Summary
Character education is a necessary element of school education, but it also carries some risks. Improper character education can turn into religious or ideological propaganda aimed at students. Therefore, the teacher has a great responsibility for choosing the ethical and moral basis. I believe the Golden Rule is the most beneficial aspect of character education. According to Puka (n.d.), “the most familiar version of the Golden Rule says, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (para. 1). There are several reasons why I chose this aspect of character education. This ethical concept is one of the most widespread; most of the world religions and several minor ones postulate this principle. The Golden Rule is very easy to understand for all age groups of students. Moreover, it does not lead in any way to any ideologies, unlike, for example, utilitarianism. One can see that the Golden Rule is one of the most inclusive and safe ethical concepts.
The Problem of Subjectivity of Character Education
Differing ideological, religious, or cultural motives are the problem with character education that worries me the most. It is no secret that each teacher has a unique background that consists of different cultural, religious, and even ideological elements. It leads to each educator teaching students differing discrepant virtues and vices. Diverse values positively affect philosophical discourse, but the lack of consensus on common ethical principles that all members of society would follow could lead to conflicts. Moreover, the worldview of the teacher can differ significantly from that of the students. It means that some students could be offended by what the teacher tells them, which often undermines the student’s entire learning process.
References
Puka, B. (n.d.). The Golden Rule. In J. Fieser & B. Dowden (Eds.), Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Web.