GCU's Canon Center for Character Education Presentation

Introduction

• Character Education: Introduction to the concept and its significance.
• Importance: Understanding what character is to comprehend character education.

Defining Character

• Character: Various definitions depending on context.
  • Core Ethical Values: Understanding, caring, and acting upon them.
  • Moral Agent: Motivations and abilities to function ethically.
  • Virtues: Personal virtues influencing moral emotions, motivations, and guiding conduct.
• JCCV Framework: Characterized into four domains:
  • Intellectual
  • Moral
  • Civic
  • Performance
• Practical Wisdom: Balancing virtues and making ethical choices for personal growth.

Importance of Character Education

• Organizations should define their mission and values regarding character.
• Character Modeling: Naturally demonstrated by individuals like family, friends, peers.
• Intentional Teaching: Through discussions, literature, experiences, and explicit teaching.

Defining Character Education

• Comprehensive Approach: School-based focus on character virtue formation and ethical decision-making.
• Goals:
  • Promote individual and collective flourishing.
  • Strengthen virtues and moral decision-making.
• Impact:
  • Enhances respect for interculturalism and inclusion.
  • Encourages positive school and community engagement.
  • Improves school culture.

Ripple Effect of Character Education

• School and Community Impact:
  • Lower disciplinary actions.
  • Enhanced relationships.
  • Develops virtuous individuals influencing society positively.
• Societal Contribution: Leads to transformative leaders and global contributors.

Why Do We Need Character Education in Schools?

• Responsibility: Teaching the whole child—academics, life skills, good character.
• Benefits:
  • Improves academic performance.
  • Increases graduation and college acceptance rates.
  • Encourages moral decision-making and societal contribution.

Character as a Fundamental Aspect

• Character as the Plate: Not an extra task, but fundamental to everyday life.
• Big Picture: Enhancing virtues and moral decision-making for human flourishing.
• Modeling Character: Intentional demonstration and teaching for others to learn and emulate.

Conclusion

• Character education is essential for nurturing human goodness and contributing to a thriving society.

Next Steps: Follow-up training sessions to continue education in this area.