Every subject area, every teaching method, every attitude, every action of student or teacher is a means of training character. Character training is taking place throughout the day, no matter what else is being taught. The sobering question each teacher must ask is, “Am I teaching right character or wrong character?” The teacher who maintains an orderly, structured classroom and expects the students to work hard to learn content, whether they feel like it or not, is teaching them to
- respect authority.
- pay attention.
- obey willingly and immediately.
- apply themselves to the task at hand.
- learn rules and apply them.
- do their best.
- learn to love hard work.
- understand how things work together.
- finish the job.
- do right because it’s right to do right.
- work hard to get the right answer.
- know that there is a right answer.
- love wisdom.
- choose things that are excellent.
- develop habits of orderliness, carefulness, alertness, obedience, persistence, honesty, accomplishment, cooperation, faithfulness, accuracy, industry, perseverance, self-control, attentiveness, fairness, thoroughness, confidence, responsibility, decisiveness, effort, steadfastness, discipline, endurance, helpfulness, reasonableness, neatness, patience, judgment, loyalty, and respect.