THE NEED FOR CHARACTER EDUCATION

Abstract

Character education is a national movement creating schools that foster ethical, responsible and caring young people by modelling and teaching good character through emphasis on universal values that we all share. It is the intentional, proactive effort by schools, districts and states to instil in their students important core ethical values such as caring, honesty, fairness, responsibility and respect for self and others. Good character is not formed automatically; it is developed over time through a sustained process of teaching, example, learning and practice. It is developed through character education. The intentional teaching of good character is particularly important in today’s society since our youth face many opportunities and dangers unknown to earlier generations. They are bombarded with many more negative influences through the media and other external sources prevalent in today’s culture. Since children spend about 900 hours a year in school, it is essential that schools resume a proactive role in assisting families and communities by developing caring, respectful environments where students learn core, ethical values. When a comprehensive approach to character education is used, a positive moral culture is created in the school—a total school environment that supports the values taught in the classroom (Character Education Partnership, 2010). The aim of this study is to provide guidelines for the elements need for effective and comprehensive character education. And to emphasize the need of character education to help students develop good character, which includes knowing, caring about and acting upon core ethical values such as respect, responsibility, honesty, fairness and compassion.

Keywords

• Character education, good character, ethical values

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