Developing a moral, personal and social character in local primary school children

Abstract

Schooling today cannot forgo one of the major aspects of education, that is, Character Education. There are many reasons for including it ... Character Education is and always has been an important part of education, is especially needed in today's society, cannot be avoided and is the foundation for academic excellence. Last but not least, all education can be said to be Character Education if it is to cater for the holistic development of our learners. This thesis is a case in favour of this sphere of education which, most often, indirectly infiltrates all levels of teaching and learning in our Maltese schools. While it tries to define what is meant by character and explores the features that constitute it mostly one's values, the thesis is also a search for the key elements that can trigger its full implementation in our Maltese primary schools and doing so in an innovative and creative way, that is, using storytelling based on fables. This leads to the formulation of a curricular design that interested teachers can easily apply in their classrooms, not as a recipe but something that can be adapted according to their specific needs. Up till now, Character Education that helps the learners grow morally, personally and socially was either left to chance from what the learners themselves picked up from the "hidden curriculum" or from what they gather from the scheduled P.S.D. sessions that frequently get annulled due to both curricular and extracurricular activities. The thesis reflects the necessity of catering for character in a conscious and continuous manner and gives a general idea of how this can be brought about by all stakeholders interested in the education of the up-coming generation.