Character Education: Reflections

I recently was asked to design the character education program for a k-8 school. Several months of research and preparation went into this task. Key Questions were:

• what has been in place?
• was it working?
• what were the major behavioral issues on campus?
• how can we create a "sticky message"? (Malcolm Gladwell)
• how can we market this?
• how can we make it more than a flavor of the month?

So I surveyed the faculty. I met with teachers and talked about issues on campus and possible solutions. I read through the parent survey results. I read books on character development. I contacted CEP (character education partnership). I attended the LEADER in ME training. I formed a committee and we began to work.

We came up with a way to simplify the virtues they were focusing on under three main character traits. We embedded these virtues under them. We used morning announcements to start the day off with a story and quote that focused on them. We placed them on our discipline reflection sheet so students who made poor choices were analyzing their choices in light of them.

Our slogan was: Live in 3E and Lead in 3E... We want our graduates to be described as Enthusiastic,

Empathetic,

and Effective people.

We designed a leadership recognition system to develop these traits in our student culture.
Our morning announcements consisted of a quote for the week (repeated daily)- and a story of the day (that exemplified the quote).
We placed posters of this quote in classrooms and they showed an image of the person.
We made little cards for students to have so they could practice the quotes and memorize them.

Example: Leonardo Da Vinci once said, "Who sows virtue reaps honor." Each day we unpacked this statement a little. We shared about how hard work will pay off- school can be hard but persist.

Careful attention was placed on the following during the selection process:

• Find scientists and/or leaders that modeled our character traits
• Ensure a diverse selection of heroes
• Find quotes that are easy to remember
• Inspire

Students were voluntarily memorizing these quotes.

I found not all staff members appreciated the announcements- this is an area for my future development. I want to improve my ability to synergize with faculty members.

Future work: I am lining up the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People under the 3E's as well as Arthur Costa's Habits of the Mind. These would be long range pieces to weave into the school culture- perhaps in a leadership development course or something.

This experience has changed my perspective on character education. I used to feel programs that focused on character were fringe items that were good for people but we just did not have the time in this age of accountability. Now I see how success and effectiveness grow out of a heart that is virtuous. When a child is enthusiastic about learning and knows how to get things done (effective) they will grow and achieve. When a child has deep empathy- they will do work that makes a positive contribution to the world around them.

Every school has an opportunity to build up the hearts of the children within it- what a way to leave a legacy!