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Character Education in Action at California Elementary Schools!
State and Local Perspectives
Assembly
Concurrent Resolution No. 55 - Relative to character education in
public schools.
Filed with Secretary of State October 2, 2007.
Character
Education Month Resolution
State Board of Education Resolution recognizing October 2008 as
Character Education Month.
Education Code Section 233.5(s)
EC Section 233.5 is the heart of character and citizenship
education authority. It reads as follows:
“Each teacher shall endeavor to impress upon the minds
of the pupils the principles of morality, truth, justice, patriotism,
and a true comprehension of the rights, duties, and dignity of American
citizenship, and the meaning of equality and human dignity, including
the promotion of harmonious relations, kindness toward domestic
pets and the humane treatment of living creatures, to teach them
to avoid idleness, profanity, and falsehood, and to instruct them
in manners and morals and the principles of a free government. (b)
Each teacher is also encouraged to create and foster an environment
that encourages pupils to realize their full potential and that
is free from discriminatory attitudes, practices, events, or activities,
in order to prevent acts of hate violence, as defined in subdivision
(e) of Section 233.”
10 Ways Every Adult Can Demonstrate Character
1. Support high expectations and standards for positive behavior
for all students.
2. Ensure community efforts are fair and equitable, providing opportunities
for all youth to participate.
3. Work collaboratively with your colleagues; demonstrate mutual
respect, take initiative and accept responsibility.
4. Model character for youth who are watching your actions. Work
to be a positive influence.
5. Encourage your local school to blend character and good citizenship
into the academic program as a natural and essential common focus
agenda for school staff, parent and community partnerships.
6. Look for ways to provide opportunities for youth to practice
leadership and assume responsibility, providing service to others.
7. Hold yourself accountable for active, everyday citizenship in
your workplace, home, and neighborhood.
8. Identify ways to reengage our young people, particularly those
at high risk, in a positive manner.
9. Remember, it’s often the “small things” (ie.
manners, etc.) that work best to reinforce new ways of working,
sustain morale and achieve results.
10. Work to connect the generations, identifying and adopting positive
characteristics and breaking down the barriers to communication
and interaction.
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Get Involved
2010 California
Schools of Character Awards Program
Applications Due December 1, 2009
Sponsored by CYC, the annual awards program recognizes schools or
districts that demonstrate an outstanding character education
initiative that yields positive results in student behavior,
school climate, and academic performance. One applicant
is chosen each year as California’s nominee to the national
level competition, conducted by the Character Education Partnership.
Free to Learn
A Character-Based Approach for Teaching Good Citizenship
Free to Learn helps California’s high priority elementary
schools make improvements in their student citizenship program which
supports their efforts to meet requirements for academic achievement.
Using a research-based approach that is sensitive to current demands
on instructional time, the project anchors the teaching of character-related
behaviors for student growth into the academic program
for reading/language arts. In addition, Free to Learn provides the
necessary skill-based training and assistance to students and staff
in six areas critical to school success.
About Free to Learn
Materials
Free to Learn
Data Results
About Free to Learn
Trainings |
