With concerns about student violence, drug abuse and sex activity, character education in schools is attracting interest. But given the pressures to improve academic performance, why should schools worry about character education? Here are eight reasons why:

1. Helping to make people good is part of education's job.
People expect schools to not only make children smart but to make them good, to turn out good citizens and leaders. Character education addresses that expectation.

2. Learning is impossible without some degree of good character.
Diligence, respect for the teacher and one another, cooperation-these character traits are essential for a class to function and homework to get done. Integrity is necessary to avoid cheating. Character education is like maintaining the school building. It is simply sustaining a safe and comfortable context for learning.

3. Character determines how knowledge is used.
Passing on knowledge and skills is not an end in itself. Schools teach what they do to help citizens make a valuable contribution to society. Character education helps shape citizens who want to use their knowledge to help and not hurt others.

4. It helps prevent school problems.
Good character precludes the bullying, cheating, disruptive behavior and vandalism that take up so much time and energy away from the enterprise of teaching.

5. It enhances students' and teachers' morale.
Teachers want to help their students become good people and students want to be good people. Discussing good character and the ethical meaning of class topics is uplifting amidst the many challenges students and teachers face at school.

6. It makes intentional and more consistent what every school already does--teach values.
The faculty and staff are always conveying in word and deed what values are important and what are not. There may be many mixed messages without them realizing it. Character education helps ensure that the most worthy values are highlighted to young people.

7. It supports the good in students' home life and helps compensate for lacks.
Parents are already trying to shape their children's character, but they have their limitations. In addition, the child often spends more time at school than at home. Character education in school reinforces the parents' efforts and makes up for what the parent may not be able to do.

8. It enriches the community and helps prevent social problems.
Selfish, disrespectful and dishonest employees and neighbors can only be a burden to the community. Helping shape altruistic and responsible citizens pays countless dividends in terms of both the crimes prevented and the contributions they make.

For more insights about character education, moral development, emotional and social learning, character-based prevention education and family life education, see Cultivating Heart and Character: Educating for Life's Most Essential Goals