WHAT is Character Education?
Character Education is a broad term that describes the education of children in a method that also expands their moral growth. By teaching character education to children, statistics show an increase in participation and overall grades.
WHY Character Education?
Young people these days get exposed to literally thousands of negative influences through the media and their peers every day.
Students of today are faced with daily social challenges including bullying, harassment, social media misuse, and peer pressure. They are consistently making impactful decisions, big and small, about how they will treat others and themselves. Schools need a focused and effective way to help develop student empathy, confidence, and character.
Our classrooms are a kaleidoscope of students, all with ongoing needs for recognition, self-worth, empathy and belonging. Many school curriculums seem to get caught up in the constant pressure to raise test scores, and they do not spend sufficient time on character development components. What ends up being sidelined is the mission to ensure that our youngsters become the kind of quality, trustworthy human beings we all want them to be.
Research done on the subject found out that schools that employ character education have fewer incidences of disciplinary referrals, suspensions, and truancy. The positive environment that it brought to schools also increased attendance and has also brought about a significant improvement in academic performance of the students.
Our National Schools of Character (NSOC) tell this story over and over again. In schools of character, students feel safe, respected, and connected to those around them. As a result, they thrive academically and socially and they become motivated to give back to their communities. We see positive results in terms of academic achievement, student behavior, and school climate.
Just take a look at these statistics from the 2011 NSOC:
- Average attendance rate: 95%
- Low or declining referrals: 89%
- Students participating in service learning: almost 100%
- Students that report feeling safe: 87%
- Increase in reading and math scores (or over 90% passing): 100%
- Made AYP: 78%
Character Education AND Music
Why use music as a way to teach character education?
Music has positive effects on students’ emotions and creativity and it makes the learning process more fun!
- It is much easier for children to absorb information that is taught through rhythmic patterns and melodic phrases. It forces students to use several parts of their brain – language, hearing, and rhythmic motor control.
- Music also has positive effects on students’ emotions and creativity – and it makes the learning process much more fun! The lyrics get stuck in students’ heads just like songs from the radio do – so you’ve got phrases such as “Have a positive mindset – decide to give it your very best” running through their minds all day.
- Music makes people of all ages happy. It brings groups of people together and makes them feel more connected to one another. Children enjoy the break from their traditional way of learning.
Sources:
http://character.org/articles/character-education-important-tool-for-meeting-student-needs/
http://www.teach-nology.com/currenttrends/character_education/
http://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/the-value-of-character-education/
http://www.veanea.org/home/2227.htm
The Effects of Character Education on Student Behavior http://dc.etsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1863&context=etd