Character Development Center
The Character Development Center was established in the late nineties as one of the first organizations focusing on emerging interest in the character development of children and youth, the growing need to implement character education in schools, and the recognized demand to prepare teachers, parents, and others for their role as character educators.
The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically…Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Character education is an inclusive term embracing all aspects of how schools, related social institutions and parents can support the positive character development of children and adults.... Relevant virtues include honesty, justice and fairness, trustworthiness, responsibility, respect, altruism, patience, perseverance, appreciation of diversity, and courage.... For a school to foster character development, it must provide a positive social environment characterized by leadership; collegiality; a learning orientation among faculty; and ties among school, home, and community. Finally, practicing the virtues of civic engagement, civility, and citizenship and embracing the values of democracy are necessary for developing character in both the child and the community.” (Mobilizing for Evidence-Based Character Education, U.S. Department of Education, 2007)
We believe that education for human service must be grounded in the public’s desire for ethical, civic-minded, character-based leaders and citizens.
It is the Center’s responsibility to provide services and resources to schools, families, communities, K-12 educators and students, teacher educators, community agency leaders and others interested in educating the “hearts and minds” of children and youth.