http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-930511.mp3
Albany, NY – "CHARACTER MATTERS: HOW TO HELP OUR CHILDREN DEVELOP GOOD JUDGMENT, INTEGRITY, AND OTHER ESSENTIAL VIRTUES"
Part One: The History of Character Education, and Incorporating It Into Classroom Curriculum -
Teen and student suicides are getting an extraordinary amount of media attention this Fall.
The issue has reignited the campaign against bullying. And in fact, last month was National Anti-Bullying Month in the U.S.
Many educators believe bullying is a national crisis. According to Department of Education statistics, one in three school children from grades six through 10 are affected by bullying and harassment.
It has prompted more and more schools and school districts to enforce year-round codes of conduct. This then brings the issue of character education forefront and center.
The Best of Our Knowledge found one of the most highly regarded national authorities on character education at the State University of New York at Cortland. Dr. Thomas Lickona is a developmental psychologist and professor of education.
Dr. Lickona has specialized in this field for 40-years. He's the author of the bestselling classic, "Educating for Character: How Our Schools Can Teach Respect and Responsibility." Another of his highly acclaimed books is "Character Matters: How To Help Our Children Develop Good Judgment, Integrity, and Other Essential Virtues."
Dr. Lickona directs the Center for the Fourth and Fifth Rs (respect and responsibility), and he served on the advisory council of the Character Education Partnership, a national coalition working to promote character development.
This week, we speak with him about the extensive history of character education, and how it can be incorporated into classroom curriculum.
Next week, we'll conclude our conversation by discussing the ten essential virtues of character education (including fortitude - the one he identifies with teen suicides) and we'll also get his suggestions for what parents can do.
Glenn Busby reports. (12:09)
**(For additional information about this story, or topic in general, Dr. Thomas Lickona suggests the following two web addresses: http://www2.cortland.edu/centers/character/ and www.character.org.)**
PERSONAL GUEST ESSAY:
"PINT-SIZED ECO-WARRIORS" -
Speaking of parents (as we were in our last story) exerting their influence as positive role models, children certainly learn about character and ethics by watching adults.
If you have any contact with children, you understand they can become dogmatic about things. Give them a cause they can believe in, and they often beat you over the head with it.
This is never more apparent than when it comes to the environment and climate change. Many of today's youth are turning into a band of eco-police - spying on parents and denouncing their poor recycling habits.
So parents of the world listen and learn from this week's humorous guest commentator. Michael Odell is from Great Britain.
Michael Odell comments. (4:14)
(These remarks were originally published in the program, Earth Beat, which comes from Radio Netherlands.)
THE ACADEMIC MINUTE
"OCEANS AND CLIMATE CHANGE" -
This week's episode features Dr. James Carlton, Professor of Marine Sciences and Director of the Williams College Mystic Seaport Maritime Studies Program.
The Academic Minute is hosted by Dr. Lynn Pasquerella, a celebrated philosopher and medical ethicist, and President of Mount Holyoke College. (2:30)