You may know the term "Character Education," used a lot by schools and educators. Character education has become an important subject for schools, and it involves helping young people learn and make good decisions based on core values, for example, integrity, honesty, respect and responsibility. Character education also focuses on reinforcing positive behaviors and life skills, like cooperation, leadership, and peacefully resolving conflicts.
You may be thinking that teaching positive character is obvious, plain old common sense, and what parents are supposed to do. And, you'd be right. But in an era when we've experienced tragedies like the Columbine school shooting massacre and the far-reaching consequences when adults (especially corporate leaders) don't have a basic sense of right and wrong, educators have recognized how important it is to help young people develop positive character. Research also supports that schools with comprehensive character education programs have students who are better learners, more cooperative, and more likely to succeed at school, at work and in life.
For a lot of elementary, middle and high schools, teachers are including character education lessons and activities in all kinds of subjects, from language arts and social studies, to science and math. It used to be that parochial or religious schools were more focused on teaching kids values. But these days, whether your child goes to a public, private, charter or special needs school, the chances are they are doing some kind of character education program. School administrators are also reminding all staff, from teachers to the cafeteria workers, that they are role models for positive character, and how they behave really impacts young people.
Why You are a Character Educator
As a parent or guardian to a child, you are the most important character educator your child will ever have. In other words, teaching your child about right and wrong, making good decisions in life, and believing in certain core values or principles, comes from you.
Character educators are role models. Every day, you teach by example. You show your child why it's important to treat others the way we want to be treated, and why positive values, like fairness, self-discipline, perseverance and courage, help get us through hard situations and do the right thing, even when it's not easy. Your child is a sponge who will absorb and somehow recycle everything you do.
Character educators are teachers. You talk openly about social and moral issues your child experiences or sees at school, at home and in the world. You practice with your child making good decisions and solving problems. You reinforce good behavior. You set boundaries for acceptable behavior and are consistent with discipline because, however challenging that can sometimes be, in the long term, the payoff is the greatest gift you can give your child: the tools to succeed on their own in life.