The Role Of Character Education In America S Schools

This publication covers the hearing held on March 1, 2000, in Washington, DC, before the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Youth and Families of the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives on the role of character education in U.S. schools. The publication contains the following: "Statement of Mr. Michael N. Castle, Chairman, Subcommittee on Early Childhood Youth and Families, Representative from Delaware"; "Statement of Mr. Dale Kildee, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Youth and Families, Representative from Michigan"; "Statement of Ron Kinnamon, Coalition Vice-Chairperson, Character Counts! Coalition"; "Statement of Diane Berreth, Deputy Executive Director, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development"; "Statement of Esther Schaeffer, Executive Director and CEO, Character Education Partnership"; "Statement of Andrew Shue, Co-Founder, Do Something"; "Statement of Sheldon Berman, Superintendent of Schools, Hudson Public Schools"; "Appendix A--The written statement of Michael N. Castle, Chairman, Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Youth and Families, Representative from Delaware"; "Appendix B--The written statement of Dale Kildee, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Youth and Families, Representative from Michigan"; "Appendix C--The written statement of Ron Kinnamon, Coalition Vice-chairperson, Character Counts! Coalition"; "Appendix D--The written statement of Diane Berreth, Deputy Executive Director and CEO, Character Education Partnership"; "Appendix E--The written statement of Esther Schaeffer, Executive Director and CEO, Character Education Partnership"; "Appendix F--The written statement of Andrew Shue, Co-Founder, Do Something"; and "Appendix G--The written statement of Sheldon Berman, Superintendent of Schools, Hudson Public Schools." (BT)

Character Education in America's Blue Ribbon Schools is based upon descriptive, documentary, and qualitative research conducted on the award winning school applications in the United Stated Department of Education's Elementary School Recognition Program, i.e. the Blue Ribbon Schools. The purpose of the program is to focus national attention on schools that are doing an exceptional job with all of their students. Areas studied are developing a solid foundation of basic skills and knowledge of subject matter and fostering the development of character, values, and ethical judgement. The first edition of this book reported on the first decade of this program, from 1985 to 1994. The second edition adds the schools that have won the award from 1996-2001. Included are the Blue Ribbon schools that applied for Special Honors in Character Education and five that actually won that recognition in 1998-1999. This edition finds character education much stronger in American schools in recent years and is full of many promising practices. It is a practical book that will guide school administrators, teachers, parents, board members, and concerned citizens interested in starting or strengthening the character education focus of their school.

Increasingly, schools are faced with the necessity of finding ways to shoulder a greater share of the burden of producing respectful, responsible citizens. Along with traditional academic subjects, schools must teach acceptable standards of conduct and the attitudes and attributes that foster them. This book provides ways to help teachers instill moral values deliberately and directly through the curriculum. Created for grades 1-8, each unit contains 10 or more activities (many implemented through the use of cooperative learning strategies) designed to help build student character. The activities within each unit, which include stories, discussions, and role plays, are arranged in a logical and somewhat developmental sequence, but most can be presented independently. When activities are linked, it is so indicated. Suggested adaptations for younger students are included with many of the activities. Following an introduction and an overview of a process known as the "sharing circle," the book presents seven units of activities that help develop trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, justice and fairness, caring, citizenship, and moral reflection. An annotated bibliography of 65 books with themes that address these values is included. (TJQ)

This book is about how society continues to reel from generations of children seemingly raised without proper instruction in values, ethics and morals. Since schools will be asked to serve that function, this book tells why school involvement is a must.

There is presumably a trend toward depoliticization of character education as character educators claim to teach universal values and engage in community-based decision making. However, as Tianlong Yu argues in this book, under the umbrella of universality, character educators define virtues based on neo-conservative ideologies. In the name of community, they trivialize issues of gender, race, class, and culture and promote the interests of dominant social groups. In the Name of Morality: Character Education and Political Control traces the historical origins of character education and stimulates readers to look critically into the social interests, power relations, and political agendas that have shaped the character education movement in the United States. This challenging, yet engaging, book reaffirms the crucial relationship between moral education and politics. It is a must-read for anyone who is concerned about students' character building and moral education in schools.

Character Education in America's Blue Ribbon Schools is based upon descriptive, documentary, and qualitative research conducted on the award winning school applications in the United Stated Department of Education's Elementary School Recognition Program, i.e. the Blue Ribbon Schools. The purpose of the program is to focus national attention on schools that are doing an exceptional job with all of their students. Areas studied are developing a solid foundation of basic skills and knowledge of subject matter and fostering the development of character, values, and ethical judgment. The first edition of this book reported on the first decade of this program, from 1985 to 1994. The second edition adds the schools that have won the award from 1996-2001. Included are the Blue Ribbon schools that applied for Special Honors in Character Education and five that actually won that recognition in 1998-1999. This edition finds character education much stronger in American schools in recent years and is full of many promising practices. It is a practical book that will guide school administrators, teachers, parents, board members, and concerned citizens interested in starting or strengthening the character education focus of their school.