Guide Mentor

Character Role Analysis

Mr. Browne

Mr. Browne, the fifth grade English teacher, is the source of a monthly chalkboard nugget o' wisdom called a precept, which is basically a general rule about how one should behave. His goal is to prompt some thinking and discussion amongst his students about how they are and how they act in the world, so each month the kids discuss the precepts and write a personal response to a different precept. In this way, Mr. Browne guides his students to become thoughtful, principled, and engaged young people.

Mr. Browne isn't satisfied with doing this for just one year either. Nope—he asks that the kids send him precepts of their own or precepts they find meaningful as they go through the rest of their lives. This is one mentor who's in it for the long haul.