Staff Workshop Topic: Understanding the Basic Principles of Character Education

Involve staff in reflecting on important issues so you can build a character education program that speaks to and includes everyone - staff, families, and children.

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Instructions for the Workshop Leader: 

1 What You Need to Know

This workshop consists of two parts: these leadership instructions and a handout for the participating staff members.

2 What to Do in Advance

At least one week before your workshop, distribute the handout "Eleven Principles of Effective Character Education". Ask staff members to read it over carefully before you meet.

As they read, ask participants to think about and list five sentences describing what character education is and five sentences describing what character education isn't. Encourage everyone to also jot down any questions or points they'd like to discuss.

3 Using the Handout

Begin the workshop by explaining that the handout represents the work of the Character Education Partnership and was developed to help people reflect on the importance and meaning of character education. Ask staff to share the responses they've written to the question: "What is character education?" Record their responses, then allow time for them to look over the entire list. Is there anything anyone would like to add?

Next, ask the group to finish the statement: "Character education isn't..." Again, list everyone's responses and allow time for the participants to add to their thoughts. (This portion of your meeting is vital because this list will give you a base to work from as you strive to clarify any confusing points, address important questions, and enable everyone to examine the distinction between character development and adult agendas that push personal ideas of right and wrong.

Take a look at section nine and ask staff to think about whom they consider to be moral leaders or champions, and why. Brainstorm a list of traits and qualities you think these people should have.

Character education programs, for the most part, focus on attributes or building blocks such as honesty, respect, and so on. Brainstorm a list of attributes that your group feels are important components of a character education program. Then discuss the difference between acting as a guide to children -- someone who helps them understand and develop these building blocks - and someone who makes her personal idea of right and wrong the basis of her teaching. How can you make sure this doesn't happen in your program?

4 Questions to Ask

How will parents react to incorporating character education into your program? Brainstorm sentences and phrases to use when introducing and describing this approach to parents. Discuss possible concerns parents and family members may have. Role-play any particular scenarios that teachers are apprehensive about handling.

What are some ways that character education supports and enhances your current program policies, curriculum, and educational philosophy? Use this question to encourage staff to examine each of these components and begin to see important links.

What are some ways your program can give children "opportunities for moral action"? (See no. 5 on the list.) You might consider brainstorming this question as a group.

The eighth principle on the list focuses on the need for your entire program staff to share responsibility for character education. How do the three areas mentioned in this section apply to your present program? How could they become integral parts in the future? Use staff responses and discussions to build on the strengths of your current program or to enhance these three areas. (Information gleaned here may be very helpful to the character education committee you establish.)

How can you work together as a staff to make sure your character education program becomes an ongoing process in which people continually support one another -- reflecting, interacting, and delving deeper into important issues? Discuss ways you can involve everyone who works in your program, the children, and their families on an ongoing basis.

5 Follow-Up

Come back together and share the staffs thoughts about the qualities and traits that should be associated with moral leaders and champions. Also make some decisions about whether you want to establish a character education committee, who it should consist of, and what its objectives should be.

Ask teachers to incorporate at least one of the "opportunities for moral action" from your list into their curriculum in the next month. Explain that you would like them to share their experiences at an upcoming staff workshop.

As your program progresses, focus on no. 11 to help you assesses how you're doing. Involve staff in coming up with other appropriate questions in order to ensure that everyone is participating in and committed to your character education program.

Kimberly Moore Kneas, Ph.D., an author, lecturer, and consultant In Evergreen, CO, has more than 20 vears of experience in public and private early childhood education.

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