Grass-Roots Character Education Programs--A Study of the Need, Implementation, and Effect in Public Elementary Schools

Abstract

This qualitative study took place in a single school district in the northwest United States. The purpose of this study was to explore the need, implementation, and the effect of a grass-roots character education program in public elementary schools. To narrow the field of 31 elementary schools in the district, the elementary school principals and one staff member at each of those sites were surveyed. Three schools were selected after the survey. Fifteen participants were interviewed using a semi-structured guide. Each of the staff members was interviewed three times. The parents and students were interviewed twice. Responses were audio recorded and later transcribed. Common themes emerged from the interviews. The themes that emerged in this study were shared leadership, action, principal implementation, teacher implementation, caring adults, and parent and community implementation. The final theme, assessment, emerged as questions related to the outcome or effect of character education was posed to participants. The participant responses indicated that a character education program is in place at each of the schools. Each school implemented and assessed the character education program differently. It is reasonable to conclude that public schools need character education programs because schools are charged to produce good citizens that are able to function in society. Many in our society are not prepared to become good citizens in any location other than the public school. The steps necessary to implement a character education program vary but all of the participant school programs implemented strategies that are consistent with the frameworks identified in the study. Finding ways for the parents and students, as well as the staff members, to assess the effect of the character education program at their site is a challenge that remains. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone [phone]. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]