Academic success is an important aspect of a student's education, but it is not the only aspect. A well-educated student can only truly achieve their potential if they also possess strong character, good values, and positive aspirations. Unfortunately, not many people know how to help their children develop these real-life skills and values. This is where the importance of character education comes into play.

 

Character education is the process of teaching students to interact with society in a positive way, by teaching core virtues such as courage, justice, and wisdom. It encompasses feelings, thoughts, and actions that work together to form character. It can be taught as a standalone curriculum or integrated into the academic curriculum and other school initiatives. Character education is a Tier 1 Support, meaning it should be offered to all students, not just those who display a lack of character.

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The importance of character education can be traced back to our nation's leaders in the 18th century who recognized that democracy requires virtuous citizens. At that time, the Bible was the primary source of character education taught through religious morality. However, as more immigrants arrived from predominantly Catholic countries, controversy arose over the source material for teaching good character, leading to the rise of secular texts such as McGuffey Readers. In the 1960s, character education declined in American schools, but made a resurgence in the 1980s. Today, the Whole Child Initiative encourages a wraparound education that addresses students' needs to be healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged.

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Parents can promote these values by exposing their children to new experiences, encouraging self-reflection, setting a good example, telling stories, and talking about what they see on television. Here are some ways to promote these values in everyday life:

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1. Encourage self-reflection by asking questions about significant events in their life, and analyzing their feelings and thoughts.

2. Expose children to new experiences and ideas by serving food in a homeless shelter, taking a road trip, signing up for soccer lessons, etc.

3. Let children make decisions and encourage them to think about the long-term consequences of their actions.

4. Share stories of your own experiences, decisions, and adventures.

5. Discuss what they see on television and encourage them to think about how it makes them feel.

6. Lead by example and set a good example as a responsible and caring citizen.

 

In conclusion, character education is a crucial aspect of a student's education, and parents and educators play an important role in promoting good values and positive behavior in children. By exposing children to new experiences, encouraging self-reflection, setting a good example, and fostering open communication, parents can help their children develop strong character, good values, and positive aspirations.

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Here are some resources for promoting character education for students in elementary, middle, and high school:

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1. Character.org: A non-profit organization that provides resources and support for character education in schools, including lesson plans and activities for students. (https://www.character.org)

2. National School Climate Center: Offers resources and training for schools on how to create a positive and safe school environment that supports character education. (https://schoolclimate.org)

3. Project Wisdom: A comprehensive character education program that provides daily lessons and activities for students in grades K-12. (https://www.projectwisdom.com)

4. Committee for Children: Offers social-emotional learning programs for students that emphasize character development and positive behavior. (https://www.cfchildren.org)

5. Positive Action: A character education program that uses research-based methods to teach students about values, positive behavior, and character development. (https://www.positiveaction.net)

6. CharacterCounts!: A character education program that teaches students the Six Pillars of Character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship. (https://charactercounts.org)

7. The Josephson Institute: Offers resources for character education and ethical leadership, including a character education curriculum for students in grades 6-12. (https://josephsoninstitute.org)

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There are a variety of resources available for parents who are interested in promoting character education in their families. Some of the most common resources include:

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1. Books: There are numerous books available on the subject of character education and how to raise children with strong character. Some of the most popular titles include “Raising an Ethical Child” by Dr. Stephanie M. Jones and “The Parent’s Tao Te Ching” by William Martin.

2. Workshops and Seminars: Workshops and seminars are a great way for parents to learn about character education and how to promote it in their families. Many schools and community organizations offer workshops and seminars on this subject.

3. Parenting Classes: Many schools and community organizations offer parenting classes that can help parents develop their character education skills.

4. Community Organizations: There are many community organizations that focus on character education and can be a valuable resource for parents. Some organizations work with schools and others work directly with families.

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These are just a few examples of the many resources available for parents who want to promote character education in their families. With so many resources available, it is easy for parents to find the information and support they need to help their children develop strong character and become responsible citizens.

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