Networking for Character

By David B. Wangaard, Ed.D.

Character educators unite! If you are reading this Director’s Dialogue of SEE News, you are probably an advocate for integrating character education into schools and youth programs, and you should UNITE! Why and how should educators, parents, and youth workers unite around the topic of character? Read on to consider justification to organize and learn about the new Northeast Character Education Network.

Those of us committed to the inclusion of comprehensive character education in schools and youth organizations recognize we hold a minority opinion among our colleagues. Many factors play a role in this circumstance, but when you are in the minority of any practice or opinion, it is wise to find all those who agree with you to unite your energy, resources, and vision.

Modern character education is still a reasonably immature practice as defined by research validation of teaching strategies. It takes the combined efforts of committed practitioners to define best practices, implement best practice, and then evaluate that practice. Successful evaluations are strategically important to promote change in schools. Professional networks can help solicit funding for meaningful research.

Organized networks can also attract others to join and influence policy makers to obtain greater resources as opposed to individuals working alone. Individual teachers or schools do not normally host a statewide or regional conference. A professional network can reach out to national speakers and gain the attention of corporations to fund events.

How can character educators unite? Nationally, character educators have the Character Education Partnership (CEP) www.character.org. This organization hosts an annual national conference, provides various resource links to publishers and consultants, and administers the National Schools of Character (NSOC) Awards program. NSOC highlights schools and school districts across the country that have demonstrated great character education practices as defined by CEP’s 11 Principles.

This spring, character educators in the northeast have the opportunity to unite in a regional network. Regional networks can help link practitioners to exemplary practice within a reasonable travel distance. This is an important practical consideration when promoting organizational change. The Northeast Character Education Network is forming with the recognition of five regional goals -- 1. expand the professional and community awareness of comprehensive-character education, 2. provide an opportunity to network educators, youth workers, and parents, 3. offer members a link to developmentally sound resources, 4. provide financial discounts for professional development and consulting, and 5. encourage members to promote the inclusion of comprehensive-character education in their organization’s mission, policy, programs, and evaluation. 

This is a strategic time to unite for the advancement of character education. As with any movement, modern character education could evaporate as a passing fad or unite to be sustained as an element of lasting school reform. To inquire about membership in the Northeast Character Education Network, you may visit www.ethicsed.org/programs/necen or call us at SEE. So unite with a regional character education network today and help keep ethics in action in the northeast.