What Is Character Education?

In a world where many challenges arise that threaten our values and morals, character education is crucial in a youth's development. But what is character education?

Character education, as the term implies, centers on nurturing one's character. To clarify, character is defined as a set of attitudes, values, traits, and morals, all of which influence personality development [*]. The need for character education is strong because it is not safe to assume that good character is inherent in everyone beginning in infancy. Rather, good character is shaped by teaching, learning, example, and practice [*].

With that said, this article explains what character education is and how character education in schools is taught. In addition, this article discusses ways to support the principles of character education at home.

What is Character Education?

Character education is a proactive approach used by schools to cultivate moral and ethical development in students [*]. This educational framework thus adds to the expansion of students' academic and technical knowledge by instilling positive attitudes that are equally important. In other words, character education is holistic, enabling its students to be more well-rounded individuals.

Character education in schools has many objectives, but its main goal is to provide students with the opportunity to become responsible and productive members of society. In addition, students are taught and encouraged to embody virtues and make value-adding contributions to their community. More specific objectives of character education include the following [*]:

• To teach moral values
• To encourage good behavior
• To facilitate personality development
• To produce responsible citizens
• To prepare youth for adulthood

Why is Character Education Important?

Character education is especially important in this day and age because children and adolescents are exposed to several circumstances unique to younger generations. For instance, technology, media, and other external influences that run rampant in present culture have the potential to chip away at a youth's moral integrity [*]. Without character education, children and adolescents may grow up to be adults lacking a well-informed conscience or moral compass. Consequently, they may struggle with determining right from wrong and with demonstrating self-control as they encounter a variety of challenges in their lives.

Furthermore, character education involves fostering socialization skills, which are also integral to academic achievement. Not only that, schools that incorporate character education into their curriculum can help improve students' emotional intelligence. Both socialization skills and emotional intelligence will eventually show their importance later in life, when the youth attempts to form and maintain deep, healthy relationships with others [*].

Finally, when character education is taught in schools, it does not benefit only the student. It also benefits the school in such that character education promotes a safe setting for learning. Furthermore, equipping students with good character may also benefit society by producing citizens who would, in the future, be better able to address moral and ethical concerns that plague the world [*].

What are the Benefits of Character Education?

There are many benefits to character education that demonstrate its importance, some of which are the following:

• Promotion of important human characteristics: By utilizing character education in schools, educators can instill human qualities in their students, such as compassion, justice, courage, perseverance, and respect. In addition, students come to learn the importance of abiding by these qualities. In turn, character education has a positive impact on students' sociomoral reasoning, problem-solving skills, emotional intelligence, and prosocial behaviors, among others [*].
• A positive school environment: Character education creates a positive climate when taught in schools. This educational framework teaches the youth conflict resolution skills, which consequently promote safety in schools, reduce violence, and make the environment conducive to learning [*].
• Holistic development: Finally, character education in schools enables students to become well-rounded individuals by teaching them ways to succeed and become productive citizens. In addition, this approach encourages students to be more ambitious in striving toward goals, thereby cultivating excellence [*].

What are the Core Values Taught in Character Education?

Character education teaches many values, but typically, it focuses on six pillars. These six pillars are trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship [*]. Altogether, these core values foster the desired holistic development in students. Moreover, these values produce future citizens who are capable of making meaningful contributions to society.

How is Character Education Taught in Schools?

In schools, character education is incorporated at the classroom, institutional, and community levels. Common teaching strategies used include direct instruction, peer interaction, mentoring or modeling, and service learning, to name a few [*]. Families and communities are also encouraged to participate. Mainly, though, character education in schools is taught to their students in the following ways [*]:

• Promoting performance and ethical values: Performance values include effort, perseverance, and diligence, whereas ethical values encompass values such as fairness, integrity, and generosity. Both types of values lay the groundwork for good character. By meeting with all parties involved in the youth's education for everyone to be aligned with the core values of character education, schools can promote both performance and ethical values. Furthermore, the goals of character education are communicated throughout the school. This is done by explaining the school's rules and regulations and by facilitating discussions among its students regarding ethical decision making.
• Defining character in terms of thinking, feeling, and doing: Character education in schools entails not just having students internalize its values and principles; it also entails encouraging the youth to express their emotions in relation to these values. In addition, these values are exercised through action and practice. Some examples of how character education is taught in schools include reading, writing or journaling, research, and debate to provide students the opportunity to reflect on their morals [*].
• Being intentional and proactive: Schools that abide by the principles of character education formulate a plan that integrates this educational framework not just in the classroom but also in extracurricular activities. In the classroom, educators develop good character in their students by using examples in history and literature. Meanwhile, sports and other athletic activities may serve as an avenue for implementing character education.
• Presenting opportunities to exercise morals: In schools, character education is also taught by giving students the opportunity to participate in activities such as service learning or community service, as well as student body governance. Doing so enables the youth to learn how to be more empathetic and compassionate. Not only that, encouraging students to engage in these activities also allows them to exercise their decision-making skills in determining right from wrong.
• Challenging students: Schools may incorporate character education into their curriculum as well. Such a curriculum challenges students to think critically and to engage more meaningfully. The curriculum of a school that teaches good character may utilize academic subjects, such as literature and history, as a platform for students to learn and internalize important virtues [*].
• Cultivating motivation: Of course, students will not be motivated to hone their character if they are not recognized, praised, or given opportunities to excel. Thus, for character education to be effective, it is good practice to affirm positive or prosocial behaviors and attitudes. In addition, praising or rewarding efforts to make good decisions can further students' motivation to continue exhibiting good behaviors in the future [*].

How Can Parents Support Character Education at Home?

So far, it has been established that schools are integral to character development in their students. However, the role of family in children's development needs to be emphasized. According to research, the success of a child can best be predicted by how much their parents are involved in their education [*]. When parents are involved in their child's lives, this can lead to academic excellence, improved attendance and behavior in school, and greater motivation. Some ways that parents can support character education at home are the following [*]:

• Recognizing and being attentive to the child's educational needs: The people who are primarily responsible for molding a child's learning experiences are the child's parents. Thus, parents need to take charge and be proactive in educating their children about morals and ethics. This can be done through telling stories and discussing ethical issues. Additionally, they can take part in character-building activities that highlight good moral character. In doing so, critical thinking can be enhanced in the child. Children may also be afforded the opportunity to engage in self-reflection about their own beliefs and values.
• Leading by example: Parents need to be exemplars of good moral character. Although parenting may present many difficulties when it comes to childrearing, it is crucial for parents to be mindful of their behaviors. For example, harsh language, displays of recklessness, and aggression may seemingly be lapses in judgment or behavior in the eyes of the parents, but because children are in their formative years, they may quickly imitate this behavior simply by observing. Thus, parents need to learn how to lead by example.
• Reinforcing behaviors and holding children accountable: To ensure that good behaviors are sustained over time, parents can support character education at home by rewarding their children for their prosocial efforts. In addition, they can also extinguish bad behavior by communicating its corresponding consequences. Such negative behaviors can be minimized through the consistent establishment of clear guidelines. Consequently, these parenting practices allow children to learn personal accountability.

The Bottom Line

Good character cannot be assumed to be inherent in all children; thus, it is important that both educators and families support character education in schools and at home. Some ways to infuse character education in school and at home include the use of character education posters for holistic development, modeling good behavior, and challenging students to excel and demonstrate moral character. Although character education may not be the easiest, quickest, and most direct approach, it is integral to shaping productive and ethical citizens of the future.

References:

1. Sitepu RH. The role of parents in children's character education. 30 September 2024.
2. Pala A. The need for character education. 2011.
3. Berkowitz, M. W., & Bier, M. C. (2006). Character education. Children’s needs III: Development, prevention, and intervention, 15-27.
4. Lapsley, D. K., & Narvaez, D. (2006). Character education. Handbook of child psychology, 4(1), 696-749.
5. Singh B. Character education in the 21st century. 2019.