May 1998Promoting GoodnessEtzioni, Barber, Bennett on character education in schools
by PAUL D. HOUSTON
AASA’s executive director, in an overview to the essays on character education that follow, suggests the core mission of public schools always has been to promote civic virtue.
Similar Reading:
by BENJAMIN R. BARBER
For democracy to thrive, civic literacy deserves a place alongside science, math and English, argues the Walt Whitman professor of political science at Rutgers University.
by JIM CARNES
The director of the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Teaching Tolerance project says the most progressive work in schools today is aimed explicitly at building community.
by SANFORD N. MCDONNELL
The former CEO of McDonnell Douglas sees an essential role for schools in restoring the core values of our American heritage. Also: The Character Education Partnership’s 11 principles of effective character education in schools.
by ERIC SCHAPS AND CATHERINE C. LEWIS
The leadership of the Developmental Studies Center offers three qualities that are basic to fostering good citizens among school-age youth. Eric Schaps is president of the Developmental Studies Center, Oakland, Calif. Catherine Lewis is a senior researcher with the center.
by SHELDON H. BERMAN
Developing a social consciousness in the young means engaging them in meaningful activity, says the superintendent in Hudson, Mass. Also: Author's recommended resources.
by AMITAI ETZIONI
How schools deal with grades, sports and minor infractions has much to say about the direction of character development, says Amitai Etzioni, director of George Washington University’s Institute for Communitarian Policy Studies, Washington, D.C., and the founder of the Communitarian Network.
by William J. Bennett
The former U.S. education secretary says America’s founders recognized the highest priority of education was in cultivating honor, truth and integrity. William Bennett is co-director of Empower America, Washington, D.C.
School leaders interested in obtaining more information about character education program appropriate for elementary and secondary schools may wish to consult the following resource centers and current books and materials. Those below were suggested by the authors who contributed to this issue of The School Administrator.
Barbara Grohe by JAY GOLDMAN
Superintendent, Iowa City Community School District, Iowa City, Iowa
Better Flexibility, Tighter Curriculum Available in Trimester Plan by BOB MILLER
Principal, Forest City High School, Forest City, Iowa
A Client-Based System for Superintendent Evaluations by DON SENTI and LINDA H. SMITH
Superintendent, School District of Clayton, Clayton, Mo., and Linda Smith, president, Board of Education, Clayton, Mo.
Getting at the Roots of Superintendent Burnout by BARBARA K. GIVEN
Director of regulatory policy, Vermont Public Service Board, Montpelier, Vt.
‘The Only Investment That Never Fails’ by Karl V. Hertz
President, AASA
Overcoming Burnout and Mistrust in Times of Change by YVONNE KATZ
Superintendent, Beaverton School District, Beaverton, Ore.
Learning Styles May Answer Meddlesome School Board Members by BARBARA K. GIVEN
Associate professor of education, George Mason University, Fairfax, Va.
Where’s the Accountability in Education Reform? by DON FUHR
School Reform or Reform School? by PAUL D. HOUSTON