Zanesville fifth graders attend Going On Or Defeated assembly

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – Fifth-grade students had some time out of class this morning to attend the ‘Going On or Defeated’ Program kickoff assembly.

Ron Derry, a former teacher, hosted the event. Derry lost his eyesight 21 years ago but did not want his disability to hinder the life of him or his family.

He founded the GOOD program challenging fifth-grade students to rise above their own perceived barriers. Derry wants these students to learn valuable lessons in school from their teachers.
I really loved teaching, and hoped to do it for 30-40 years, and thought why don’t I take these lessons into the schools because I was learning more than just perseverance, said Derry. I talk about the importance of being a good listener for their teachers.”

The program gives four t-shirts to each fifth-grade teacher, and they honor students on a quarterly basis, not only for their academic successes but also their classroom citizenship and attendance.

I designed these shirts and asked teachers to give them to children who showed these characteristics, said Derry. Trustworthiness, perseverance, being a good listener, and working together are just a few traits they look for in the student. Since then we have given over 60,000 GOOD shirts to students throughout the state.”

Seventeen students are honored each quarter and recognized at a Board of Education meeting.