By Ed DeRoche<\/p>\n
One of the most frequent comments we received from teachers and others is: “I don\u2019t know what character education is, but I don\u2019t have time to do it. I have too much on my plate already.”<\/em><\/p>\n Here we are in May of 2014 and we still hear that comment but now the plate also contains \u201cfood\u201d like the common core standards, STEM, and tests of all kinds.<\/p>\n My usual response is to remind them \u201cIt\u2019s the law.\u201c You could see the expressions on teachers and administrators faces —“No, not really!”<\/em><\/p>\n CDC staff member, CJ, offers a better response: \u201cMany teachers say: “I have no time to teach character\u2014I have too much on my plate already<\/em>.’ \u00a0That\u2019s like saying: \u2018I\u2019m cooking dinner but there is no time to make it nutritious!\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The \u201claw\u201d \u2013 California Education Code Section 233.5(a) \u2013 lays the groundwork and calls upon educators to impress upon students the principles of character:<\/p>\n Each teacher shall endeavor to impress upon the minds of the pupils the principles of morality, truth, justice, patriotism, and a true comprehension of the rights, duties, and dignity of American citizenship, and the meaning of equality and human dignity, including the promotion of harmonious relations, kindness toward domestic pets and the humane treatment of living creatures, to teach them to avoid idleness, profanity, and falsehood, and to instruct them in manners and morals and the principles of a free government. Each teacher is also encouraged to create and foster an environment that encourages pupils to realize their full potential and that is free from discriminatory attitudes, practices, events, or activities, in order to prevent acts of hate violence…<\/em><\/p>\n What are the \u201cprinciples of character\u201d referred to in the Code?<\/p>\n I have found 12 that might help form character education programs in schools and school districts. Let\u2019s look at them as the traits\/values\/virtues \/behaviors that our children should have learned by the time they finished 12 or 13 years with us in our schools.<\/p>\n Through the research efforts of the International Center for Leadership in Education, 12 guiding principles have been identified as key principles upon which to base a character education program. My summary:<\/p>\n Here is what the former CA State Superintendent of Public Instruction said:<\/p>\n\n