The Four Way Test Program

The Rotary Club of Hunt Valley and The James W. Houck Foundation, Inc., in partnership with Baltimore County Public Schools and the Archdiocese of Baltimore, conduct The Four-Way Test Contest as an ethics enrichment partnership in area schools each year.  The Four-Way Test, which has been a guiding principle of Rotary International since 1943, asks its members to ask themselves these four questions when making any decision:

Is it the truth?
Is it fair to all concerned?
Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Participating local schools include:

Elementary Schools: 
Fifth District, Prettyboy, Seventh District, Sparks, Warren, St. Stephen, Pot Spring

Middle Schools:
Hereford, Cockeysville, St. Stephen

High Schools:
Hereford, Dulaney, Towson,  Loch Raven

In January, the schools launch contests that encourage students to creatively express their thoughts about the ethics program.  Elementary school students in grades 3 through 5 can develop a poster, 8th-grade middle school students are encouraged to write a short essay for their English classes, and high school students can write a speech as part of their public speaking courses. The contest ends in the middle of February and winners are announced in March. Each April, the Rotary Club of Hunt Valley hosts an award ceremony for all winners and their families, and the winning speech-writers from the high schools perform their speeches.

For information regarding the Four-Way Test Program please click here>>