Character education in schools
My story today about a new character education initiative at Baltimore County's Kenwood High School is really just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this field.
I came across a lot of interesting information about a variety of models used throughout the state, and thought I'd share some of those additional details here.
Several people I spoke with emphasized the importance of data in using these programs. Tom Zirpoli, a McDaniel College education professor, mentioned how tricky it can be to link behavioral changes directly back to school or classroom discussions about honesty or other principles. Nancy Hanlin, one of the Kenwood teachers who also happens to be the attendance and tardiness monitor, mentioned trying to figure out a way to do just that.
The appeal of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, according to one of the educators I spoke with, is that it has a good measurement tool.
In Anne Arundel County, school officials have seen reductions in suspensions, referrals and extended suspensions at all levels in PBIS schools, said Virginia L. Dolan, the PBIS facilitator there.
"You really want to make sure that you have hardcore evidence that it really works and that you're doing some things with fidelity," Dolan told me, when we discussed the PBIS framework, which seeks to create safe, supportive schools using data as a guide. Nearly 70 schools are using PBIS there. But Dolan - along with school officials in other counties - also say the same framework or model may look different from building to building, as schools make them work for their particular communities.
Finally, for those interested in reading more: Paula McCoach, a character education specialist at MSDE, pointed me to a character education book the state put out last fall on this subject.
Categories: Around the Region, Baltimore County
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Comments
Thanks, Arin, for this report. I think this is a fantastic program, and I think we really need to do more of this to transform what it means to be a successful public school. There are basic concepts of human decency that generally should not offend people. These concepts are worthy of exploration in public schools. I'm into quoting people recently, so I'll steal from our newly elected President:
"Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task."
Character ed that explores this concepts is beneficial.
Posted by: Bill | February 4, 2009 1:41 PM
Character education is such a good idea. But it usually stays that, just an idea. Baltimore city currently has "Code of Conduct" lessons for middle school that are overly simplistic, incredibly boring and usually forced on an unwilling general subject teacher. I'm sure its really helpful.
If you're going to do "Character Education" do it right, don't just do it so it looks like you're trying when you're actually not.
Posted by: Steph | February 4, 2009 4:34 PM
For my money, the last half of the last sentence was the high point of the inaugural address - "there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task." I've quoted this to my eldest as well as to myself when confronting a daunting task recently.
Posted by: a parent | February 4, 2009 4:55 PM
Thanks for sharing us your ideas, its a time to do some thing positive, but unfortunately some of our society members dont take it seriously, Character Education is a good way to improve our life style, and as a part of society we can arrange some training session to trained our parents for make their children educated and make our society better.
Posted by: Character Education | May 29, 2009 5:04 AM