Nice idea, but there is zero evidence that character education is effective.

Character education continues to win support and funding without evidence of either need or results?

Not to be deterred, character education programs abound - each trotting out entirely different lists of values and means for implementing them! It is telling that the one thing these competing programs all agree on is the end goal is the child's compliance with authority and conformity with conservative values. Is that how we wish to define the core values of our "national character" these days?

What about the spirit of inquiry, independence and innovation that defines the true character of a great nation? On the much-lauded "Magic School Bus" TV show, the class slogan is "Take Chances, Make Mistakes. Get Messy!", just the opposite of the stated goals of character education.

Character education sure sounds good - if only it worked.

A 2007 report by the US Department of Education found that vast majority of character education programs have failed to prove their effectiveness.
http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/reports/chara...

For essays and references, please see http://members.cox.net/patriotismforall/...
Essays incl. in "Taking Sides: Issues in Educational Practice", 2008 McGraw-Hill/CLS

Wikipedia: Character Education
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Character_e...

"The virtue in most request is conformity."
Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1841.

"Teachers and schools tend to mistake good behavior for good character. What they prize is docility, suggestibility; the child who will do what he is told; or even better, the child who will do what is wanted without even having to be told. They value most in children what children least value in themselves. small wonder that their effort to build character is such a failure; they don't know it when they see it."
How Children Fail
John Holt

The problems of some products of religious schools shouldn't be ignored: such as a bizarre belief that stem cell research is sinful.

The benefits of some products of public schools shouldn't be ignored, either: such as an openness to the human need for clear thinking.

luvujvl,
The biggest advantage of a private school is most attending have a very similar belief system.
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The diversity issue doesn't exist to nearly the degree that a public school must deal with.
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A private religious school is going to contain mainly 2 parent families, middle class to upper middle class families, families that had success in school and believe the extra investment (tuition) is worthwhile.
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There are advantages, and most private schools do a great job. I just strongly believe that children become stronger when their beliefs are challenged and they have to see the diversity that exists in society.
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Both have advantages and disadvantages.
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Regarding this article, character development is more difficult for the public schools because of the diversity of opinion of the students and families involved.

There is a great book titled "A Thomas Jefferson Education" by: Oliver D'Mille
Great illustrations as to how our educational system teaches students to conform to the limitations of the system rather allow them to grow and have the ability to become what they were meant to be.

whythink - "I don't believe the main reason religious based schools do better is because of religion." - perhaps not completely, but as a parochial school parent I must stand up for the advantages that they offer. Character development is a core reason that we have chosen to keep paying tuition for a parochial school. Smaller classes, yes. Religion, yes. More rigorous academics, yes. But what comes with that is core values - the golden rule - teachers that really know your kids and your family, and go that extra mile to make sure that character development is on the right track. It's not necessarily all about religion, but religion is the base for providing all the extra things that don't exist in a public school. Tuition is steep, but it's worth it.

Borrowing and modifying an idea from Jonathan Swift, I say we bus them all to a farm for 8-hours shifts to learn life's lessons. Plus, the farmers would not have to hire illegal aliens any more. Two birds with one stone.

I think this is the the parent's job. How broad do we want to make public education? It should essentially focus on reading, writing, and math, etc.... When we start wandering off into these murky waters, then we're not really educating, we're indoctrinating.

The whole overinvolvement by the school system and reported underinvolvement by parents comes down to one main source: corporate America doesn't pay enough to raise kids these days. People have to work too long of hours. TVs and video games raise the kids. If we don't stop that, we haven't stopped the root cause, and our efforts are fruitless. These comments go ditto for the 4 year old kindergarten initiative.

There was a teacher at Craig High School that I'll never forget: Don Swanson (sp?), chemistry teacher/ football coach. His class WAS character training. Awesome.

Look how much trouble we're in now with our public schools, Whythink. Public school attendance is an entitlement. Discipline from school authorities is subject to review in courts of law. Students have to go, but they don't have to participate. Imagine school systems that need not admit the unmotivated. Think of all the resources, the class time wasted trying to deal with the few that don't want to cooperate. Then imagine how much better educated the many who remain would be absent the trouble makers and malcontents.

The fact that 11 year olds are able to disrupt classes and actually do while school officials are nearly powerless to deal with them is proof of the disintegration of the public school system. Respect is earned. Our public school systems have failed to earn any.

I thought that's what PARENTS are supposed to do? That's what mine did.

While I agree on giving children every opportunity to become successful members of society, isn't this the parent's job? In any event, the child will need parents to reinforce behaviors that they are learning in these programs, otherwise it's all for nothing.

Greg, the quote from your fine book...

“I grew up believing that hard work would bring a good education and, in turn, an honest day’s pay. It’s a work ethic that seems to be slipping away as each generation is further removed from the family farm; a statistic that no one knows how to measure.”

...is very important to the point of your story:

Self esteem should come from having accomplished something, small things and big things. Psych-biz and thera-biz has damaged the mentality of this country by wholesaling self esteem. Oprah and her ilk have served as handmaidens for the selling of the idea that when someone exhibits poor character, whether by bad attitudes or by bad behavior, they are manifesting a lack of self esteem. As a marketing ploy, therapists are selling the idea to their patients that "I will make you feel even better about yourself." And the Oprahites are spreading the word.

Therapists and Oprahites pass off baloney as wisdom.

The simple truth is that when someone exhibits bad attitudes and bad behavior, they are really showing that they have too much self esteem. They are enamored with themselves to the point of feeling that every negative impulse that pops into their heads should be outwardly expressed with impunity.

When public education is run like that this country will be in even more trouble. 11 year olds can already screw up the rest of their life while being forced to attend school...think how bad it will be when it is optional.

It's not tuition that motivates a religious school parent. That parent is motivated enough to pay tuition for what he could get for free from public schools. What is that motivation? Reverence for God, at least in part. And yes, religious schools don't take everybody, not because they have fewer rules, but because they have different rules. Trouble makers need not apply. Students have to make an honest effort or they can't go there. When the public schools can adopt a similar attitude, the quality of a public school education will increase tremendously.

For that, we need God. And much has been done to drive God from our secular institutions. That’s why religious bases schools do a so much better job than do public schools.
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First paragraph, RIGH ON! You lose me a bit with your connection of God to character ed. in the public school.
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I don't believe the main reason religious based schools do better is because of religion. Those schools have some OBVIOUS advantages...tuition motivates involved parents, they can pick and choose what kids attend, they have less rules and regs. to follow and often have a smaller setting including smaller class sizes.
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Back to character ed., yes, teaching manners, tolerance, respect, honesty is very important...in addition I believe reality education is also important. The reality is not everyone plays by the rules or the same rules for that matter.
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The difficult part of character education is what do we focus on and who will it offend. For example, I believe part of character education should be tolerance...I am guessing some may disagree.
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OK, then let's not focus on being good people let's just focus on being good employees...timeliness for example.

There's a certain inertia, a resistance to ethics and morality in all of us that is tough to overcome. First, one has to acknowledge that one has been immoral and unethical which is very hard to do. Then one has to be willing to forgo the advantages of immorality and unethical behavior, the very reason why one chooses to behave that way to begin with. Compound these problems with our society's focus on self-esteem and self-fulfillment and the problem could very well be insurmountable, from a secular approach that is. You can't just tell a person to be good (honest, respectful, industrious, etc.) because it's good for you. They know that cheaters do prosper in spite of that old proverb. It's even less effective to tell them to do good for the sake of others when we are driven to compete with each other on all levels of life such as economic, social, political, etc. It’s easier to win when you cheat, especially when you don’t get caught and you’re less likely to get caught when you practice a lot.

If there’s one thing we know about humans is that those who behave best have healthy consciences. A healthy conscience isn’t nourished by self-esteem and the pursuit of self-fulfillment. The conscience is a part of the human spirit and is nourished by the same thing our spirit is nourished by. When our spiritual tanks are empty, our conscience is weak. You can’t get spiritual fuel in the quantities necessary for a healthy spirit and conscience from secular sources. For that, we need God. And much has been done to drive God from our secular institutions. That’s why religious bases schools do a so much better job than do public schools. Unfortunately, the popular culture, filled with its cheaters and proud defilers of all things moral are spreading their immorality to all corners of our society. Want your kids to be well educated, respectful and honest? Take them to church, turn off the T.V. when you’re not around, don’t buy popular music for your kids or yourself and keep them away from kids whose parents don’t do the same, for starters.

I can answer the headline question in this article in one word: ABSOLUTELY!