Character Education: The virtue at the centre of adolescent's life. Professor James Arthur Director : Jubilee Centre

OUR GOAL To promote through rigorous research the importance of teaching character in schools and society

Our Key Message Good character matters to individuals and society. The qualities which make up character can be learnt and taught – and we need a new emphasis on their importance in schools and professional education

Substantive and transformative change Making a difference Substantive and transformative change Research Policy Practice

Centre Reports:

What is Character Education? Character is a set of personal traits or dispositions that evoke specific emotions, inform motivation and guide conduct. Character education is an umbrella term for all explicit and implicit educational activities that helps young people develop positive personal traits called virtues.

Domains of Virtue Moral Intellectual Civic Performance

THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF CHARACTER

The Key Virtue Moderating Virtue: Good Sense (Practical Wisdom)

A Virtue Ethics Approach to Character What kind of person do I want to become, when confronting situations that call for an ethical response? How do I balance out the competing demands of the moral life? How do I flourish as a person? Aristotle, Anscombe, MacIntyre, Hursthouse, Nussbaum

Good character has multiple benefits for individuals and society Defining Arguments Good character has multiple benefits for individuals and society Character can be taught and learnt and reinforced – it should be put at the heart of education

Good Character has Multiple Benefits The virtues which make up character enable us to enjoy rewarding and productive lives The more people with good character the healthier our society People live and learn better with character Integrity, as well as knowledge, are vital to our professions Virtues are Universal – they are found in all great faiths but not restricted to religions.

Common Myths about Character Education: Indoctrination? Mindless conditioning? Conservative? Paternalistic? Necessarily religious? About promoting the ideals of a particular moral system? Either character or attainment, but not both?

Virtue Literacy Virtue Knowledge Virtue Reasoning Virtue Practice

What is Virtue Knowledge About? It is about acquiring and understanding the sometimes technical language and concepts associated with virtue. But knowing about virtue is not sufficient for being virtuous – in other words, it may not necessarily change our behaviour for the better.

What is Virtue Reasoning About? It is about making reasoned judgements about when and how to act well. This includes the ability to explain different moral situations, such as moral dilemmas. This emphasis on acquiring judgement is reflective, and allows for each individual to make their own decisions about how best to give expression to the virtues in situations that are pertinent to them.

What is Virtue Practice About? Both the previous components; virtue knowledge and virtue reasoning are linked to the promotion of virtue practice. Virtue practice enables us to give expression to virtue in desirable, recognisable and observable attitudes, behaviours and action.

University of Birmingham School

Virtuous Digital Lifestyles Polemic… are young people? Truthful Compassionate Selfless Altruistic Courageous Modest Dishonest Callous Selfish Egotistical Cowardly Vain

An old theory for a new age problem Virtue Ethics Doing the right thing, at the right time, in the right amount (when nobody is watching)

Cyber-dilemmas Cyber-bullying Plagiarism Piracy Extremism Digital legacy

Perfumes Overdose Envy Covet Guilty Poison Bondage Savage Opium

Children’s Literature Kesebir, P. & Kesebir, S. (2012) The cultural salience of moral character and virtue declined in twentieth century America, Journal of Positive Psychology, 7(6), pp. 471–480.

Anthropocentric – natural virtues The Horizontal Anthropocentric – natural virtues Humility Service Honesty

The Vertical Theocentric Faith Supernatural Virtues Hope Infused Grace Love

Theocentric Faith Hope Love Anthropocentric Humility Service Honesty

The Vertical and Horizontal The practice of the specifically Christian virtues of faith, hope, and love has a powerful impact on leadership. They elevate, reinforce, and transfigure the natural virtues of humility and service which are the essence of leadership, and the natural virtues of prudence, courage, self-control, and justice, which constitute its foundations.