Great Schools Issue Paper Snapshot Character Education Character education has always been part of the American system of public education.
Character education is about teaching values to students.
Despite arguments that teaching values is difficult because people can't agree on what values to teach, surveys show widespread agreement on a basic set of values. Issues Parents want and expect schools to reinforce positive values that are commonly held in their community. Schools play a role in promoting values. Parents and peers have the greatest impact on young people's values. What public school teachers and school employees do best is reinforce the values that parents impress on their children.