Character Matters - How to Help Our Children Develop Good Judgment, Integrity, and Other

Zusatztext Dr. Stephen R. Covey author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People What an absolutely marvelous book! Greatly needed in restoring the character ethic in a techno/materialistic-obsessed world. Character is primary greatness; prestige is secondary greatness. Extremely valuable practical resource for every parent and teacher. Great gift book. Informationen zum Autor Thomas Lickona, author of Educating for Character, winner of a Christopher Award "For Affirming the Highest Values of the Human Spirit" Klappentext In "Why Character Matters," a leader in the character education movement and author of the landmark book, "Educating for Character," Likona now lays out 100 specific strategies that will help parents as well as teachers instill children with the values that will help them lead good and successful lives. Introduction Portraits of character touch something deep in the human heart. In the award-winning Civil War documentary by Ken Burns, one of the most commented on and moving moments was the reading of a letter written by a Union soldier, Major Sullivan Ballou, to his wife, Sarah, a week before his death at the Battle of Bull Run: My very dear Sarah, The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days -- perhaps tomorrow. Lest I should not be able to write again, I feel impelled to write a few lines that may fall under your eye when I shall be no more. I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in, the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter. I know how strongly American Civilization now leans on the triumph of the Government, and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and sufferings of the Revolution. And I am willing -- perfectly willing -- to lay down all my joys in this life to help maintain this Government, and to pay that debt.... Sarah, my love for you is deathless...and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me irresistibly on to the battle field. The memories of the blissful moments I have spent with you come creeping over me, and I feel most gratified to God and to you that I have enjoyed them so long....I have, I know, but few and small claims upon Divine Providence, but something whispers to me -- perhaps it is the wafted prayer of my little Edgar, that I shall return to my loved ones unharmed. If I do not, my dear Sarah, never forget how much I love you, and when my last breath escapes me on the battle field, it will whisper your name. Here was a humble man, a courageous man, who loved his family and loved his country and, spurred on by high ideals, did his duty as he saw it without complaining. Tom Brokaw, interviewing veterans of World War II in his best-selling book The Greatest Generation was struck by many of the same qualities. September 11 produced abundant examples of unassuming heroism and sacrificial generosity. We are moved by these stories of character because they show us human beings at their best. They reveal our capacity for goodness. They challenge us to be more than we might otherwise be. And they renew our faith in every child´s potential to grow into a person of character. As we begin a new century, we have a sharper sense of how much character matters. We need good character to lead purposeful, productive, and fulfilling lives. We need character to have strong and stable families. We need character to have safe, caring, and effective schools. We need character to build a civil, decent, and just society. We are troubled, however, by the unraveling of the moral fabric of our society. In a recent national poll, nearly three of four American adults said that they believe that people in general lead less honest and moral lives than they used to.1 Says a high school teacher, "Kids today are more cynical than ever about the lack of honesty they see in t...

Product details

• Authors: Thomas Lickona, Tom Lickona
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster USA
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 03.02.2004
• EAN: 9780743245074
• ISBN: 978-0-7432-4507-4
• No. of pages: 336
• Dimensions: 140 mm x 210 mm x 19 mm
• Subject: Guides > Self-help, everyday life > Family