Character Counts

[morninggirl5]

Bush asked Congress for $25 million a year — three times current Spending — to pay for character education. The House and Senate, confident the program will be popular at home, recently upped the funding to $50 million a year. Before we rejoice in the new teaching of virtue, however, we need to confront two problems, one philosophical, the other practical. First, the underlying idea behind the rest of Bush's education package is to give states more flexibility in return for holding them more accountable for performance. That's why Bush wants to streamline federal programs — so he can demand results without telling states and schools exactly what to do. But the character education grants do just the opposite. To get the cash, school districts will be required to teach several specific government-approved values: caring, civic virtue and citizenship, justice and fairness, respect, responsibility and trustworthiness. (Districts are free to add their own).

http://www.time.com/time/columnist/goldstein/article/0,9565,166566,00.html

So how do you feel about this part of the education bill? Should teachers spend 30 minutes everyday teaching "values" that may or may not reflect the values of their homes?

The State of Georgia already has mandatory character education, and like the DARE programs, research has shown NO positive effects. I, personally, have argued against character education every time it has come up for discussion, only to be blasted by teachers who say "if they don't learn it at school, they won't learn it at all." How do parents feel about this?

 

[Aussie Worm]

I doubt it would help much. A lot of the youth of today have enough problems with using the words 'pleas' and 'thankyou.'

 

[Desert Amazon]

 

[Andra_Jenny]

Didn't the Left just end one witch hunt to get all values and value based decisions (as well as value-based outcomes in math problems) out of the schools?

You think they'll let them back in without screaming bloody murder, without accusing the right of wanting to force rascist, bigoted ideas on children, of accusing the right of making children without values feeling bad, without sending Jackson and Sharpton out to burn some black neighborhoods? And the character standard they will want to teach belongs to the Clintons and thier high priest Conditit.

The only reason the left is going along now is to win the center back and then the funds will be re-directed to the Farakahn million man math made easy program.

That's why my child will be educated in the CHinese school in the city. They still teach math and all the other subjects as well as familial piety and respect for elders. Sure, sure!

 

[Bob Peale]

Bush asked Congress for $25 million a year — three times current Spending — to pay for character education.

Isn't that a bit like asking Marlon Brando for exercise advice?

 

[Weird Harold]

So how do you feel about this part of the education bill? Should teachers spend 30 minutes everyday teaching "values" that may or may not reflect the values of their homes?

I think "character education" does belong in the schools. It has always been there and always will be there. I don't think there is any need to spend 30 minutes a day for a full year specifically teaching it.

What character education should consist of, is an "orientation" class at the beginning of each year detailing what is expected of students as far as behavior and demeanor in school. If the schools expect and enforce tolerance and common courtesy during the school day, then that is as much as can be expected of such a program. Any carry-over into extra-curicular life is a bonus.

 

[MissTaken]

and...furthermore

Character Education

will only be effective if their is a component involving educating parents. And from there, the most effective way to ensure follow through in the home and "real" change would be by conducting home visits and working in partnership with the parents.

Great idea Bush...but only half baked!