Character Education in Middle and High Schools Christine Mohan “To educate a man in mind and not morals is to educate a menace to society.” -Theodore Roosevelt

What is character education? “Helping children to know the good, to desire the good, and to do the good.” (www.education.stateuniversity.com/pages/2246/Moral-Education.html)

Background Principals such as morality, ethics, and Integrity have been the foundation of America’s education system since the country’s inception. -The demand for teaching morality and ethics in public schools stems from the Protestant ideology practiced by the founding fathers. -It was not until the 1980s that the idea of teaching “character” values replaced teaching “moral” values.

“I desire to see a time when education, and by its means, morality, sobriety, enterprise and industry, shall become much more general that at present.” -Abraham Lincoln

But…is this our job??? The experts say YES, so long as we teach the qualities of good character in a secular way. Character formation is something parents begin with children at an early age, but the work is hardly completed when a child goes to school. Teachers and others musts contribute to the “engraving process” of teaching kids self-control, respect, and other good life habits.

How do we teach character education? Explore the various existing character education programs and see if your school is a participant in any (if not, encourage your school to adopt a program!) SERVICE LEARNING/COMMUNITY SERVICE Integrate character education into your curriculum. Find meaningful connections between academics and character education. Practice what you preach: BE A ROLE MODEL.

Character Counts! Only one out of many character education programs available An “infused approach,” where the focus of good character permeates the entire school experience. Use curriculum as source of teaching character education

Controversial Issues… Teaching virtue and ethics should be the job of parents. Character education is a violation of the separation of church and state because it espouses religious principles.

Evidence Researchers at the Institute for Global Ethics report that five core values-truth, compassion, fairness, responsibility, and respect-consistently cut across cultural religious, and socioeconomic lines. The Character Education Partnership Study: -found 30 successful existing programs -many positive outcomes!

“A man becomes virtuous by performing virtuous deeds; brave by doing brave deeds.” -Aristotle