What is character education? Actually, character education has a meaning and function as well as its urgency. So in this article we will explain the purpose of character education, its educational goals and what is the urgency so that we can add to our shared knowledge.
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Definition of Character Education
Character education is an education that is carried out consciously, planned, for students so that they can empower students to build personal character, so that later they become good and useful individuals for themselves and their surroundings.
So, character education is a teaching model that is carried out to instill certain character values in students, where there are components of knowledge, awareness and willingness and there are actions to carry out certain values.
This education is more familiar with moral education, where the purpose of a person’s development is to continuously educate character and noble values in himself so that he or she can improve himself in a better direction continuously without stopping
Understanding Character Education According to Experts
After we understand it in general, we now see how the definition of character education is more specific according to the severe ali.
1. Thomas Lickona
Thomas Lickona said that the purpose of character education is a deliberate effort to help someone so they can understand, pay attention and be able to carry out ethical values well.
2. T. Ramli
Meanwhile, according to T Ramli, he saw that this education was education that prioritized the essence and meaning of morals and good morals so that it could form a good personality.
3. John W. Santrock
He said that this is a form of education that is directly carried out for students to obtain moral values, and provides lessons for students in an effort to prevent prohibited behavior.
4. Elkind
According to Elkind, this is an educational method that is applied by students to influence the character of students. So in this case, the role of a student is not only to teach lessons to his students but also to be a noble example.
Character Education Function
Ok, we already know how to understand character education, either in general or based on experts in their fields. Now is the time for us to see what the functions of education are.
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In general, the function of education is to form a student who is good, noble, noble, tolerant, and has noble character. Here are some of the functions of character education:
- Build and strengthen the behavior of society which consists of many cultures and cultures
- Building a civilization that competes in international life
- To develop the basic potential in humans, so that they become individuals who are positive thinking, have good thoughts, and have good behavior
This educational model must be done from an early age when the children are still small, by utilizing various media. The process of forming character education is in the family environment, school environment, the environment around the house.
Character Education Goals
The basic purpose of Character education is to create human beings who have moral character, are tough, noble, tolerant, cooperative, and have morals.
So, in order for the noble goals of character education to be achieved, students must be instilled with noble values that come from religion, the foundation of the Pancasila state, and from the cultural values of the nation. The noble values from these various sources are as follows:
- Discipline
- Honesty
- Attitude of tolerance
- Hard work
- Independence
- Creative
- Democratic attitude
- Spirit of nationality
- Curiosity
- Love the homeland
- Friendly attitude
- Appreciate achievements
- Like to read
- Love peace
- Care for the environment
- Responsibility
- Care social
- Religious
What is the Importance of Character Education
This education is very important in our life, our children’s life. This is an age of globalization that continues. Globalization provides many benefits and advantages for us but also cannot be separated from the negative impacts that are extremely dangerous for our children who are wallowing in the world of this globalization.
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Thus, the education is a shield so that children do not fall into promiscuity, do not fall into prostitution crimes, immoral crimes, do not rob, kill, abuse drugs and other crimes that arise due to globalization.
Teaching about character should even be an obligation to be given to children from an early age. An expert named Thomas Lickona, said that character education must be given early on for several reasons as follows:
- The best way to make sure the child has a good character in his personality
- Helping to get children’s academic achievement
- Some children cannot form strong characters for themselves
- Forming a personality that can respect and respect others in a pluralistic life
- Important efforts in overcoming social moral problems such as dishonesty, disrespect, low work ethic and others.
- Teaching cultural values to children who are part of a good civilization.
This is the importance of this education for children and it is important to implement and teach it from an early age. So in this case the role of teachers, parents, lecturers and other teaching staff is important because if the education provided by them does not reflect nobility then they will be damaged.
That is our review of the meaning of character education, its function, purpose and importance or urgency in living this millennial life. Hopefully useful and can add to our knowledge.
