This paper serves to exemplify how character education is an integral component in the elementary school social studies class and how it relates to the success of students in elementary school as stated in research. According to the U.S. Department of Education, character education is defined as, “… a learning process that enables students and adults in a school community to understand, care about and act on core ethical values such as respect, justice, civic virtue and citizenship, and responsibility for self and others. Upon such core values, we form the attitudes and actions that are the hallmark of safe, healthy and informed communities that serve as the foundation of our society” (U.S. Department of Education, 2005).The review of research literature has given valuable insight on how character education is defined, how it is used in the elementary classroom, and the benefits and challenges of character education programs. After examining various research articles, I found that there were significantly common themes that were found amongst some character education programs that will be explored further as well.
Character Education Defined
Character education has been defined in many ways and through the review of research literature; many of the definitions amongst them share mutual premises. In John Hoge’s research study about character and citizenship education and the social studies, he defined character education as, “any conscious or overt effort to influence the development of desirable individual qualities or traits” (Hoge, 2002). The schools that were included in a study conducted by Paul Dovre in 2007 were deemed to be National Schools of Character. According to his research, they “exemplified Character Education Pa...
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...the Committee for Children. It encompasses 30 lessons at each elementary grade level to help students develop empathy and learn anger management and conflict resolution skills” (Dovre, 2007). Sanchez identified a few programs that were effective character education programs such as D.A.R.E (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Program, Child Development Project, and Character Counts (Sanchez, 2005). Rachel’s Challenge is also a character education program that was formed after a young lady named Rachel Scott was killed during the horrific shooting at Columbine High School. She was known for her acts of benevolence and compassion for others. The program centers on her positive attributes and teaches elementary students how to harness and exemplify the upstanding and responsible qualities in society that she personified in their school and community (Hollingshead, 2009).
Today’s generation of students need to gain many things from education including maintaining success. It’s vital therefore,it can have a certain perspective on how children gain knowledge and it can place an aspect on their future. In ‘How Children Succeed’ by Paul Tough,the author describes qualities that matter most have more to do with character: skills such as perseverance, curiosity, conscientiousness, and optimism, and self-control.If children are to be taught non cognitive skills there is an obvious benefit of positive outcomes. Schools should identify and have ways of teaching non cognitive skills so that students can to contribute meaningfully to society and to succeed in their public lives, workplaces, homes, and other societal contexts.
“Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents which in prosperous circumstances would have lain dormant- Horace.” After analyzing this quotation about adversity from the Roman Poet Horace, it is evident that his assentation about the role that adversity plays in developing a person’s character is accurate because without some sort of hardships or trial majority of the celebrities and population wouldn’t have been as successful. For example, world renowned soccer players, Walt Disney, Famous authors, and more wouldn’t have been prosperous without their misfortune pushing and inspiring them to want a better life for themselves.
Merriam S. B., Caffarella, R, S., & Baumgartner, L. M. (2007b). Social cognitive orientation. Learning in adulthood: A comprehensive guide, 287-291. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass
In outward conformity and in inward questioning, there is the power, the ability, and the motive to see and accept change. This change can be brought out by the tension that takes place between the two, and that change is the identity of a person; it is the difference between myself and the crowd. This realization can transform the world in a different sense: the sense of character.
In order to decide whether the term "owning" helps develop your moral character, you must first figure out what owning something means to you. To me, "owning something" applies to not only the tangible, like a shirt, but also the intangible, like knowing something so well you own it, or even owning a behavior.
Lickona, T. (1991). Educating for character: How our schools can teach respect and responsibility. New York, NY: Bantam Books.
(#4) The British naturalist and politician John Lubbock wrote, “Your character will be what you yourself choose to make it.” Do we choose our own character traits, or is our character formed by influences beyond our control? In other words, Character is the qualities that vary in individuals.Childrens character is the most concerned these days. Adults believe that character in a child is usually developed depending of how the child was raised during childhood however, rising 9th graders, believe that they can self mold themselves a character through finding friends and making mistakes in high school.What many people fail to realize is that it all varies on the child.
Ornstein, A.C. & Levine, D.U. Foundations of Education. 12th edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company.
Character is often the setting stone on what a person is judged upon. For someone to have character, they must noticeably stand out, and do extraordinary tasks that a normal student would not usually do. From school activities to sports clubs, I myself carry unique characteristics that set me apart from other students.
The curriculum taught in schools has a huge effect on a developing person’s identity. Through schooling we tend to call into question the things that we believed to be true as children....
Over the course of an individual’s life there are many traits acquired which are things that contribute to the way he or she interacts with others, overall these traits help with the development of one’s personality. Character traits or qualities make up a person, whether it's their personality or attitude or the way they portray themselves to others. Every person individually possess traits and qualities that not only describe, but define them making every person different. Many of the admirable traits that I possess make me the man that I am today, contributing to my interactions with others and the career path I intend to pursue. Throughout my life, many events have revealed my true character traits which include determination, optimism, and faith.
U.S. Department of Education. (2011). Character education…our shared responsibility. Retrieved August 20, 2011 from http://www2.ed.gov.
Viadero explains how character education is making progress and showing evidence that it is effective and beneficial to school programs.
The role of education in Moral development is very significant. In the present schooling scenario, moral education is confined to teaching values and morals. But the aim of education is not just to teach these values and morals. It must aim at the moral development of the child. Therefore, one must have a clear understanding of what must be included in moral education and how should it be implemented. In this essay, I will argue the importance of education in the moral development of a learner through three ideas. Ideas of care, ideas of self-understanding and ideas of rational practice.
Evaluate your personality and identity development by incorporating three theorist’s views on personality traits whether it's for or against your identity and personality development.