I’ve been on the road for CEP lately, exhibiting at a few conferences. So I’ve had the opportunity to talk to quite a few teachers, and many are feeling burned out. They’re tired of being the media scapegoats for all that is wrong with education.
There’s even a Facebook page where teachers are posting Letters to Obama where they share their frustrations and concerns about education and hope to influence the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. I’ve been dismayed by much of the rhetoric, and wondered how CEP can help.
At the BOOST conference in Palm Springs, California, I met two elementary school teachers who told me they were just biding their time until they could retire because they were so disenchanted. In response I started telling them about one of CEP’s recently named National School of Character. I told them about Sullivan Primary School, a PreK-1st grade school in southern Missouri. What struck me about the school is that these 4, 5, and 6 year old students were leaders. Every student I spoke to knew that if there’s a conflict, they “talk it out, work it out or walk it out [on the “peace path” drawn on the school playground.
But equally impressive to me was their involvement in service learning. These students were doing amazing things. They made pottery bowls with character words (such as “sharing”) on them for a Bowls for Hunger soup night for the homeless. They made quilts for a homeless shelter. Each child brought in a favorite piece of clothing they could no longer wear to be cut up for the quilt squares. Students sewed the squares together and wrote stories about their pieces of clothing. These stories were compiled into a book that was given with the quilt.
As I was describing the school, the two teachers started to get energized and one said, “I wish our school could do things like that.” The other said they were getting a new principal and maybe they could get her to attend CEP’s upcoming Forum. One of the strengths of the Forum is that our exemplar schools all present breakout sessions, so conference participants can see what effective character education looks like.
Coming to the conference really does inspire and energize teachers. At the end of one conference, a participant placed the following note on our message board: “This week makes me wish I had a do over for my whole teaching career.”
I know the old song goes “I left my heart in San Francisco,” but I think teachers will “find their heart” in San Francisco. Whether you’re new to character education or just want to network and share, the 17th National Forum on Character Education, Oct. 27-30, in San Francisco will ignite your passion for teaching. Teachers, administrators, counselors and community leaders will find myriad ideas to take back to their schools.
So for the next few months, this blog will focus on conference highlights and fun things to do in San Francisco. I invite those of you who’ve been to the Forum before to share what you’ve liked. What are you hoping to see and learn this year? Why should educators attend?
So relevant! As a counselor at Birmingham Public Schools in Michigan, where we have been particularly hit hard by rough economic times, we have see an outright assault on Educators. All the while, our teachers work extremely hard to provide an educational environment that fosters the critical thinking skills and application of their programs. It’s very understandable that teachers can feel burned out after all the effort they put into their jobs in the face of cuts and the rhetoric you speak of. I will say that one way to combat those feelings is to commune with like-minded individuals and network with others whom share your passion for education, professional development, and character. No better way to accomplish this than to attend the National Forum on Character (CEPForum10)! You will feel energized and engaged with great minds – and joyful colleagues. I highly encourage everyone involved in education to attend.
The example of 4, 5, and 6 year-olds being leaders with integrity is encouraging, but what about those rebellious, jaded teen years? Does the conference provide concrete ideas for high schools to create a bully-free, caring, and responsible environment?
The conference definitely offers sessions and resources for high school teachers. As a retired high school teacher myself, I know that doing character education at that level is challenging. But the payoff can be even more powerful at the high school level than in an elementary school. There’s a sampling of breakout sessions listed on our website now, I hope to have the full list up soon. Here are just three sessions I’d recommend “You Can Count on Me” led by high school teachers from a 2008 NSOC;”Step Up to the Mic” led by English teacher Amanda Cordes; and “Service Learning: Real, Relevant, Engaging”–taught by Cathy Berger Kaye;
Weaving character into the fabric of your school definitely helps to retain teachers and maintain positive morale throughout your school family. Many of the ideas that we’ve implemented at Westwood Elementary (NSOC 2009) over the past eight years have come from seeds planted at CEP’s Forum. It’s incredibly energizing to surround yourself with other character educators and mentors from all over the nation and beyond for three days of non-stop collaboration and professional and personal learning opportunities. There’ll be sessions appropriate for students of every age, so do yourself a favor and make your plans now to join us for this amazing experience, one that will undoubtedly add value to your character building.
SC: FYI, there ARE LAWS that govern the agendas you speak of while there are no laws at this moment that govern same-sex marriages or civil unions. There are 5 or fewer States that permit same-sex marriages or civil unions, but what is that to you on a personal level? These individuals have not invaded your life-style nor invited you into their bedroom; quite frankly, you have no beef with them other than the fact that their belief opposes yours and your ideal of Utopia. If indeed a same-sex relationship is against God, then leave it to God to deal with; otherwise, as a believer in Biblical Scriptures, you are violating Gods admonishment Judge not, lest ye be judged.