Harding Magazine

BRINGING CHARACTER back to the FOREFRONT of EDUCATION

Character. Ask most six-year-olds what it means, and they’ll define the noun as a person from a cartoon or movie. But character “the idea” is a much harder concept for young minds to grasp. So Dave Beyers (’98) makes it easy for them by teaching positive elements of character and citizenship through songs, stories, and the occasional bad cow joke.

It’s all part of his master plan.

Growing up in Bedford, Ind., Beyers was inspired by Bill Cosby and “Picture Pages.” Fascinated by Morgan Freeman on “Sesame Street,” he dreamed of one day working for the show. But his greatest influences, he claims, were his teachers and the integrity and commitment they displayed. As a result, since high school he has wanted to produce quality entertainment that would teach children good character and citizenship.

The debate

Educators have long questioned the benefits and risks of teaching concepts such as “moral education,” “values clarification” and “ethics.” Because these terms have been deemed too relativistic or imposing, “character education” has become the new, friendlier term. While many teachers believe these ideas should be taught in classrooms, another school of thought says this should be left to parents.

Whatever the phrase, Beyers believes schools need to implement it — and now. He feels that society has become so advanced (not altogether a bad thing) that people insist on instant gratification (not necessarily a good thing). “This generation is so set on now,” he says. “We don’t work for things as we should.”

The result: “People enter into parenthood without understanding the commitment,” he says. They expect it to be convenient like everything else in life. When it’s not, children suffer. These same children end up in our nation’s classrooms not understanding the difference between right and wrong, responsibility, and respect for others. What school districts often view as a huge problem, Beyers approaches as an opportunity.

He defines character education as “promoting qualities of positive citizenship such as honesty, courage and respect” — concepts every child benefits from learning.

But first, he believes, educators must demonstrate character themselves. “Schoolteachers must present it like it is important,” says Beyers. “It improves discipline and can be integrated into all subjects.”

He knows this to be true because he has done it.

Preparation

Upon arriving at Harding, Beyers sought a degree in radio and television. However, he soon realized that he needed to be in the classroom first to really understand the needs of his audience. How else could he expect to change an environment without immersing himself in it? Thus, a major switch to  education followed.

He spent his first two post-college years teaching sixth- and seventh-grade social studies in an inner-city middle school in Memphis, Tenn. Somewhat sheltered and unprepared, Beyers says the experience redefined his reality. Only nine parents came to his first parent-teacher conference. “In my first set of girls, six had already had babies,” he says. “By the end of the year, seven more had babies. That’s 13 out of 152 students.”

Many of his students could not read; many didn’t know all the letters of the alphabet or to shower daily and brush their teeth. “I had 11- and 12-year-olds into drugs, and their teeth were falling out,” he says. He refused to give up on them. Instead he looked for creative ways to interest them in learning and personal hygiene. He also used his guitar to bring reading, math and science to life through song.

During a recent stop in Arkansas, he spoke to student teachers at the University and recounted his classroom experiences. “Those kids taught me so much more than I taught them,” he said. “It’s give and take. They watch you, want to be you, and need you more than you and they know.

“If you go into teaching, and it’s easy, then you’re doing it wrong.”

The show

After two years he knew it was time to get the show on the road — literally. He moved to Nashville, Tenn., and spent four years financially preparing to tackle his dream of being a full-time professional artist. For the last two and 1/2 years he has written songs for Christian and country artists and taken his educational program across the country.

He captures the attention of his young audiences through the use of several clever characters, most notably Billy’s Kow and Junkyard Johnson, products of his imagination who come brilliantly to life in his performances. The 2007 tour is visiting more than 100 elementary schools, children’s hospitals and special-needs schools in more than 60 cities, including Boston, Dallas, St. Paul, Minn., and Miami.

During the show, he uses a series of paintings he’s completed to tell the story of Billy’s Kow, a cow with remarkable abilities such as parachuting and juggling. Even with his special talents, he struggles to fit in at school. Beyers plays several songs he wrote to help Billy’s Kow with his conduct and homework, such as “ABC’s,” “States of Matter,” “Responsibility” and “Metric System.” By the end of the performance, the children are grooving along with Dave and Billy’s Kow, who often makes a personal visit.

“After the show, I take time to shake hands and greet the kids eye to eye,” he says. “I feel it leaves more of an impression on the kids and gives them a chance to truly believe that they can do what they dream of doing one day.”

One of the main ideas he tries to impress upon the children is that diversity is good. “We’re all different, and that’s a good thing,” he tells a group of second- through fourth-graders at Searcy’s Westside Elementary School during a February appearance.

He reiterates those ideas three days later at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, where he has performed a scaled-down version of his show for a very small group of children. A bit more bashful and inhibited, the group softly sings along with the guitar, but every eye is glued on Beyers, and smiles light up their faces when he hands out CDs.

“It was very difficult at first,” he explains, of his hospital visits, which often include entertaining critically ill patients unable to leave their rooms. “But I might be one of the only visitors some of these children have.”

The curriculum

“Billy’s Kow Show” is the stepping-stone Beyers hopes will help launch the second part of his vision: developing and implementing his original character education curriculum in schools across the country.

This year, his first children’s book is being released: Junkyard Johnson: A Tale of Childhood Cleanliness. In the story, written in both English and Spanish, a young boy never brushes his teeth, much like many of Beyers’ former students. But through education and encouragement, Junkyard realizes the importance of dental hygiene and learns to take pride in his appearance. Beyers plans to introduce more books and characters in the series during the coming months and years.

“J.J. is the character I am using to develop an entire elementary character education curriculum,” he states. “We hope to unveil the curriculum in 2008 in several different school systems in Indiana and Tennessee. He is also the character I am pitching to several internationally recognized companies to be used as their spokesperson.”

Meanwhile, he will continue his tour until September, when he will face one of his greatest challenges: He and Junkyard will head to Tokyo for six months as a part of INTERAC, Japan’s leading private provider of English language teachers.

While there, Beyers will teach basic English at an elementary school during the morning and spend afternoons performing a simpler version of his show for schools, coffee houses and bookstores across the city. And like his current book, this one will also be in two languages: English and Japanese.

But he’s not stopping there.

The vision

Part three — his ultimate goal — is to produce a TV show or even movie with his characters. According to Beyers, much of today’s children’s entertainment is sarcastic, rude and vulgar. So he has set out to provide positive — yet realistic — alternatives.

In fact, he’s already written several episodes that address diversity, children dealing with hard situations, and students with special physical needs. “There’s no kid out there who’s perfect, and we want kids to see that,” he says.

Many of his characters and stories are inspired by Bill Cosby’s ’70s and ’80s hit cartoon “Fat Albert.” He explains that the series proves there has always been quality programming for children. “Watch ‘Fat Albert,’” he says. “It’s very faith-based.”

The motivation

At a glance, his life looks like one big, fun cross-country trip. In actuality, it’s far from easy.

First he must fund his efforts. He supports himself by tutoring, laying carpet, construction, and landscaping during the summer months. Aside from performing and work, he then answers e-mails, markets his products, and designs brochures, posters and future show elements. “Every single day I create something,” he says. “A painting, poem or song, so I can inject morals into the educational landscape.”

Then there’s sleeping in hotels, driving for hours, and spending lots of time alone. Beyers admits that can be tough. “It gets old, but it’s all part of the gig.” But he’s quick to mention the perks. “I’m always about a phone call away from a place to stay,” he says, reflecting on the way friends, alumni and fellow Christians welcome him into their homes.

In the end, the benefits win. Just ask him about Christina, one of his students back in Memphis. Chances are, you’ll hear about her before you can ask.

During his performances, he’ll often take time to pull out Christina’s painting from among many larger ones he uses to illustrate his show. A small piece, it appears quite ordinary; after all, it is only a painting of the alphabet. Only when you learn that the artist was blind do you see it differently — and the same way Beyers does.

You see hope in situations often considered hopeless. And for that single reason — for every long trip, mowed lawn and hour spent alone — it’s worth it.

To bring Beyers to your school, hospital or organization, contact him at dave@ billyskow.com.