- What is character education?
Character education fosters responsible, and caring young people by
modeling and teaching good character through emphasis on universal values
that we all share. It is the intentional effort by schools, districts,
and states to develop in their students important core virtues such
as caring, honesty, fairness, responsibility, and respect for self and
others. It helps students to judge what is right, desire good, and then
do what is right. It creates school environments that build relationships
among students, educators, and the community to overcome obstacles that
can interfere with learning.
- Is there a legal mandate for teaching character in North Dakota
public schools?
Courses in Character Education are not mandated by the state. However,
article 15-38-10 of the North Dakota Century Code states that "Each
teacher in the public school must provide moral instruction tending
to impress upon the minds of pupils the importance of truthfulness,
temperance, purity, public spirit, patriotism, international peace,
respect for honest labor, obedience to parents and deference to old
age". Also, Article VIII, Section 149 of the Constitution of North
Dakota states "In all schools instruction shall be given as far
as practicable in those branches of knowledge that tend to impress upon
the mind the vital importance of truthfulness, temperance, purity, public
spirit and respect for honest labor of every kind."
- Why is character education being emphasized now?
The present emphasis on character development has grown out of need.
This is found nationally as well as in North Dakota. In a 1999 study
it was found that alcohol use by North Dakota students in grades 9 -
12 was higher than any other state. The percentage of students who had
ridden with a driver who had been drinking was fifteen percent (15%)
higher than the national figure. Greater percentages of North Dakota
youth had seriously considered, planned, or attempted suicide than was
found nationally.
Only in the areas of violence and sexual behavior were youth in North
Dakota significantly less likely to engage in risk behavior than their
national peers (North
Dakota Department of Health, 1999).
- Does character education represent a hidden liberal or conservative
political agenda designed to integrate a particular groups' values into
a school's life?
No, North Dakota recognizes that the home has the primary responsibility
for developing character, but there is a growing recognition that the
school, church and community must also be engaged in the process. Communities
can agree on core virtues that they believe are essential to pass on
to the next generation and schools can engage in reinforcing the character
traits that also have the commitment of the home. North Dakota's efforts
are designed for each community to become involved in the process of
determining their core virtues.
One of education's great goals is to help learners possess and act
from a positive set of traits and to become active responsible citizens.
To accomplish this goal schools need to work with parents as the first
and most important moral educators of children. Support from communities,
faith institutions and civic organizations is essential in a comprehensive
character education process. To create these linkages the schools
will identify local players such as ministers, leaders of local organizations,
and youth. If you are concerned about character development in your
school, make contact with the administration and become involved in
their efforts. Your contribution would be appreciated.
- Whose values will be taught?
A good community effort looks to its stakeholders for guidance and direction
in this area. Their advise will likely parallel core virtues established
by other schools or communities. Efforts have shown that some core virtues
are common across the world. Certain character virtues seem to be universally
accepted as being important in our lives. In a IGE/ Gallup Survey of
college students done in March of 2000 the following values were designated
as being extremely important: honesty (78.8%), respect (70.6%), responsibility
(64.1%), equality (59.2%), fairness (56.4%), compassion (52.4%). In
a Gallup survey of Illinois households the following virtues were frequently
chosen: truth ( about 71%), responsibility (about 63%), freedom (about
50%), respect (about 50%), fairness (about 50%), and compassion (about
45%). These values are shared with other cultures. The Institute for
Global Ethics found that in Japan the most commonly chosen core virtues
were honesty, freedom, responsibility, fairness, and love. (Institute
for Global Ethics)
- How do I get the information I need to start a character education
program?
There is information on starting character education programs available
from a number of reliable sources. Organizations such as the Character
Education Collection of the ND Learning Resource Center, NDSU
Extension (Character Counts!), and The Character
Education Partnership (CEP) are good sources. The school and community
partners in the North Dakota project have experience in beginning programs.
There are valuable print and Internet resources that can help you get
started.
- What is the Coalition for Character Education in North Dakota?
The Coalition for Character Education in North Dakota is also known
as CCEND. It is the formation of an organization of stakeholders and
partners formed in response to the Partnerships in Character Education
Pilot Projects Grant received in July of 1999. The North Dakota Department
of Public Instruction Division of Independent Study received the grant
under the U.S. Department of Education Fund for the Improvement of Education.
The coalition coordinates character education activities and shares
ideas, and information between partners.
- What is the Character Education Collection?
The Character Education Collection is
an information clearinghouse as part of the grant requirements. The
character education clearinghouse supports professional development
activities such as this one and makes resources, information and materials
available to communities and schools to help them develop their climate
and support their character development activities. The collection contains
video tapes, books, and curriculum materials available on a free loan
basis to North Dakota schools. It is housed at the NDPASS/Pathfinder
Family Center in Minot at 701/837-7510.
- Are there commercial programs that have received the endorsement
of North Dakota?
The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction does not endorse commercial
products for classroom use. However, reviews of instructional resources
and professional materials that support character education are published
periodically and are linked to this page. These reviews will help you
make decisions regarding which materials support the character education
focus in your school or school system. Since character education is
a process there is no one curriculum that will do everything.
- What products and services are currently available to North Dakota
schools as a result of partnership activities?
- The coordinator of the Character Education Collection will assist
in finding resources for schools interested in starting a program.
Materials and video tapes are also available for use with your students
in character building activities. They promote character development
and provides a framework for a multi-dimensional character education
focus.
- NDSU Continuing Education provides a series of four online courses
which focus on the Eleven
Principles of Effective Character Education to help educators
and others who are interested in character development learn more
about character education and formulating their own effort.
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