What Is Character Education, Essay Example

What is Character Education? What does Character Education look like? Identify the eleven principles of effective character education. Why do we need character education?

Character education involves the development of skills, knowledge, and abilities that facilitate the learner in making informed and responsible decision and choice. It comprises a shared educational commitment, which puts its emphasis on the responsibilities and rewards of productive living in contemporary diverse and global society. Consequently, character education is necessary to give students a chance to face and overcome the realities of life, thus encouraging them to develop critical thinking and responsibility. There are eleven principles of character education developed by Character Education Partnership. Character education is to promote core ethical values that include thinking, feeling, and behavior, thus it also requires international approach to be applied. Moreover, the school must be a caring community, for students to have opportunities for moral action. Effective character education includes challenging academic curriculum that helps students develop intrinsic motivation. Another principle is that school staff must become learning and moral community, for character education requires moral leadership for both students and staff. Consequently, the school must recruit community members and parents to be full partners, as well as evaluate the character of the school, its staff’s functioning, and the degree to which students develop good character.