Character Education is becoming part of everyday life in schools. We continue to read online and in the educational press about pastoral, social and moral care for pupils.There is more and more being written about how teachers could help their pupils develop good character traits as well as teaching them their academic work.
Earlier this year BBC Radio 4 devoted a hour a day for a week to good manners. In America, Character Education is becoming everyday school life and even described as vital. It is now really beginning to take root here in the United Kingdom. The UK government pledged £3.5 million in 2015 towards projects for Character Education. This year there are further grants available for schools and organisations who are helping pupils broaden learning experiences and boosting good character traits.
Character Education was brilliantly described to me by James O’Shaughnessy of Floreat Education . He sees it as ‘a process, a thorough and long-term attempt to develop virtue throughout school life. It is necessarily comprehensive and driven by teachers modelling good character.’
Indeed Wellington College hosts the Festival of Education (on 23/24 June 2016) where of course the brilliant Sir Anthony Seldon was the Headmaster and forefather of happiness education in this country. There is even a worldwide conference happening in Dallas in July IPEN, the International Positive Education Network. It is all fabulous stuff.
There are many books published for teachers to train them in teaching character education. My question is what book can be given to the children? How can we engage them with something of their own?
There are some fun teen journals and some wonderfully creative colouring books but there is one notebook that is Flying the Flag for Character Education.It is already published, it is called Wisdom While You Work: An Inspirational Notebook . It highlights many of the topics, and more, that are discussed within the positive development of children’s characters. It is a guide to enhance best character traits with everyday values and codes for life. It should be seen as the handbook to Character Education in the UK, helping parents and schools roll out these values. Already selling into schools and totalling over 1500 copies sold, this notebook from which the pupils can enjoy and learn is essential for all young people today.
For more information email the author Libbla Kelly go online or call +44 (0) 7778 299149.
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