Let’s take bullying for instance…

 *It is nowcommon knowledge that bullying often has a lasting negative effect on developing children. Whether the child is the bully, the bullied, or the bystander the experience can seriously affect all aspects of his or her life.There are many scenarios: some children may turn inward and disassociate fromsocial life, some may become indifferent, some may develop violent behaviors that can be carried over into adult life, and then there are those who develop strength and resolve from bullying experiences. In each of these cases,parenting/mentoring plays an essential role. In any case, we cannot afford to leave bullying unchecked.

 And so it goes similarly for most character education themes. They are a critical developmental aspect of our children’s education where parenting or mentoring, the latter of which is often the role of the classroom teacher, is essential.

 However, educators today, in particular the classroom teacher, face greater challenges than ever before. Teaching English and diversity along with math and drug awareness is no small feat, but when we consider that the well being of our children lies in the balance, it is well worth the effort. The key is to design character education programs that support core curriculum requirements through solid integration of disciplines and meeting of educational standards.

 This blog seeks to dialog about the complete education of our children. How do we provide them with the full complement of tools, from math to positive self-esteem, which is necessary for them to compete in an increasingly competitive global work force? More importantly, how do we achieve that goal while also developing conscientious global citizens with a healthy respect for humanity and nature?

*From the Let's All Play! Teachers Guide from Rodro Books for Character Education.