Robert Holland, The Lexington Institute
March 2003
In this short report, Robert Holland argues that charter schools can play a unique role in character education because parents and students can choose the approach that appeals to them, sidestepping the divisive questions that surround character education in public schools. The author highlights several interesting character education programs in charter schools, including the Character Counts program used at the Stepping Stones Academy in Phoenix, which emphasizes six traits called Pillars of Character; the "Literacy and Values" program used at Red Bank Charter School in New Jersey, which uses literature to emphasize values and character traits; and the National Heritage Academies, which each month emphasize a different character trait based on such Cardinal Virtues as justice, temperance, prudence, and fortitude. To get a copy, go to http://www.lexingtoninstitute.org/education/0303.pdf.
