Finding Common Ground: Character Development in Ontario Schools, K-12
Webcast: December 11, 2006Scroll down to access archived streaming video.
Contributing Voices:
Jessica Abraham: Student Trustee, Kawartha Pine Ridge DSB;
Sylvia Berger: Secondary MID Class Teacher, York Region DSB;
Nina Chahal: Manager, Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat, Parent and Community Leader
George Zegarac: Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Planning and Elementary/Secondary Programs Division
Dominic Giroux: Assistant Deputy Minister, French-Language and Educational Operations Division
Dr. Marvin Berkowitz: Researcher, University of Missouri St. Louis
Norman Bethune: Chair of the Board, Grey Bruce Catholic DSB
Arthur Birenbaum: Grade 6 Teacher, York Region DSB
Patrick Cureton: Director of Education, Grey Bruce Catholic DSB, Catholic Boards Resource Team Leader
Valerie Cuthbert: Grade 4 Teacher, Simcoe County DSB
Mary Ellen French: Vice-principal on Special Assignment: Character Education, Kawartha Pine Ridge DSB; Central Region Resource Team Leader
Dr. Philip Fitch Vincent; The Character Education Partnership
Yvonne Gilinsky: Principal, York Region DSB
LaVerna Greene: Aboriginal Advisor, Keewatin-Patricia DSB
John Havercroft: Superintendent of Education, York Region DSB, Southern Region Resource Team Leader
Bill Hogarth: Director of Education, York Region DSB
Larry Hope: Superintendent of Schools, Keewatin-Patricia DSB; North Western Region Resource Team Leader
Craig Kielburger: Activist, Author, Free the Children founder
Denise LeFaive: Grade 3 Teacher, Simcoe County DSB
Lindsey Martin-Penny: Teacher-librarian, Simcoe County DSB; Ontario's Students' Voices
Deanna Pacheco: Principal, Keewatin-Patricia DSB
Lucia Reece: Superintendent of Education, Algoma DSB; Northeastern Ontario Resource Team Leader
Stephen Rensink: Teacher Facilitator, York Region DSB
Dr. Merle Schwartz: Education and Research Coordinator, The Character Education Partnership
Steve Travers: Custodian, Simcoe County DSB
Justin Trudeau: Youth and Environmental Advocate
Janet Wilkinson, Director of Education, Keewatin-Patricia DSB, North Western Region Resource Team Leader.
Character Development in Ontario Schools, K-12
The government of Ontario has made improvement in publicly funded education the centrepiece of its mandate. Research indicates that education is at its best when it focuses on supporting the development of the whole student.
Character development is a foundation of our publicly funded education system, is the cornerstone of a civil, just, and democratic society, and is the responsibility of parents, families, schools, and communities.
Ontario's population is becoming increasingly diverse. There is a growing need to find common ground on the values we share. Character development is about community development. Engaging the community in sharing the responsibility for character development is essential.
Effective character development is embedded in the total life of the school and community, and impacts on students' success during the school years and beyond. It must be intentionally infused in our policies, practices, programs, and interactions.
Finding Common Ground: Character Development in Ontario Schools, K-12 features provincial and international experts in the field of character development. You will hear educators discuss the essential role character development plays in addressing the cognitive, affective, and behavioural domains of the whole student.
The purpose of this webcast is to inspire dialogue, reflection, and action as participants explore critical aspects of effective character development in their learning communities. The following questions are provided as a guide for further reflective conversations:
- How can we intentionally embed character development in all that we do?
- How can we include all stakeholders in finding common ground?
- How can we effectively communicate the intent and principles of the character-development initiative?
- How can we build school cultures that value relationships?
- How can we actively and purposefully engage students in this initiative?
- What evidence will indicate that character development is embedded in the culture of our workplaces/schools?
- How can we share leadership for this initiative?
- How can we network to learn from the experiences of other boards?
And? - What specific role can I play in supporting this initiative?
- How do I assess the impact of character development on the academic and well-being of my students and staff?
"We must remember that education alone is not enough. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of a true education."
Martin Luther King Jr.
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