Character Education

Running head: CHARACTER EDUCATION

Character Education
Grand Canyon University: EDU 310 (0206)
December 5, 2010

Character Development According to Svi Shapiro, “Most of our schools are not facing up to their responsibilities. We must begin to ask ourselves whether educators should help students address the critical moral choices and social issues of our time”. The idea of this quote is placing the responsibility on schools of going beyond that of training students for jobs and getting them into college. One example would be for schools to be required to educate students on topics regarding character and social issues. Is it possible with the discussion of character development and the educating of students on moral decisions, and social conflicts, that we could see an improvement to the society in which we live? One can understand how employing the help of teachers and school administrators, these moral and social conflicts that are damaging the character of society can be put on the decrease. In completing the research for this paper, several readings justified that teachers and schools should teach character education. In doing this it will help students gain a better understanding of the social issues they will be faced with. It will also aid them when making moral choices. It is obvious that the character and moral values of our society have been deteriorating for some time. By teaching character development in public schools, one can reduce this deterioration. By utilizing the help of this type of educational programs and classes today’s students will begin to understand how to make more positive moral decisions, which in turn will help rejuvenate the ethics of society. There are those individuals who strongly believe that it is wrong for schools to be responsible for teaching moral values and character development as part of their curriculum. The downside of this argument is that there are those students who lack a parent or role model who can teach them the proper ethical values, and instill in them the character traits needed to deal with the social issues they will surely face. Therefore, if schools are able to teach students the character traits needed to be good citizens and to make good moral decisions, individuals should take a step back and let the education system do their job. Public schools can help to enhance today’s society by improving the moral values and character of its students, all the while, teaching the life skills needed to deal with the society and social issues that will be faced. In closing, one can safely say that today’s society is becoming more and more deceitful because of all of the moral issues and social injustices in the world today. As a result of teaching students about character education and moral values while they are young, the children are developing character traits and shaping themselves to be the individuals they will be when they are grown. Educating school children on character and moral values from an early age, affords the children the opportunity to realize greater success in all areas of life. After all, these students are the future of this society.

Hidden Curriculum | Description | Example | Curriculum as The Development of Cognitive Processes | Conveys people/students’ perception, thinking, and increase in understanding of their world via interacting with genetic and learned factors. | Incorporating the use of symbolic materials such as counting cubes, or other math manipulatives to perform basic mathematical equations such as adding and subtracting. | Curriculum as Technology | Emphasizes the use of computers, internet programs, visual, audio, and electronic communication, that supports four key components to learning; active engagement, participation in groups, frequent interaction and feedback, and connection to the real-world. | Performing research on various topics, for different subjects using multimedia encyclopedias, atlases, dictionaries, and other research tools. | Curriculum as Self-Actualization Experience or consumatory experience | Centering on humanities such as history, and literature, the perception of our culture, character education, and decision making skills through the interest, needs, and experiences of the students. | Teaching relationships, responsibility, and reverence for life through projects out in the community, or connections classes. | Curriculum for Social Learning | Helps students relate to others by thinking about themselves and others in a proper manner, have a positive value of themselves and others, and be able to handle a multitude of social expectations. | Showing empathy or care for others, seeking help when needed to resolve conflicts. | Curriculum for Academic Rationalization | The more traditional style curriculum; core subjects being taught. This type of curriculum is teacher initiated; not child initiated. The teacher teaches the material concepts. | Reading, Language Arts,Science, Social Studies, Math based on the federal, state, and local content standards. |

References
Auciello, J. (2006). Teaching for character: Education for English teachers. Journal of Education, 187(3), 57-69. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.
Berreth, D., & Berman, S. (1997). The moral dimensions of schools. Educational Leadership, 54(8), 24-27. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.
Clouse, B. (2001). Character education: Borrowing from the past to advance the future. Contemporary Education, 72(1), 23. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.
Shapiro, S. & Purpel, D.E. (2005). Critical social issues in American education: Democracy and meaning in a globalizing world (3rd ed.). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.
Stiff-Williams, H. (2010). Widening the lens to teach character education alongside standards curriculum. Clearing House, 83(4), 115-120. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.

References: Auciello, J. (2006). Teaching for character: Education for English teachers. Journal of Education, 187(3), 57-69. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database. Berreth, D., & Berman, S. (1997). The moral dimensions of schools. Educational Leadership, 54(8), 24-27. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database. Clouse, B. (2001). Character education: Borrowing from the past to advance the future. Contemporary Education, 72(1), 23. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database. Shapiro, S. & Purpel, D.E. (2005). Critical social issues in American education: Democracy and meaning in a globalizing world (3rd ed.). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. Stiff-Williams, H. (2010). Widening the lens to teach character education alongside standards curriculum. Clearing House, 83(4), 115-120. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.