Character Education and Culture/Government -- EDPR 7/8112 Adolescence Sec. 001 0500-0800 R

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Date Posted: 08:23:07 03/23/07 Fri
Author: Tish Colvin
Subject: Character Education and Culture/Government

Last night we briefly touched upon the idea of character education vs. values clarification. Character education implies that some person or organization imposes his (their) own values on another person or organization. Values clarification, on the other hand, elicits discussion and allows people to form their own ideas about what is important to them. I couldn't help but think of this issue with regard to the many cultures and countries around the world. I think more often than not the United States takes part in character education rather than values clarification. For some reason we think all of our ideas should be shared by the rest of the world - end of story. Of course, atrocities shouldn't be condoned but beyond that who is to say that our way is always the "right" way? It sounds like values clarification could help in peace processes.

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[> Re: Character Education and Culture/Government -- Lauren McAdams, 07:03:50 03/28/07 Wed

I agree with the fact that I do feel that we sometimes impose our beliefs and values on others and feel that this is the only right way, but I also feel like some students need this. Although it would be fine for some students to go through life and adolescence with this values clarification in which they form their own ideas and values from discussion and such things, I also feel that it is not the best for some students. Some students do not form good values and ideas from discussions for whatever reason. These students, I feel, need character education in which to be taught right from wrong and good from bad because they do not receive this sort of education anywhere else in their lives. Character education can teach them structure and rules for some students who do not recieve this sort of thing anywhere else.

>Last night we briefly touched upon the idea of
>character education vs. values clarification.
>Character education implies that some person or
>organization imposes his (their) own values on another
>person or organization. Values clarification, on the
>other hand, elicits discussion and allows people to
>form their own ideas about what is important to them.
>I couldn't help but think of this issue with regard to
>the many cultures and countries around the world. I
>think more often than not the United States takes part
>in character education rather than values
>clarification. For some reason we think all of our
>ideas should be shared by the rest of the world - end
>of story. Of course, atrocities shouldn't be condoned
>but beyond that who is to say that our way is always
>the "right" way? It sounds like values clarification
>could help in peace processes.

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[> [> Re: Character Education and Culture/Government -- Miriam Dolin, 14:56:58 03/28/07 Wed

I think this is a really interesting discussion. I agree with Tish in that our country does seem to like to impose our values on others. But I also agree with Lauren that some students need Character Education because they don't get it any where else. BUT I think after character education, people MUST participate in some values clarification synthesizing and "working" with the information received from character education. Though this is slightly different, I think the principle still applies: I definitely know people who prescribe to their parents' religion, politics, whatever simply because that is what they were told at the dinner table. But when it comes time to apply those ideas (by, say voting) they have no idea what they believe. In the same vein, we cannot simply tell students what values they should hold, they need to wrestle with the ideas and discern what is important to them so that they can apply those values to decision making and daily life. (Okay, I will step off my soap box now!)

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