Character education, like character itself, has been variously defined by different people in different times. Ohio Education Information Center
"Deliberate instruction
in basic virtues or morals, as opposed to weaving these values into every
lesson. A national movement is underway to include character education in
school curricula as one means of alleviating the current deficit in school-children's
values by strengthening their moral fiber."
-Education
Week Glossary of Terms
"Character education
can be defined as strategic instruction that promotes social and personal
responsibility and the development of the good character traits and moral
virtues that make this possible."
- Gordon G. Vessels and Stephen M. Boyd, in their article Public and Constitutional
Support For Character Education
"An approach
to education in which the primary focus is the development of virtues and
patterns of conduct that are widely held in society to be worthwhile."
- James S. Leming, Southern Illinois University, in Teaching
Values in Social Studies Education
"Character education is the deliberate effort to develop virtues that
are good for the individual and good for society."
- As defined by Dr. Thomas Lickona and quoted by
The
Character Education Network
"The effort to
develop "good character" in students through the practice and teaching
of moral values and decision-making."
- From the Learning
Theory Funhouse
Character Education
is the process of learning common attitudes, beliefs and behaviors that are
important for people to have as responsible citizens
- From Character
Counts in Michigan
Character education
is about celebrating what's right with young people while enabling them to
develop knowledge and life skills for enhancing ethical and responsible behavior.
- From Character
Education: Teaching Kids to Care a program of the University of
Illinois Extension.
What others have said about character education
In addition to formal definitions from the field of education, here is what other prominent thinkers and leaders have had to say about character and character education.
"Character education...
is the central curriculum issue confronting educators. Rather than the latest
fad, it is a school's oldest mission."
-- Kevin Ryan
"Education has
for its object the formation of character".
-- Herbert Spencer
"Academics is
the cornerstone of education, but character is the building block of life."
-- Dale Frederick, District Superintendent of Schools, Pittsburgh, PA
"Character is
like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of
it; the tree is the real thing."
-- Abraham Lincoln
"Property may
be destroyed. Money may lose its purchasing power. But character, health,
knowledge and good judgment will always be in demand under all conditions."
-- Roger Babson
"It is character
that will conquer materialism, demonstrate respect for life and property,
and stem the tide of violence in our land. And it is character that will search
for truth and demand diligent scholarship."
-- David L. Davenport
"Intelligence
plus character - that is the true goal of education."
-- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Still Additional thoughts on character and character education may be seen
at:
Leading
Thoughts: Quotes on Character
