How is Character Education Used in Today's School
The school is our children's second home. It is where their minds are cultivated and their hearts nurtured. Maybe, that is also one of the reasons why schools are always on the spotlight whenever something unfavorable happens to a child or the society around him. Who are at stake? Who has the responsibility over them?
Character education has been around since time immemorial. What went wrong? Why are not we seeing much of good values from our children? Truth be told, most of our children today lack values that we have during our generation.
The school and its role in character education
Although character education is a shared responsibility, the school plays a very crucial role since kids spend an average of 900 hours per year as contrary to 34 hours that they spend in meaningful conversations with their parents. Thus, schools are called on to be proactive especially in helping families and communities develop responsible and morally upright citizens.
A school of character
We heard people say about a man of character, but a school of character? Well, it is one whose committment is towards developing children to be socially, morally, and academically responsible whereby character education is inegrated in all disciplines and every aspect of the curriculum.
It practically involves everybody from the principal to the teachers to the cafeteria people and even the janitors themselves. The kind of culture that is being observed in the school and the core values it uphold determine the kind of values that is being observed and practiced. The principal spearheads the program and everyone participates.
Can you say that yours is a school of character?
Teacher power
Teachers are very powerful because they can make and unmake individuals. Teacher resources are endless too. They prepare teacher worksheets, lesson plans and rubrics wherein they can infuse character education.
Cooperative learning is one strategy teachers use in classrooms to foster teamwork and responsibility. It works effectively for both elementary and seconday students. Teachers also encourage their students to ponder on certain moral issues through worksheets, classroom discussions, reading and writing. They do not only teach them good values but develop their study skills too. Truly, they are a force to reckon with.
Parental participation
In everything, parents must always be involved. No other person holds the greatest responsibility in rearing a child than the parents themselves. Besides, they are their first and real teachers.
Communication is the key to parental involvement. Keep your communication lines open and as much as possible get in touch with them as often as you can, updating them of their children's progress in school.
Community Involvement
Character education should involve the community too. The neigborhood is where our kids spend most of their time. Schools sometimes even tap resources from within the community to carry out some of their projects. And they can be very effective. Besides, for character education to fully achieve its goals, it should be implemented in close coordination among schools, parents and the community.