Character Education
Oct. 12th, 2005 09:15 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
olgateaWhat Is Character Education?
Character education is the teaching of core values. For example, the Character Counts program defines six teachable “pillars of character”: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship
Through the Giraffe Project, children work with adult volunteers and learn to be like giraffes--that is, animals who stick their necks out, have big hearts, are persistent, do no harm and make the world a better place through their actions. The children come up with community-based projects, which they organize themselves. In the process, they learn to work together for the common good and to contribute something positive.
In his book, The Educated Child, William J. Bennett writes, “Good character education means cultivating virtues through formation of good habits.” According to Bennett, children need to learn through actions that honesty and compassion are good, and that deceit and cruelty are bad. He believes that adults in schools and parents should strive to be models of good character.
Not all character education programs are effective, according to Bennett. Lofty discussions about gun control, abortion and same-sex marriages don’t teach children right from wrong or how to get along with others. Beware of school administrators, he writes, who simply post signs that say “Help others,” or “Thanks for being kind today” and think they have done their job. Effective programs engage children in hands-on activities where good character is emphasized throughout the school environment as well as through the curriculum.
If the school has a program, find out how well it is working and what you can do at home or as a volunteer at school to support the program.
http://www.giraffe.org/aboutus_founder.html
http://www.open-circle.org/main.asp?areaid=0
Social and emotional learning (SEL) refers to knowledge, habits, skills, and ideals that enable students to recognize and manage their emotions, develop caring and concern for others, make responsible decisions, establish and maintain positive relationships, and handle challenging situations effectively.
Children with social and emotional competencies are those who are self-aware and who can identify and manage their own emotions. They can understand the thoughts and feelings of others. They have good problem-solving skills and can analyze and predict how the decisions they make today can affect their future. They can build healthy and rewarding relationships with others.
http://www.casel.org/home/index.php
http://www.apahelpcenter.org/
Character education is the teaching of core values. For example, the Character Counts program defines six teachable “pillars of character”: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship
Through the Giraffe Project, children work with adult volunteers and learn to be like giraffes--that is, animals who stick their necks out, have big hearts, are persistent, do no harm and make the world a better place through their actions. The children come up with community-based projects, which they organize themselves. In the process, they learn to work together for the common good and to contribute something positive.
In his book, The Educated Child, William J. Bennett writes, “Good character education means cultivating virtues through formation of good habits.” According to Bennett, children need to learn through actions that honesty and compassion are good, and that deceit and cruelty are bad. He believes that adults in schools and parents should strive to be models of good character.
Not all character education programs are effective, according to Bennett. Lofty discussions about gun control, abortion and same-sex marriages don’t teach children right from wrong or how to get along with others. Beware of school administrators, he writes, who simply post signs that say “Help others,” or “Thanks for being kind today” and think they have done their job. Effective programs engage children in hands-on activities where good character is emphasized throughout the school environment as well as through the curriculum.
If the school has a program, find out how well it is working and what you can do at home or as a volunteer at school to support the program.
http://www.giraffe.org/aboutus_founder.html
http://www.open-circle.org/main.asp?areaid=0
Social and emotional learning (SEL) refers to knowledge, habits, skills, and ideals that enable students to recognize and manage their emotions, develop caring and concern for others, make responsible decisions, establish and maintain positive relationships, and handle challenging situations effectively.
Children with social and emotional competencies are those who are self-aware and who can identify and manage their own emotions. They can understand the thoughts and feelings of others. They have good problem-solving skills and can analyze and predict how the decisions they make today can affect their future. They can build healthy and rewarding relationships with others.
http://www.casel.org/home/index.php
http://www.apahelpcenter.org/
