When schools become the framework for constructing meaning for living and a bridge to understanding the value of a fulfilled life, students become proactive achievers discovering what it means to develop the potential for themselves and the world around them. Education is one of our most precious resources. As we continue to evaluate our goals, it is important to set forth curriculum standards and reform designs that clearly include character education and the conative domain of learning. Character education is the development of knowledge, skills, and abilities that enable the learner to make informed and responsible choices. It involves a shared educational commitment that emphasizes the responsibilities and rewards of productive living in a global a diverse society.
Character education enables students to come face to face with the realities of life.
It encourages them to think critically and then act responsibly. Instructional materials, methods, and strategies, when developed into interdisciplinary curricular themes, empower teachers to create meaning while allowing students time for purposeful exploration and self-reflection. To be effective, it should be integrated across the curriculum, thus promoting high self-esteem and the acquisition of school success. The basic tenets of thought in the character education curriculum center around the development of the whole child in an educational climate that nurtures academic success through building self-esteem. Students are encouraged to use their metacognitive skills to learn and internalize newly acquired knowledge and information.