EDUCATION AND

THE INTELLECTUAL AND MORAL

VIRTUES

Many are tempted to separate affective and moral dimensions of learning from cognitive dimensions. They argue that the cognitive and affective are obviously separate since many intelligent, well-educated people lack moral insight or sensitivity and many less intelligent, poorly educated, or uneducated people are morally good.

Educators and theorists tend to approach the affective and moral dimensions of education as they approach all other dimensions of learning, as compartmentalized domains, and as a collection of learning more or less separate from other learning.

WHAT IS CHARACTER EDUCATION?

o Becoming a school of character, a place that puts character first o Teaching the values of respect and responsibility
o Developing virtues that enables us to lead fulfilling lives an build a better world o Improving the moral and intellectual culture of the school
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IMPROVING THE EDUCATION CULTURE

SCHOOL ISSUES:

Increasing students responsibility toward academic work Increasing respect for teachers and other school staff Increasing respect that adults show students Increasing peer kindness and reducing bullying and other peer cruelty Increasing academic honesty Increasing respect and responsibility regarding sexual attitudes and behavior Increasing parental involvement Improving language in the building Improving staff morale 5 Building school pride

 A school committed to character education publicly stands for core ethical values such as respect, responsibility, honesty, and caring; defines them in terms of behaviors that can be observed in school life; models these values; studies them, celebrates their manifestations; and holds all school members accountable to standards of conduct with the core values.
THOMAS LICKONA

TWO MAJOR PARTS OF CHARACTER:

PERFORMANCE

CHARACTER

AND

MORAL CHARACTER
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PERFORMANCE CHARACTER

MORAL CHARACTER

* Effort *Self-discipline *Goal setting *Work Ethic *Determination *Self-confidence *Resourcefulness *Moral courage

*Respect *Responsibility *Honesty *Fairness *Resilience *Compassion *Humility

WHAT IS GOOD CHARACTER? COMPONENTS OF GOOD CHARACTER

MORAL KNOWING Moral Awareness Knowing moral values Perspectivetaking Moral reasoning Decision-making Self-knowledge
MORAL FEELING MORAL FEELING

Conscience Self-esteem Empathy Loving the good Self-control Humility

MORAL ACTION Competence Will Habit

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ONLY BY DEVELOPING PERFORMANCE CHARACTER WILL SCHOOLS:

Promote academic achievement for all students Foster an ethic of excellence, not just higher test scores Produce a competitive, creative workforce
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ONLY BY DEVELOPING MORAL CHARACTER WILL SCHOOLS:

Create safe learning environments Decrease discipline problems

Reduce cheating
Foster social AND emotional skills Develop ethical thinkers Produce public-spirited citizens
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A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO CHARACTER EDUCATION

CLASSROOM STRATEGIES
1. TEACHER AS CAREGIVER, MODEL, AND MENTOR (TEACHER includes any adult in the school who interacts with kids)
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2. CREATING A CARING CLASSROOM COMMUNITY

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3. CHARACTER-BASED DISCIPLINE
Using rules and consequences to develop moral reasoning, self control, and a generalized respect for others

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4. CREATING A DEMOCRATIC CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT

A democratic classroom environment uses the class meeting to engage students in shared decision making and in taking responsibility for making the classroom the best it can be
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5. TEACHING CHARACTER THROUGH CURRICULUM

Teaching character through curriculum uses the ethically rich content of academic subjects as vehicles for values teaching

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6. COOPERATIVE LEARNING
Fosters students ability to work with and appreciate others

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7. THE CONSCIENCE OF CRAFT

The conscience of craft develops students sense of academic responsibility and the habit of doing their work well.

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8. ENCOURAGING ETHICAL REFLECTION

Developing the cognitive side of character through reading, research, writing, and discussion

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9. TEACHING CONFLICT RESOLUTION

Teaching students how to solve conflicts fairly, without intimidation or violence

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THE GOOD NEWS

Values Education is making a positive difference in the moral attitudes and behavior of students, with the result that its easier for teachers to teach and students to learn

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