This document discusses the need for character education in schools. It argues that traditional education focused on passing on cultural values and moral standards, but this broke down in the 1960s with the rise of moral relativism. Values clarification was introduced but had limitations as it was neutral to values and did not build character. The document advocates for character education based on universal values like compassion. It presents a model of education that balances the cultivation of heart/character, teaching of norms/rules, and mastery of knowledge and skills to develop mature character, strong relationships and contribution to society.

1. The Need to
Educate for Character
© 2002 International Educational Foundation
IEF is responsible for the content of this presentation only
if it has not been altered from the original.
© IEF 1

2. © IEF 2

3. Best of the 20th
Century
© IEF 3

4. Worst of the 20th
Century
© IEF 4

5. Family in Crisis
 Spouse
and
child
abuse
 Infidelity
 Divorce
© IEF 5

6. Youth in
Crisis
 Sex
 Drug
s
 STDs
 Crim
e © IEF 6

7. Strongest Influences on
Students
1950 1990
1. Home 1. Peers
2. School 2. TV
3. Church
3. Home
4. 4. School
Peers
5. Church
5. TV
S o u r c e : Mi c h i g a n S ta te Un i v e r s i ty S tu d y, 1 9 9 0 © IEF 7

8. 1940s 1990s
School School
Problems Problems
1. Talking out of turn 1. Drug abuse
2. Making noise 2. Alcohol
abuse
3. Improper clothing
3. Pregnancy
4. Littering
4. Assault
S o u r c e : Wi l l i a m J . Be n n e tt e t a l ., “In d e x o f Le a d i n g Cu l tu r a
In d i c a to r s ,” Empower America, Ma r 1 9 9 3
© IEF 8

9. U. S. Spending Social Problems
Up Crime —
500% Up 500%
Divorce —
Up 400%
Fatherles
s
Children
— Up
300%
U. S. from 1960 — 1990
S ourc e : Wi l l i a m J . Be n n e tt, “Is Ou r
Cu l tu r e i n De c l i n e ? ” Education
Week, Apr i l 1 9 9 3 © IEF 9

10. “Th e g r e a te r o u r
m a te r i a l po we r ,
th e g r e a te r o u r
ne e d f or
s pi r i tu a l i n s i g h t
S on dc e :i Ar n o l d ...” b e e ,
a u r Br i titu e sTo yna n ,
v r s h Hi to r i
Civilization on Trial
© IEF 10

11. Two Dimensions
of
a Human Being
Mind
Body
© IEF 11

12. Two Dimensions of
Value
 Truth
 Beauty Inner
Mind Satisfaction
 Goodness
 Love
Happiness
 Food
 Shelter Physical
Body Well-being
 Wealth
 Comfort
© IEF 12

13. Two Dimensions of
Education
 Truth
 Beauty Education
 Goodness for
Character
 Love
 Food
 Shelter
Education
 Wealth for
 Comfort Career
© IEF 13

14. Priority of Educating for
Character
Mind Education for
Character
Body Education for
Career
© IEF 14

15. Traditional Role of
Education
 Passing on
knowledge &
cultural values
 Teaching moral
standards
and social
responsibilities
 Preparing good
citizens © IEF 15

16. 1960s—
Breakdown of
Traditional Values
Adult Individualism
Authority & Moral
Relativism
© IEF 16

17. “ Values-Neutral”
Perspective
 Pluralism as
moral
equivalence
 Decline of
religion
 Distrust of
authority
 © IEF 17

18. Characteristics
of
Values
Clarification
 Values
neutral
 Feelings
and process
 Student
choice
© IEF 18

19. Characteristics
of
Values
Clarification
 Teacher as
facilitator
 Ignores
traditional
morality
 Discounts
parents’ role
© IEF 19

20. Early Appeal of
Values
Clarification
 Interactive
 Treats students as
individuals
© IEF 20

21. Interactive
Methodology
 Participatory
 Students as
agents
of own learning
 Effective within
moral framework
© IEF 21

22. Limitations of
Values
Clarification
 No moral
standards
 Encourages
mediocrity
 Not character-
building
© IEF 22

23. Why Moral Education
Went Astray
Dubious assumptions
 “ Values –
neutrality”
as norm
 Pluralism
precludes universal
values
 Values = religion © IEF 23

24. Character
Education —
Rising Trend
U. S.
federal
funding
for
character
education
© IEF 24

25. Character Education
Based on Universal Values
Contem-
Spiritual porary
EasternUniversalWestern
Values
TraditionaMaterial
l
© IEF 25

26. Universal Values
Criteria
 Reversible
 Generalizable
 Compelling to
the conscience
© IEF 26

27. Universal Values
Criteria
 Objective benefits
 Transcend cultures
 Embodied as virtues
© IEF 27

28. Common to All
Cultures
© IEF 28

29. “Ed u c a ti o n h a s h a d two g r e a t
g o a l s : To h e l p yo u n g pe o pl e
to b e c o m e s m a r t a n d …
S o u b e :cTh o m es g ok od a , Educating for Character
r c e o m a Li c o n .”
© IEF 29

30. Moral Goals of
Education
1. Mature character
2. Loving relationships &
family
3. Contribution to society
© IEF 30

31. Good Character
Disposition to
right conduct
 Attitudes & habits
 For loving well
© IEF 31

32. Different
Personalities
United in Character
© IEF 32

33. Heart — Core of
Character
True
Lov
e
Heart
Character
© IEF 33

34. Cultivation of the
Heart
 Experiences of
love
 Moral
examples
 Practice of
caring
© IEF 34

35. Moral Goal — Mature
Character
 Loving heart
 Self-control
 Lives forothers
 Words = Deeds
© IEF 35

36. First Dimension of
Education
Mature
Cultivation of the Heart Character
© IEF 36

37. Education in
Norms
 Training in proper behavior
 Rules and responsibilities
 For respect & harmony
© IEF 37

38. Education for
Character —
Balances Love &
Rules
Love Rules
© IEF 38

39. Moral Goal: Loving
Relationships &
Family
 Strong m arriages
 Effective parenting
 Ethicalpractice
 Living forhigher
purpose
© IEF 39

40. Second Dimension of
Education
Loving
Education in Relationships &
Norms Family
Cultivation of the Heart
© IEF 40

41. Education for
Mastery
 Academic
education
 Technical
education
 Education in the
arts
© IEF 41

42. Mastery Involves
Moral Standards
 Business Ethics
 Work Ethics
 Environm entalEthics
© IEF 42

43. Mastery Involves
Concern for the
Environment
© IEF 43

44. Moral Goal —
Contribution to Society
 Technical
achievem ent
 Com m unity service
 Sustainable
environm ent
© IEF 44

45. Third Dimension of
Education
Education Contributi
for Mastery on
to
Education in society. . .
Norms
Cultivation of the Heart
© IEF 45

46. Problem of Modern
Education
Education
for Mastery
Education
in Norms
Cultivatio
n
of the
Heart © IEF 46

47. Balanced
Education
Education
for Mastery
Education
in Norms
Cultivation of the
Heart
© IEF 47