Why Do We Need Character Education?
Moral education is not a new idea. It is in fact as old as education itself. Down though history, in countries all over the world, education has had two great goals: to help young people become smart and to help them become good. Good character is not formed automatically; it is developed over time through a sustained process of teaching,example,learning, and practice-it is particularly important in today's society since our youth face many opportunities and dangers unknown to earlier generations.
They are bombarded with many more negative influences through the media and other external sources prevalent in today's culture. And at the same time, there are many more day-to-day pressures impinging on the time that parents and children have together.
Studies show that children spend only 33 hours a year in meaningful conversation with his or her parents, while they spend 1,500 hours of watching TV. Since students spend 900 hours a year in school, it is essential that schools resume a proactive role in assisting families, and, in order to create our schools as the caring and respectful communities we know they can be, we must look deeper/ We must be intentional, proactive, and comprehensive in our work to encourage the development of good character in young people.
They are bombarded with many more negative influences through the media and other external sources prevalent in today's culture. And at the same time, there are many more day-to-day pressures impinging on the time that parents and children have together.
Studies show that children spend only 33 hours a year in meaningful conversation with his or her parents, while they spend 1,500 hours of watching TV. Since students spend 900 hours a year in school, it is essential that schools resume a proactive role in assisting families, and, in order to create our schools as the caring and respectful communities we know they can be, we must look deeper/ We must be intentional, proactive, and comprehensive in our work to encourage the development of good character in young people.
In Class Activities
Our student body researched statistics of homeless people in Houston. They collected and prepared a food/clothing donation drive for our low income community called "The Great Giveaway"
One of our dedicated paraprofessional teacher prepared another interactive board to break the kindness challenge not only among the students but also among the faculty as well.
Some student challenges include:
* Say ,Hi to a staff member you don't know well, or may have never noticed.
* Write a thank you note to a teacher or faculty member who make a difference in your life.
* Make someone's day, a simple smile or or show random act of kindness to them.
* Help a teacher clean up after class.
* Stay after lunch and help clean lounge room.
Some of Teacher challenges include:
* Cover someone's duty without them asking to you.
* Bring a treat to the teacher's lounge.
* Send 5 positive notes home to parents about students in your class or students you know.
* Give a student a homework pass.
* Give your class a treat for no reason, except to make them smile.
* Send a positive sticky note to a teacher who may be having a hard day.
Some student challenges include:
* Say ,Hi to a staff member you don't know well, or may have never noticed.
* Write a thank you note to a teacher or faculty member who make a difference in your life.
* Make someone's day, a simple smile or or show random act of kindness to them.
* Help a teacher clean up after class.
* Stay after lunch and help clean lounge room.
Some of Teacher challenges include:
* Cover someone's duty without them asking to you.
* Bring a treat to the teacher's lounge.
* Send 5 positive notes home to parents about students in your class or students you know.
* Give a student a homework pass.
* Give your class a treat for no reason, except to make them smile.
* Send a positive sticky note to a teacher who may be having a hard day.
