Planning Your School-Wide Character Initiative Nicole M. Wahab Ed.D

What is Character? Throughout our history, wise thinkers and average men-on-the-street have recognized that it is character that counts. Heraclitus wrote, “Character is destiny.” The success or failure of character formation determines the destiny of each of us. It determines, too, the destiny of our nation. If each of us is to be fully human, then, we need to form strong characters.

Why Develop Character at School? School based character education is a way to reinforce what parents are doing at home and to create a learning environment that makes it possible for teachers to teach and students to learn.

Educating for Good Character Our great thinkers from Socrates to John Dewey have recognized the importance of education to the development of the person. Central to that development is the formation of sound moral character--good habits of thought, feeling and action combined with the capacity to discern right from wrong. Good habits or virtues pave the royal road to human happiness, and happiness is widely acknowledged as the driving and ultimate purpose of life.

Inspiration and Engagement Character education, then, is about engaging the minds of our students in their understanding of a life of virtue, a life which should lead to happiness. It also means inspiring and encouraging their hearts to desire a life of virtue and employing their hands in constructive and worthwhile activities which allow them to practice virtue daily.

Inviting our students to take the pursuit of happiness seriously means accompanying and challenging them along the road to virtue. — John Adams

Major Tenets of Character Education / Character Education in schools should not be treated as an add-on that will divert attention from basic academic goals, but as a means of enhancing the school’s ability to focus on their academic goals.

Major Tenets of Character Education / Character Education is about helping our students cultivate worthy lives. / True character education is much more than giving students opportunities to practice virtues and uproot vice. It is the essence of character education that young people assume responsibility for their own character formation. / Character Education is about helping our students cultivate worthy lives. / True character education is much more than giving students opportunities to practice virtues and uproot vice. It is the essence of character education that young people assume responsibility for their own character formation.

Major Tenets of Character Education / Authentic character education means helping young people become the sculptors of their own lives and character.

TEAM Approach / TEACH - children that their character counts---that their success and happiness depends on who they are inside. / ENFORCE - Instill the “Six Pillars of Character” by rewarding good behavior and discouraging all instances of counterproductive behavior. / ADVOCATE -Continually encourage children to live up to the “Six Pillars of Character” / MODEL- set a good example and reinforce the importance of doing the right thing…even when it is difficult. / TEACH - children that their character counts---that their success and happiness depends on who they are inside. / ENFORCE - Instill the “Six Pillars of Character” by rewarding good behavior and discouraging all instances of counterproductive behavior. / ADVOCATE -Continually encourage children to live up to the “Six Pillars of Character” / MODEL- set a good example and reinforce the importance of doing the right thing…even when it is difficult.

What Educators and Leaders Can Do to Foster Good Character / There appear to be at least seven competencies that educators need to demonstrate in order to live up to their responsibilities as educators for character.

Seven Competencies to Developing Good Character First, educators must themselves be examples of good character to students. Second, educators must see the development of the student’s moral life and character as a professional responsibility and priority. First, educators must themselves be examples of good character to students. Second, educators must see the development of the student’s moral life and character as a professional responsibility and priority.

Seven Competencies to Developing Good Character Third, educators must be able to engage students in moral discourse about the “oughtness of life”; they must be able to talk with them about what is right and what is wrong in life. Fourth, educators must be able to articulate clearly their own positions on a range of ethical issues, while at the same time, not necessarily burden their students with all of their ethical opinions. Third, educators must be able to engage students in moral discourse about the “oughtness of life”; they must be able to talk with them about what is right and what is wrong in life. Fourth, educators must be able to articulate clearly their own positions on a range of ethical issues, while at the same time, not necessarily burden their students with all of their ethical opinions.

Seven Competencies to Developing Good Character Fifth, educators must be able to help students empathize with the experiences of others Sixth, educators must be able to establish in their schools a positive moral ethos, an environment with high ethical standards and where respect for all is exhibited. Fifth, educators must be able to help students empathize with the experiences of others Sixth, educators must be able to establish in their schools a positive moral ethos, an environment with high ethical standards and where respect for all is exhibited.

Seven Competencies to Developing Good Character Seventh, teachers must be able to provide students with the opportunity for activities in school and in their communities that will give them the experience and practice in behaving ethically and altruistically

What does Character Education Look Like at School / Successful Character Education programs come in of all forms including: / use of literature, drama, art, and music / story-telling / sports / experiential, cooperative, and service learning / study of heroes / Successful Character Education programs come in of all forms including: / use of literature, drama, art, and music / story-telling / sports / experiential, cooperative, and service learning / study of heroes

School-Wide Character Education Activities / Word/trait of the month / Morning Announcements / Recognition Wall for Student Achievement / Six Pillar Character Clubs / School Murals / Parent/Staff Task Force / School Service Projects / Cafeteria “table tents” and signs / Word/trait of the month / Morning Announcements / Recognition Wall for Student Achievement / Six Pillar Character Clubs / School Murals / Parent/Staff Task Force / School Service Projects / Cafeteria “table tents” and signs

Implementing a Character Education Program / Identify Challenges / Strategic Planning / Implementation / Evaluation / Identify Challenges / Strategic Planning / Implementation / Evaluation

Identify Challenges By Using Your Current Goals / Mission Statement / Vision / Shared Commitment / Climate surveys* / Behavior Goals* / Mission Statement / Vision / Shared Commitment / Climate surveys* / Behavior Goals*

Strategic Planning / Identify planning strategies for school, family and community involvement in Character Education. / Organizing a planning meeting. / Key Focus Areas* / Committees / Identify planning strategies for school, family and community involvement in Character Education. / Organizing a planning meeting. / Key Focus Areas* / Committees

Implementation / Training and Staff Development / Action Ideas* / Culture / Discipline / Curriculum / Community / Training and Staff Development / Action Ideas* / Culture / Discipline / Curriculum / Community

Evaluation and Assessment / 10 Steps for Developing Your Character Education Evaluation* / Improvement plans / 10 Steps for Developing Your Character Education Evaluation* / Improvement plans

Funding a Character Education Initiative / Grants / Private Donors / Fundraising / Grants / Private Donors / Fundraising

Final Thoughts…

“ Character is higher than intellect” - Ralph Waldo Emerson