On 6/29/08, Liyah wrote:
> So, you don't bleieve children can be taught not to steal, lie,
> bully, etc? You think they just grow out of it or that it is
> hopeless?
>
> I guess I am confused, do you not think character education is
> needed?

I think what you're speaking of is what some educators used to
call 'the other curriculum'. School was certainly always a place
where stealing and lying was frowned upon. ( traditionally many
schools turned a blind eye on bullying and our new awareness and
emphasis on it is just that - new)

That now we label it character education is interesting - it goes
by other names too. Values education is the term used around here
but they're essentially the same thing.

As to its effectiveness,.... I think that would vary greatly from
community to community and school to school. I'm not sure in these
incredibly large schools ( I graduated from high school with over
900 in my class) that the messages of character or value education
are heard over the din. In smaller schools with younger
children... I think it over just rolls over them.

What I do think can be effective is being a model for them. For
example, I do not bully in my classroom but I cannot say that for
all my colleagues. Some use bullying themselves as a classroom
management tool. What message are those children getting about
bullying? I try to model a different way to be so they see that
model and feel the positive effect of it.

I think if we teach deliberate lessons in character education they
go over their heads - it feels to them much the same as the long
list of state capitals they're asked to memorize. I think
true 'character education' is or should be embedded in the very
fiber of the school or at the least embedded in the school day.
That's first done by seeing your school as a community and giving
the school a feeling of community. If our day is math, writing,
reading, character education, science, social studies...Living life
in a positive way is just that - a way to live life and a way to
live a rewarding life. Character education as you call it should
be an all day long endeavor and not confined to lying, stealing or
bullying. There are many other aspects to character - those three
focus on the negative aspects and have the message - 'don't do
them'. So what are the things we should do? You've told us what
not to do. We can't just say what not to do, we can't just
emphasize the bad in people.

Here's another example. We do an exercise every year - too long to
describe - but the intention of it to show kids how bad they can
be. It shows them the dark side of their nature and somehow that's
considered a positive lesson. Do we do exercises that show kids
how good they can be? What is our view of human nature? Are we
essentially evil or good?

I go on too long but I can't stop without saying - bullying happens
when schools are too large and kids don't get enough attention. Do
we in schools send children and teenagers the message that they are
very valued by us, that each one of them as an individual is worthy
and important and that their individuality is to be respected? And
so as we would do that, they would then learn to do to those around
them?

Many schools indeed suppress the individuality of children - they
want or need them to conform as a management tool. I have gone on
long enough but I think any curriculum of character education will
go unheard if that's all it is - more curriculum. Schools and the
teachers in them need to be living the lesson.

Or do you think it is useless to teach it? I guess I
> just need clarification. I am glad you responded I like hearing
> different views on the subject.
>
>
>

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