Whole School Approach towards Character Education

Blue Angel Picture free from Pexels.com

 

When I’ve written about Character Education in the past, I have mainly been talking about individual teachers teaching the specific characteristics in their classroom.

Today, though, I found an interesting website that explains a whole school approach in which everyone from the Principal on down to the Cafeteria personnel are in on the character education of the child. This approach creates a “culture” at the school which is very effective in encouraging positive character traits. It embraces the child and supports them in a very real community sense.

When I envision this being implemented, I think about how I would like to be at such a school. If everyone is on the same page, encouraging positive behavior and these behaviors are clearly stated, it makes it easy for the student to stand up for what is right because they know they will have support everywhere they are in the school and from everyone. Other students will be less likely to act outside of the encouraged behaviors because they will know they are not accepted there.

So, as long as it isn’t an oppressive atmosphere, but rather one of love and acceptance, which to me, are the building blocks of good character, then I think this could be a great way to infuse character education in our children. Just like the Blue Angels in the above picture, they work together towards one goal. In doing that, they build trust and respect and cohesiveness. When you see the Blue Angels fly, it takes your breath away. I believe in a similar fashion, if a whole school is operating as one, it would bring out the best in everyone and be something that when others behold, it would take their breaths away too.

Let me know your thoughts. Have you attended such a school? Have you taught at such a school? What do you imagine would be pros and cons of this approach?

For the full article, here’s the link to character.org 

As always my books entertain children while subtly encouraging good character traits and are available on Amazon.