Education isn’t only about learning subjects such as math, English, and science. A more comprehensive definition of education addresses the emotions, personality, and character as well. Parents today are looking for schools that help their kids become healthy, balanced, and civic-minded adults. This is why character education is so important. It provides a holistic approach to learning and development. Let’s explore how character education helps kids learn and develop crucial values.
What is Character Education?
The most basic definition of character education is an approach to education that incorporates values, ethics, emotional maturity and a sense of civics. To many, this sounds simple, straightforward and even self-evident.
However, modern education has mostly developed in another direction, one that focuses entirely on students’ academic and, to a lesser extent, physical development (e.g. physical education, sports).
In the modern world, however, parents and educators increasingly recognize the need for a new yet traditional approach to education, one that emphasizes character as well as intellectual development.
Components of Character Education
There’s no precise formula for a curriculum that incorporates character education. As with any approach to learning, there are different theories on how to instill positive values and character traits.
This also differs according to culture and the age of the students. There are, however, certain general principles that character education advocates agree upon. The 11 Principles of Character Education as outlined by Character.org provides a helpful summary of this idea.
