What is character education?
This is a learning process where the school, community and the parents come together to instill values to a learner, such as respect, justice, civic virtue, citizenship, and responsibility for self and others. Character education teaches the habits of thought and deed that help people live and work together as families, friends, neighbors, communities and nations. It helps the children become conscious of the right thing to do, committed to doing the right thing and competent in doing the right thing.
The society require good moral character individual and it does not happen automatically. Effort must come from family, school and community to mold children to have good character which happens through character education.
Academics benefits of good character in education
- The interaction in the school and outside will be respectful as the children will treat each other with respect yielding harmony. Bullying will be reduced and children will be able to perform well academically.
- Good character yield self-regulation and self-esteem and children will be able to manage their emotions. The more confidence we feel, the more confident we’ll become and in return better performance.
- Character education has a critical mind-set component; when we learn to unlock our fixed-mind-set thoughts and nurture our growth mind-set, we accept mistakes as opportunities for growth rather than seeing them as a failure, as something that could break us. We are inspired by the success of others rather than threatened by it. We persist through problems, adapt to our circumstances, and bounce forward into our new normal to gain resilience and grit, soft skills which are more aptly called success skills important for life.
- Character education builds servant leadership in children. Children move from self-centered life and become selfless and empathy for others. Children would grow to want to serve others and draw joy from it.
- When we show gratitude in all things, it can positively add years to our lives. According to the Templeton Foundation, positive emotions can add seven years to our lives.
- Employers are looking for employees with good character. Employees who have demonstrated hard work and good ethics in their workplace tend to grow career wise. Job applicants with ethical fortitude have an edge securing and keeping a place in the work force because their employers can count on them to show up and make a difference.
- When we work with intention to be honest, trustworthy people who keep our promises, show integrity, and never lie, cheat, or steal, it’s easier to make friends. Others can count on us and seek us out to align with us.
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School role
Students spend much of their young lives in classrooms. This time in school is an opportunity to explain and reinforce the core values upon which character is formed.
- Highlighting the importance of character education as being central to the culture, values and vision of the school.
- Taking a whole-school approach to developing the character of pupils and exemplifying and communicating positive character traits.
- Take a leadership role to bring the staff, parents and students together to identify and define the elements of character they want to emphasize;
- Provide training for staff on how to integrate character education into the life and culture of the school;
- Form a vital partnership with parents and the community so that students hear a consistent message about character traits essential for success in school and life.
- Provide opportunities for school leaders, teachers, parents and community partners to model exemplary character traits and social behaviors.
- Teach conflict resolution, so that students acquire the essential moral skills of solving conflicts fairly and without force.
- Encourage moral reflection through reading, research, essay writing, journal keeping, discussion, and debate.
- Use cooperative learning to develop students’ appreciation of others, perspective taking, and ability to work with others toward common goals
- Create a democratic classroom environment, involving students in decision making and the responsibility for making the classroom a good place to be and learn.
- Teach values through the curriculum, using the ethically rich content of academic subjects
Parent’s role
Many teachers complain that parents are too lax and don’t provide enough discipline at home. Character education works best when schools and families work together. The schools should collaborate with parents by supporting the work of the teachers.
- To familiarize themselves with the school education character programs. Check how well it’s working and what you can do to emphasize and support teachers in character building.
- Encourage your child to establish good work habits. Be firm in your expectations that your child complete his/her assignments neatly, thoroughly and on time and set limits. Check to see that assignments get returned to your child, and that the teacher makes corrections and sets high standards.
- Always take action when you notice change in behavior of your child and involve the teacher.
- Children learn best from our actions than our talks, be of good character for your child to emulate.
Community role
- Older generation in the society should act as caregivers, model and mentors to all children in the community.
- Helping students know one another as persons, respect and care about one another, and feel valued membership in, and responsibility to, the group.
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