, at times, hitting all go on in the classrooms and hallways of Jenkins White Elementary School, Principal Marva Tutt said.

Augusta's Call to Character, a nonprofit organization that aims to reboot character education in Richmond County schools, could change the daily grind at Jenkins White, Dr. Tutt said.

"Sometimes we don't make time to put character in place in the curriculum, but they need it," said Dr. Tutt, whose 400 pupils in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade start class today. "This is going to be a lifelong building of respect, responsibility and determination."

Jenkins White, Southside, Terrace Manor, Barton Chapel and Lamar elementary schools will offer the character education program this fall. Tom Warenzak, the president of Augusta's Call to Character, wants to go beyond the state-mandated anti-bullying lessons and the integration of 27 character traits in class instruction. Funding and community support will determine what Mr. Warenzak will be able to do with character education at the five schools.

"We're taking those character words, and we're building lesson plans around them," he said. "A major challenge will be getting schools to embrace this in a climate where most everything is centered around students passing the CRCTs (Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests)."

In Richmond County, 53 percent of the pupils passed the retest for the Georgia standardized test this summer. Mr. Warenzak said character education could be a driving force in improving the county's test scores.

Character-education programs have resulted in improved academic achievement, a reduction in office referrals and a decrease in truancy at schools nationwide, said Merle Schwartz, the director of education and research for the Character Education Partnership in Washington, D.C. The programs are mandated in 17 states, but few have financial support through the school systems, Dr. Schwartz said.

"They're putting very little money in it, but if the community gets the chance to understand what it's all about, they can make it happen," she said. "Schools writing grants and local sponsors are what keep these programs going."

Money to fund Augusta's Call to Character, which would go toward training sessions for faculty, character coaches for pupils, character movie nights and an essay contest, has come in the form of donations from Platt's Funeral Home, R.W. Allen Construction, the Medical Alliance of the CSRA and other donors, Mr. Warenzak said.

The donations brought in about $5,000 this summer, but much more is needed.

"Everything is contingent on what we receive," he said. "We've had some grants; we've applied for money. We want to reinvigorate the efforts, but it's all pending on funding."

Superintendent Dana Bedden is working on a grant to fund the program, Mr. Warenzak said. He has also assembled a board of directors and advisers that will set up adopt-a-school relationships with businesses and attract volunteers.

Mr. Warenzak said he hopes raising awareness about his program will garner the additional financial support it needs.

Ben Motley, the principal of Lamar Elementary, where the program was introduced in March, said systemwide support would be one way to raise more awareness about character education.

Mr. Warenzak conducted sessions with Lamar pupils on some of the 27 character traits, had a kickoff dinner with parents and invited guest speakers to talk to the students about character.

"He was able to really concentrate deeply on the topics," Mr. Motley said. "I think the students started to realize that their manners were not right. When they realize what they're doing is not the norm, they will follow the norm. You have to change their mind-set."

Dr. Tutt said she's hoping she can see the same results at her school.

"It's important for these students to have these virtues here and at home," she said. "When they go to other schools and other places, they'll have good discipline and good character."

Richmond County schools have also used a program called "Character First!" but its use has waned in many schools as teachers spent more time on the demands of the federal No Child Left Behind legislation.

Reach Stephanie Toone at (706) 823-3215 or stephanie.toone@augustachronicle.com.