Building Character in Schools: Practical Ways to Bring Moral Instruction to Life

Young people in America today face a crisis of character. Traditional role models continue to disappoint the public, falling short of expectations and fostering cynicism rather than idealism. As a result, many young people struggle to distinguish right from wrong and seem indifferent to whether it matters. It clearly becomes the task of parents and schools to re-engage the hearts and minds of our children in forming their own characters. In Building Character in Schools, Kevin Ryan and Karen Bohlin draw from nearly fifty years of combined field experience to offer a practical guide to character education - designed to help children to know the good, love the good, and do the good. Ryan and Bohlin provide a blueprint for educators who wish to translate a personal commitment to character education into a schoolwide vision and effort. They outline the principles and strategies of effective character education and explain what schools must do to teach students the habits and dispositions that lead to responsible adulthood - from developing curriculum that reinforces good character development to strengthening links with parents. A useful resource section includes sample lessons, program guidelines, and a parents' list of ways to promote character in their children. Building Character in Schools clearly defines the responsibilities of adults and students in modeling and nurturing character and sets forth practical guidelines for schools seeking to become communities of virtue where responsibility, hard work, honesty, and kindness are modeled, taught, expected, celebrated, and continually practiced.

Table of Contents:
Character Education: What Is It and Why Is It Important?; Views, Values, or Virtues?; Building a Community of Virtue; Cultivating Character Through the Curriculum; Engaging Parents in Character Education; The Teacher's Work: Nurturing Character; Helping Students Take Command; APPENDICES: GOOD IDEAS; A. The Character Education Manifesto; B. A Seven-Point Program; C. An Overview of the Virtues; D. The Montclair Kimberly Academy Declaration; E. The Boston University Educators Affirmation; F. Character Quotes; APPENDICES: ACTION STRATEGIES; G. One Hundred Ways to Bring Character Education to Life; H. Pitfalls to Avoid in Character Education; I. Ten Commandments for Parents; APPENDICES: CURRICULUM; J. Exemplary Moral Education Curricula; K. Sample Mini-Unit: "Jonah and the Whale"; L. Sample Mini-Unit: Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes; M. Sample Mini-Unit: The Little Prince.

About the Author :
KEVIN RYAN is founding director of the Center for the Advancement of Ethics and Character at Boston University. KAREN E. BOHLIN is assistant director of the Center for the Advancement of Ethics and Character at Boston University.

Review :
"Clearly delineates the difference between the trendiness of current 'values' education and the timeliness of moral instruction....Without preaching, Ryan and Bohlin have written a book that is important, enjoyable reading for anyone concerned with contemporary education." --Publishers Weekly "For those willing to take up the task of teaching ethics, the book provides a practical blueprint for teachers, schools, and parents." --Booklist "A quiet, modest and sensible book that gently aims to nudge its readers toward the path of virtue. It's a book full of practical advice which should prove quite useful for any teacher struggling to make her school something better than just another rule-laden, amoral bureaucracy." --Washington Times "Building Character in Schools offers American parents and teachers precisely what we need and so sorely lack--a moral vision of how we ought to live with one another and the heart of what 'character education' is meant to teach us: an ethics that is affirmed in our day-to-day engagement with our fellow human beings." --Robert Coles, professor of psychiatry and medical humanities, Harvard University "Each day I become more convinced that the moral degradation of our society stems primarily from the lack of character development in both our homes and our schools. Henry David Thoreau taught, 'for every thousand striking at the leaves of evil there is one striking at the roots.' This book strikes at the roots. Building Character in Schools is a timely, well written, immensely practical, breakthrough book that will awaken our minds and hearts and remind us of our moral obligation to our greatest resource and our future: our children." --Stephen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, NOTE: Per the Andorser's request, use only for book jacket. "This is a book that is packed with practical and inspiring wisdom about what schools, families, and young people themselves can do to build good character. It should lift the nation's rapidly growing character education movement to a new level of maturity." --Thomas Lickona, director, Center for the 4th and 5th Rs (Respect and Responsibility) "Character building is hard work. Teachers and principals are ready for the strategies that help them partner with parents in moral instruction. This is the book that will meet their needs." --Diane G. Berreth, deputy executive director, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development "A model of character education that will be embraced by both the 'Right' and the 'Left.' Ultimately, the book provides a plan of action for individuals and community alike and will go a long way in cultivating character in our nation's youth." --Jewish World Review