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Director's
Dialogue
by David B.
Wangaard, Ed.D.
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Character
Education
After
Columbine
 Many people have asked
me if the tragedy in Colorado has led to an increased public
interest in character education. My response has been one of
guarded optimism. The loss of student life in Colorado and
elsewhere has focused the public on youth issues and
prevention programs. However, advocates of modern character
education are still working for full inclusion within the
existing prevention/health community and for school resources
in light of the push for higher academic standards. While the
misled educator’s advocacy for
“values free”
education is in decline, recognition and application of
comprehensive character education remains modest in American
schools.
For
example, in a response to the Columbine shootings a state-level education leader
noted the need for increased effort dedicated to school prevention programs. He
highlighted the useful application of mentoring, community service, peer
tutoring and teaching social and emotional competencies. In vain, I searched for
character education within this checklist of priority interventions.
Those of us advocating
for modern character education embrace all of the previously mentioned student
interventions. We purposefully add a focus on character development during all
of our program implementation. Character education themes can often provide a
foundation or unifying thread for multiple prevention programs. This foundation
includes the explicit recognition, discussion and application of core values.
Thus, respect, caring, responsibility and honesty become a shared vocabulary and
set of positive expectations for schools and communities. This shared vocabulary
guides students and adults as they work together to create safe places to learn
and grow.
Character education is
not a panacea that will prevent all future incidence of school violence.
Nevertheless, comprehensive character education does provide schools and
communities an excellent research-supported methodology to improve student
behavior, sense of belonging and academic progress in schools.
If you would like more
information about modern character education and/or strategies for implementing
character education in schools, please visit our web site at www.ethicsed.org.
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