Volumes could be written on this topic, but I tried to keep it short. I AM
passionate about Character Education, I think it should be part of every childs
exucation, to educatate the whole child. I've been a participant in Smokey
Creek School for Girls for many years, it's basically a "charm school." But
the content is actually all Character Education. Here are my short answers to
your questions.
1. Why are you so passionate about character
education in school? Do you feel it is something that
children today are missing in other areas of their
lives?
There are many reasons I am passionate about character education in school.
The first reason I’m passionate is because every human being deserves to be
treated with dignity and respect. By providing character education for all
children, we can be good role models, and help students discover other good
role models among their community, rather than allowing the media to tell our
children what kinds of role models they should have.The second reason being, it
isn’t being taught in all homes today. Yes I believe character education is
missing among young people today. More and more we see single parent families
that are stretched to the limit, children being raised by children, and
unsupervised latch key kids. I am passionate because I was raised to respect my
elders, be kind, and use good manners. I’m passionate because my parents and
grandparents were passionate about it. I’m passionate about character
education because everyone needs it.
> 2. How are our children learning values today?
> Who/what do you think are the most prevalent teachers
> in their lives today? Is this a good or bad thing?
Children are learning the wrong values today through the media, by way of
violent movies and explicit sex, music videos that herald drug use and putting
down females, music with fowl language, and violent video games. I consider
the media to be one of the prevalent teachers of values in our children’s lives
today, and it is not a good thing.
When I ask myself what’s the difference between how values were taught in 1955
and how they are taught in 2004? My answer is that prayer in school was not
prohibited but rather it was encouraged, children would stand to recite the
Pledge of Allegiance and not feel as though their rights were being violated,
and more families sat down together to eat a meal and socialize. I really do
believe these factors have had a great deal of impact on the values our
children are learning today.
> 3. Liguori Publications is coming out with my latest
> book very soon. It's called, "Youth Mentoring: Your
> Gift to the Next Generation." I believe that we can
> all become casual/ spontaneous mentors to children in
> our lives, neighborhoods, families, etc. I tell how in
> the book. Of course, I also talk about the values of
> formal, one-on-one and in-school mentoring programs as
> well. Do you feel that we all have some responsibility
 to help teach this nation's/world's kids good values?
Yes I do feel that we all have some responsibility to help teach the
nation/world’s children good values. Every human being in the world desires to
be treated with dignity and respect, no matter the age, sex, race or what
ever. Therefore, in order to be respected, everyone must model and teach it,
if we are to contribute to teaching positive values. I learned it from my
parents, teachers, and spiritual leaders. It will not carry over to the next
generation unless I pass it on.
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