BOB ABERNETHY: Now a special report on character education. Can morality be taught like math or history? How can the schools do it? From this country's earliest days, a primary purpose of public education was to teach good character. Then moral instruction went out of style. Now, after court decisions banning school prayer and more and more school violence, such as the shootings at Columbine High School, the character education movement is going strong. Betty Rollin has our story.

BETTY ROLLIN: When the children arrive each morning at St. Leonard's, a public elementary school in St. Leonard, Maryland, they know they'll be learning the usual three Rs.

Unidentified Woman: Have a good day, guys.

ROLLIN: But equally important at this school are three other Rs.

Group of Students (In Unison): Today I am respectful, responsible, and ready to learn. I will cooperate to make St. Leonard a special place. Please be seated.

ROLLIN: Character education is not a separate class here. It runs through the entire curriculum, which experts say is the only way character education can have an effect. In this first-grade class, George Washington provides one of many opportunities to teach honesty.

Unidentified Teacher #1 (Reading): "I am sorry to have lost my cherry tree, but I am glad that you were brave enough to tell me the truth."

ROLLIN: Honesty is one of several character traits that the school, parents, and the community chose together, traits that virtually everyone agrees are worthy. Respect is another.

TIM: I am grateful for the hard workers in the world today, not the best baseball heroes or the best movie stars, but the butchers, the garbage men, and the educators who work harder. You are heroes.

Unidentified Teacher #2: Whoa, Tim, that was fantastic.

ROLLIN: And in gym class, predictably, it's not about winning.

Unidentified Teacher #3: Speed is not the most important thing. The most important thing is you talk it out and work together.

Mr. TED HAYNIE (Principal, St. Leonard Elementary School): We know that our fundamental responsibility is the academic preparation of your child.

ROLLIN: Ted Haynie, the principal of St. Leonard, says he's often asked whether character education is better taught at home.

Mr. HAYNIE: This is something that should be taught at home. It's something that should be taught in the churches. It's something that should be taught on the ball fields and every place. We accept the fact that that is not always the case.

ROLLIN: And therefore?

Mr. HAYNIE: And therefore, you know, we accept that as part of our responsibility.

ROLLIN: The government agrees. Since 1995, the Department of Education has given about $22 million for character education programs in the public schools.

Ten states have legislation mandating character education, and more and more states are considering the issue. But the question remains: What should be taught and how to teach it?

Unidentified Teacher #4: Nikki should be citizen of the month because she treats people the way she wants to be treated.

ROLLIN: St. Leonard gives citizen of the month awards. But are rewards, even for kindness, appropriate? Other schools have "be nice" days, leading to accusations of superficiality. And critics say many teachers are untrained.

Character First!, one of several creators of character programs, sells its curriculum to schools. The curriculum has been criticized for teaching blind obedience.

Unidentified Man: For obedience, Character First! defines the quality as "cheerfully carrying out the directions and wishes of those who are responsible for me." Indeed, to obey with a grumbling and complaining attitude is not obedience at all; it's merely complaints.