Character Education

[Sneezykids]

I'd like to hear from other parents whose dc's school has implemented character education. Dd's school has a theme each semester, this semester it's 'responsibility' the other three are 'thinking of others' 'kindness' and 'respect'
I think it's a great thing, not only to reinforce what is being taught at home but also to help the others along whose parents lack this kind of teaching. (trying to be tactful here) KWIM?

[kewb]

Our school has a program like that. From what I have observed the children like it.

[CarrieMF]

My dd's school has been doing this for a few years. Their 5 key's are Respect, Safety, Honesty, Responsibility & I can never remember the last one and it's not in her agenda. They talk about them alot in the first couple of weeks and then they're all used throughout the school year.

[siddie]

I think character education is a very important part of a child's education. It is one of the reasons we chose a private Christian school for our ds. I am appalled at the behavior that goes on in public school and the fact that some parents can't even teach their children to be nice to others. Character ed. is integrated into everything they do, not something they have to implement. (We do attend church but the born again/charismatic Christians probably would not consider us to be "real" Christians.) The school rules are very basic like respect others and school property, be kind, take turns, listen to the teacher. OUr preschool which was not Christian had similar rules. Both our preschool and K have very strict rules about not teasing or hitting and teachers use developmentally appropriate responses with kids who do occasionally hit or tease. AT this young age, it can still happen. Responsibility is taught by giving children jobs like line leader, chalkboard eraser and homework. K's get homework 4 nights a week so they can learn to take it home, complete it with a parent, and then take it back to school in the morning and have it out and ready for the teacher. When children are out sick, the class prays for them at morning circle. They work together and are taught to help each other.

[Ellien C]

For just a brief moment, I thought you meant "character" like a commercial licensed character. I thought this was some new program where Elmo teaches responsibility or something.

been on the boards too long.....

[sklt]

My ladies' school does the "Character Counts!" program, and I think it's great. There are six "pillars" of Character: Trustworthiness, Kindness, Respect, Responsibility, Citizenship, and hrm can't remember the last one. Some of the teachers really incorporate it, and some not so much. Either way, we use the pillars at home to reinforce good behaviors and discourage bad ones.

[ChristaN]

I do see where you all are coming from, however I am very uncomfortable with the character education that takes place in my children's school. Most of the character ed in our area comes from an organization that it very Christian based. While I have no problem with Christianity per se (dh and I were both raised Catholic), I really don't think that it belongs in the public school setting.

Just a link to the qualities of character in our area: http://www.characterfortcollins.org/qualities.htm

You'll note that they include faith, humility and obedience. I am not looking to raise little obedient drones and, if I was (like my dh) agnostic, I don't think that I'd want my child being taught to be faithful in a public school setting.

Although they do include tolerance, our school chooses not to teach the children this pillar or character b/c some of the parents do not want their children to be taught to tolerate different religions b/c they feel that they are wrong. Even if they did, the way that tolerance is taught is to emphasize that children need to realize that, "everyone is at varying levels of character development." To me that is a veiled way of saying your friends who are of different beliefs/faiths/what have you are less enlightened, but you need to accept them as sinners and not judge them none the less.

Overall, as I am sure is apparent, I am just not comfortable with the whole concept.

[Kirsten]

Originally Posted by ChristaN

I do see where you all are coming from, however I am very uncomfortable with the character education that takes place in my children's school. Most of the character ed in our area comes from an organization that it very Christian based. While I have no problem with Christianity per se (dh and I were both raised Catholic), I really don't think that it belongs in the public school setting.

I am a secular humanist and am ALL about the separation of church and state! I don't think there is any space for religious teaching in public schools. However, my daughters' school does a character education that I really like - believe it is based on Character Counts which is a wonderful program. We have the two videos (Character Counts and Choices Count) and both are fabulous.

I think everyone (I hope....) can agree on the basic traits like respect, kindness, etc. I think where we run into problems is when things are brought in that only some agree to.

[Ellien C]

Originally Posted by ChristaN

You'll note that they include faith, humility and obedience. I am not looking to raise little obedient drones and, if I was (like my dh) agnostic, I don't think that I'd want my child being taught to be faithful in a public school setting.

Although they do include tolerance, our school chooses not to teach the children this pillar or character b/c some of the parents do not want their children to be taught to tolerate different religions b/c they feel that they are wrong. Even if they did, the way that tolerance is taught is to emphasize that children need to realize that, "everyone is at varying levels of character development." To me that is a veiled way of saying your friends who are of different beliefs/faiths/what have you are less enlightened, but you need to accept them as sinners and not judge them none the less.
.

Nice!

[jannan]

i think in our school district it is called "the tribal agreements" i'm not well versed on them because i'n in the after school program and not the elementary........but it is basically showing tolerance and consideration for your fellow human beings in the classroom and assertiveness to a certain extent. for example one of the tribal agreements is ''the right to pass" it is like if two kids say to another kid "hey, lets to call so and so a dummy" the kid would say "oh, i pass"