Character counts more than any other subject our schools teach - bar none! It was once known to be "the" priority in education, but does the current approach to teaching moral values show that? Do children come away from teachers' classes on self-control, love, compassion, and cooperation knowing without the shadow of a doubt that such traits are vital in day to day life? Does the education your child is receiving today, this week, and this month prove that character counts?
"Character counts," our schools tell students, but they fail to prove it. As a career educator, I can assure you that most schools are proving quite the opposite.
Look at the evidence:
· Budget. Character counts only as much as the dregs from most budgetary coffeepots. Young children receive no enchanting books about cooperation to study "...because," say our administrators, "financial resources are tight." Older children are denied the excitement of lesson plans based on intriguing mystery books that teach courage. Teenagers must forego strong moral challenges available in best-selling adventures written for such studies. By giving this subject so much less of the budget than math, science, and history, schools prove that "character counts" is no more to them than a phrase to be thrown at students. It certainly is not a belief that issues forth into positive action.
· Time. This subject matter is said to be very important - until it comes to placing it in the school schedule. Do we prove to children and teenagers that this topic is a priority in their lives when classes meant to instill high moral values are awarded so little time? Math, science, and history are usually taught daily while this poor Cinderella receives, at best, only a few minutes a week. Students are required to master reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic, but seldom are they asked to master respect, responsibility, and resourcefulness. Students at every level are tested on math, language arts, and history, but seldom are they tested on attentiveness, honesty, and kindness. Such lack of requirements and testing does not prove to students that character counts.
· Personnel. The teaching of moral values is often assigned to guidance teachers or volunteers - a practice that is never applied to subjects that are considered important. So why should students think character counts? Schools tend to "outsource" perseverance, confidence, generosity, and other traits that produce good citizens. They assign such teaching to personnel who were not trained to teach in the classroom. Students recognize quickly that outsourced subjects are of lesser import and we fail, on this point also, to prove that character counts.
A full-fledged, quality program that proves incontrovertibly the truth of the phrase "character counts" must be mandated in our schools. That is, such a program must be made mandatory. It must become the school's mission. What do I mean?
Parents must obligate - must command schools to prove clearly that character counts by finding, instituting, and maintaining the best possible program to teach the subject. They must require schools to go beyond the call of duty in teaching courage of convictions, diligence, trustworthiness, and truthfulness.
School administrators must command that classes in high moral values receive a large enough portion of the budget that educators can purchase books and materials written by trained professionals. Administrators must command that the money be spent on the best quality materials available - materials written by qualified writers. Administrators must command that curriculum committees schedule adequate daily lessons in this vital subject. Administrators must attract and retain top quality educators to teach moral values.
That must be the mandate. It must be every school's mission.
Character counts more heavily in life than the greatest academic achievements. Our children will gradually forget the algebraic formula they master in school. As they get jobs, marry, and raise families, they will lose much of what they master in science and history classes, too. They will not, however, lose what they master in classes that apply moral values to their daily lives and teach them how to act on those values consistently and conscientiously.
Character counts, but until we prove that, students will consider the study of it a worthless bit of nothing. How do we prove it? The best way to prove that character counts is to invest solidly of our budget, time, and qualified personnel.
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