Essentials of Character Education
When students finally realize what they can accomplish (what goes around, comes around) it's amazing how far they can come.
The young men here were once almost all high school dropouts. They have very low, even 0.0 GPA's, and turned themselves around. We, as teachers, supported them, modeled behaviors successful persons require (especially attendance and respect), and look what they did. All of them are in college or have finished with their Bachelors' degrees, and one is training to be a teacher.
Respect: for all persons and materials one does not own
Integrity: the ability to tell the truth and call people to task, not to flock to violence, not to addict oneself to self-abusive behavior, substances, to surround oneself with mutually positive friendships, to put off immediate gratification to reward oneself with future rewards
Proactive: to plan and execute short-term objectives in order to achieve long-term goals
Right and Wrong: Yes, there are some things that are simply right or wrong to do or say, like judging by the content of one’s character –M.L.K.
The above four principals are taught to your students, reinforced by your behavior on your campus (in and out of your classroom), and by including the following concepts in your curriculum. Character education can and should be included in every course, no matter the subject area. Example: "What part of the character of Tom Sawyer is different than yours? The same? Why?"
Trustworthiness
Responsibility
Fairness
Caring
Citizenship
Honesty
Courage
Diligence
Patriotism
Courage
Fairness/Justice
Caring: Thinking of Others as Much as You Think of Yourself
Cooperation
Dealing with Feelings/Understanding the Difference between Logic and Feelings
Saying No With Tact (How to Write ‘No’ or ‘Negative’ letters and memos)
Doing the Right Thing—Responsibility to one’s family, other obligations
Dealing with Disappointment and Loss
Appreciating Yourself and Others
Asking for Help and When To Stop Asking for Help
Friendships: Who to Pick as a Friend and How to Schedule Time for Friends
Resolving Conflicts and Handling Confrontation
Of course, the longer you have the same students the easier it is to fully cover these topics.
"Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for all in your speech, in life, in love, in all that you do."
–Mr. Skibby, my third grade teacher.
So, where do we go from here?
The young men here were once almost all high school dropouts. They have very low, even 0.0 GPA's, and turned themselves around. We, as teachers, supported them, modeled behaviors successful persons require (especially attendance and respect), and look what they did. All of them are in college or have finished with their Bachelors' degrees, and one is training to be a teacher.
Respect: for all persons and materials one does not own
Integrity: the ability to tell the truth and call people to task, not to flock to violence, not to addict oneself to self-abusive behavior, substances, to surround oneself with mutually positive friendships, to put off immediate gratification to reward oneself with future rewards
Proactive: to plan and execute short-term objectives in order to achieve long-term goals
Right and Wrong: Yes, there are some things that are simply right or wrong to do or say, like judging by the content of one’s character –M.L.K.
The above four principals are taught to your students, reinforced by your behavior on your campus (in and out of your classroom), and by including the following concepts in your curriculum. Character education can and should be included in every course, no matter the subject area. Example: "What part of the character of Tom Sawyer is different than yours? The same? Why?"
Trustworthiness
Responsibility
Fairness
Caring
Citizenship
Honesty
Courage
Diligence
Patriotism
Courage
Fairness/Justice
Caring: Thinking of Others as Much as You Think of Yourself
Cooperation
Dealing with Feelings/Understanding the Difference between Logic and Feelings
Saying No With Tact (How to Write ‘No’ or ‘Negative’ letters and memos)
Doing the Right Thing—Responsibility to one’s family, other obligations
Dealing with Disappointment and Loss
Appreciating Yourself and Others
Asking for Help and When To Stop Asking for Help
Friendships: Who to Pick as a Friend and How to Schedule Time for Friends
Resolving Conflicts and Handling Confrontation
Of course, the longer you have the same students the easier it is to fully cover these topics.
"Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for all in your speech, in life, in love, in all that you do."
–Mr. Skibby, my third grade teacher.
So, where do we go from here?
- Growth is not passive.
- Build activities with your students to connect them to you, to the school, to one another, especially students to students.
- Disconnected students will not grow in those qualities aforementioned.
- What is the real American Dream? A: complete autonomy. But this way of living leads to loneliness, anger, resentment, boredom, a friendless life, mental and emotional imbalance, and the brain turning to mush!
- Interdependency helps lead to a fulfilled life.
- Encourage and hold accountable.
- Interdependent, fulfilled adults have connected to others, have these characteristics, and can’t wait to get up and do their best every day!
