Teaching positive student character traits

From a child’s first day of school to the last day they are in college, they are learning. With that said, it is very complex to say that parents have the exclusive right to develop character in a child, teaching character is not easy. For instance, a parent could be teaching the wrong things to a child but the “growing up in school” student might learn what is right.

Teachers should be involved in the character development of students. However, parents should be more influential, in other words, the parents should have the trust and respect of their children.

Ideally, parents would guide their children effectively, and the teacher, the academic guide. It is very difficult for teachers to avoid addressing character development, like many rules governing school life correlate.

The idea of cheating in school relates to an essential character value, honesty. If a student is caught cheating on a test, odds are that the student will face a lecture about honesty. Parents play a small part in this discussion until the teacher calls home.

Critical Race Theory

When an educator decides to focus teachings on a certain opinionated curriculum, parents should play a role in the lesson at home. Let’s be honest, ideally, it makes sense for parents to be involved in the education of their children, however, that is not always the case.

Critical Race Theory is one of the most toxic, and divisive lessons parents should be aware of. There are many educators wrongfully teaching this toxic theory. This theory is inherently racist, and atheist. The debate between church and state is complex, since public schools are considered part of the state, funded by tax dollars.

Therefore, any positive character development that is taught needs to be separate from the church, and anything sense as indoctrination should be left to the parents at home. LGBTQ+ ideas, and beliefs, other than tolerance, should be left outside the classroom. Students’ age should be considered, avoid confusion, and overreaching on a topic that must be left to the parents.

According to Ryan, Kevin; Bohlin, Karen Opposing Viewpoints: America’s Youth | 2003 | 0-7377-1218-X, schools should have an agenda regarding teachers’ involvement in the students’ character development.

They even go as far as to say that “Teaching is intrinsically and unavoidably a moral act. Schools and their classrooms and playgrounds are cauldrons of moral matters, ethical issues, and the events that affect a young person’s character (1rst P).” In addition, I believe there is already too much politics in the classroom, not limited to Critical Race Theory negatively indoctrinating our students.

Developing students’ positive character traits using the idea of responsibility, compassion, and discipline should suffice as civic, social studies. Controversial topics have no space in the classroom. 

Quality Education

This can be done in the classroom by teaching students something as basic as remembering to bring in a notebook, and pencil to school. Moreover, age level must play a factor in this discussion.

Teachers who work at an elementary school level consistently influence the character development of their students. Following some rules tends to be embedded in most of the curriculum of elementary schools across the country.

With so much controversy trying to influence students’ world views, it is difficult for teachers to excel. Many topics are preselected for teachers from powerful politicians.

Consequently, teachers, oftentimes ask themselves “Should I just worry only about the student academic success and forget about what person the child might grow up to be?” Thus, making the teacher play a lesser role in the Childs’s development.

However, according to Academic Instructors or Moral Guides Moral Education in America and the Teacher’s Dilemma by Brimi Hunter, that is exactly the issue. Therefore, educators should fill the void and teach students good manners, discipline, tolerance, and patriotism.

Fortunately for teachers, this issue is not going to affect all teachers since, in high school, teachers often assume that students already understand how to good human beings, if not it may be difficult to influence older students. 

Another article that supports this view is Empowering Teachers to Foster Students’ Character and Citizenship: Getting Teachers and Students to Discover Big Ideas in Social Studies by The Delta Kappa Gamma Bulletin; which states that the teachers may integrate ways in which to promote student positive character development in the lessons, and classroom activities.

This would even add the parents’ involvement, the parent participates wild helping the student with some homework. Parents also tend to be more involved in the day-to-day school activities of their younger children, while they give their older children the freedom to grow as individuals in high school.

Conclusion

If done properly, positive character development does not infringe on the rights of parents. Proper character development education solicits and involves parental feedback and participation. This leads to a partnership that reflects not only school rules but also parental religious beliefs, and cultural values. 

When the school and community work together to establish a curriculum and educational program that reflects shared values, then character education can succeed. Schools and educators should promote unity, tolerance, and self-accountability as the core of all lessons. Critical Race Theory MUST stay out of the classroom.

References:

http://schools.nyc.gov/—–left side- RULES & POLICIES—PARENTS BILL OF RIGHTS—DISCIPLINE CODE
http://www.ncccusa.org/about/edpol.html
http://www.au.org/issues/religion-in-public-schools/