Links
The following organizations and websites are provided as a service to viewers. Their inclusion should not be viewed as an endorsement of their programs or services.
ASCD CHARACTER EDUCATION NETWORK -- sponsored by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and Boston University's Center for the Advancement of Ethics and Character, its primary mission is to be useful to teachers and administrators as they struggle with the ethical and character formation aspect of their work.
Address: Kevin Ryan, Boston University, School of Education, 605 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215.
Phone: (617) 353-3262
CALIFORNIA 3Rs PROJECT -- is a non-profit, non-partisan education program of The Freedom Forum First Amendment Center and Peabody College, both at Vanderbilt University, and the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association. The Project is built on the conviction that the guiding principles of the First Amendment stand at the heart of a democracy and at the foundation of citizenship in a diverse society. With rapidly expanding ethnic and religious diversity in the nation, the Project helps schools answer the question, "How do we live with our deepest differences?" The 3Rs Project addresses this question by reaffirming the shared civic principles of the Religious Liberty clauses of the First Amendment: Rights, Responsibilities and Respect.
Address: California 3Rs Project, 777 Camino Pescadero, Isia Vista, California 93117.
Phone: (805) 961-9335
CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PA CHARACTER EDUCATION INSTITUTE -- Directed by Henry Huffman, the Institute provides character education support to school districts, higher education, businesses, and parents; facilitates research; and offers character education graduate work and inservice education.
Address: Character Education Institute, California University of Pennsylvania, 250 University Avenue, Box 75, California, Pennsylvania 15419-1394.
Phone: (724) 938-4500
Fax: (724) 938-4156
E-mail: PAUL@cup.edu.
CENTER FOR CHARACTER EDUCATION -- represents an academic alliance of schools and universities, bringing together educators interested in implementing a new model for moral education known as the "Integrated Character Education Model." This model is based on the view that, in a person of mature character, knowledge, affect and action are integrated.
Address: Duquesne University, School of Education, 410 Canevin Hall, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282.
Phone: (412) 434-5191
CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF ETHICS AND CHARACTER -- at Boston University promotes the reintroduction of ethical standards and character formation within our nation's elementary schools. Dedicated to helping schools recapture their role as moral educators, the Center has developed a model that emphasizes the curriculum as the primary vehicle for transmitting moral values to the young. The Center publicizes this model primarily through its "Teacher Academies" for elementary and secondary teachers and administrators. A similar program is directed toward college and university faculty responsible for the preparation of future teachers. The Center is also involved in researching and developing curricular materials for use by schools, teachers, and parents.
Address: Boston University, School of Education, 605 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215.
Phone: (617) 353-3262
http://www.bu.edu/education/caec
COOPERATING SCHOOL DISTRICTS (CSD) -- PREP or Personal Responsibility Education Process is a division of CSD, an educational consortium that provides staff development, cooperative purchasing, technology, legislative and financial services to 47 public school districts in the greater St. Louis metropolitan area. CSD services reach 486 schools and over 281,381 teachers - or nearly one-third of Missouri students. CSD has recently published Character Education Connections for School, Home and Community, a workbook created for educators. This resource offers field-generated, field-tested concepts that effectively integrate character education into academic learning and school life.
Address: 1460 Craig Road, St. Louis, MO 63146-4842
Phone: (314) 872-8282
Fax: (314) 872-9128
http://info.csd.org/
ETHICS RESOURCE CENTER -- is working to restore our society's ethical foundations by strengthening the capacity of our institutions to foster integrity, encourage ethical conduct, and support basic values. Since its establishment in 1977 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan and nonsectarian educational organization, the Ethics Resource Center has developed practical and effective programs that address the evolving needs of the education, business, and government communities. Resources include research support, curricular materials, workshops and conference sponsorship.
Address: 1747 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 400, Washington, DC 20006
Phone: (202) 737-2258
ethicstoday@ethics.org
INSTITUTE ON MEDIA EDUCATION -- is a summer institute designed to help teachers and administrator to integrate media literacy into existing subject areas; to develop new teaching methods which help students think critically about what they see, read and watch; to analyze newspapers and television news and examine press influence on the coverage of the American political process; and to implement media awareness outreach programs in their schools and communities.
Address: Programs in Professional Education, 339E Gutman Library, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138.
Phone: (617) 495--3572
Fax: (617) 496-8051
LEARNING FOR LIFE -- a kindergarten through high school program designed to support schools in their efforts toward preparing students to successfully handle the complexities of today's society and to enhance their self-confidence, motivation, and self-esteem. The program also helps students develop social and life skills, assists in character development, and helps them formulate positive personal values. It features age-appropriate and grade-specific lesson plans to enhance and support the core curriculum. Teaching techniques such as role-playing, small group discussions, reflective and moral dilemma exercises, and hands-on activities are used. The program is a subsidiary of the Boy Scouts of America.
Address: Learning for Life, 1325 West Walnut Hill Lane, P.O. Box 152079, Irving, Texas 75015-2079.
Phone: (214) 580-2420
LIVE WIRE MEDIA -- Live Wire Media produces and distributes videos that help children become caring, respectful, responsible people who think critically, solve problems non-violently, and make choices based on what's right instead of what they can get away with.
Address: 3450 Sacramento Street, San Francisco, CA 94118.
Phone: 1-800-359-KIDS
Fax: 415-665-8006
www.livewiremedia.com
MCMURRAY (PA) CHARACTER EDUCATION INITIATIVE--a community-based approach to character education. A committee comprised of township officials, school district staff, PTA officers, faith community youth workers, and community sports leaders is developing strategies to integrate the theme "Character Counts in Peters Township" into the community's life. The committee chair, who wrote his dissertation in the field of character education, is Dr. Robert Freado, principal of McMurray Elementary School (724-941-5020 or freado@sgi.net). The township manager is Michael Silvestri (724-942-5048 or MASilvestri@peterstownship.com).
OLIVET COLLEGE CHARACTER EDUCATION RESOURCE CENTER -- The Olivet College Character Education Center (CERC) opened in the fall of 1997 to serve the campus and community, offering seminars, guest speakers, publications, a reference library, and opportunities for character education building and training.
Address : We are located on the fourth floor of the Burrage Library, 320 South Main Street, Oli>vet, Michigan 49076.
Phone : We may be reached at 616-749-6620, or through BDAVIS@OLIVETNET.EDU
Mission Statement of the Character Education Resource Center, Olivet College -- Olivet College embraces the responsibility to promote character development among all members of the College community, and to influence and support character-building efforts among the children, youth, and adults in our communities. The Character Education Resource Center (CERC) has primary responsibility for furthering character education-related efforts at Olivet College. Therefore, we the Associates of the Character Education Resource Center, dedicate ourselves to exploring and promoting character education in all its aspects. To this end: We will invite and promote conversation on the concept of character; We will foster unified efforts to nurture character development; We will promote partnerships and collaborative efforts that stress character development; and We will provide access to information, training, and other resources which support character education.
* This mission statement was adopted by the CERC Associates on January 15, 1998.
PARENT & CHILD GUIDANCE CENTER -- a mental health agency that provides character education parenting series.
Address: 2644 Banksville Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15216.
Phone: (412) 343-5698
Fax: (412) 343-8249
POSITIVE ACTION COMPANY -- Right and good actions (positive actions) define strong character. The Positive Action program addresses character issues in every lesson and provides daily opportunities for personal growth. This program not only provides academic learning about character, but it also provides students with the experience of character-defining moments. This comprehensive, systematic process builds character methodically, every day, all day long. As students experience more and more of their own (and others') positive actions, their feelings about themselves and others change for the better. They become more and more sure of themselves and their choices, more empathetic, more responsible, and more honest and are able to make sound choices for themselves that are indicative of a strong character.
Address: Positive Action Company, 321 Eastland Drive, Twin Falls, ID 83301.
Phone: (800) 345-2974
Fax: (208) 733-1590
THE CENTER FOR LEARNING -- A non-profit publisher committed to the advancement of academic learning and the integration of ethical values. The Center's philosophy holds that human reason needs education and free will needs guidance. All materials and programs are designed to promote universal values essential in our society. TAP is the Center's trademark describing a network of 300+ experienced Teachers who Author and Publish educational materials. These materials now number more than 350 values-based curriculum units containing reproducible student handouts and suggesting a variety of learning approaches. Units are offered in English/Language Arts, Novel/Drama, Religion, Social Studies, and Elementary. The Center also offers an annual Evergreen Workshop for teachers.
Administration/Editorial Office: 21590 Center Ridge Road, Rocky River, OH 44116.
Phone: (216) 331-1404 and Fax: (216) 331-5414
Shipping/Customer Service Office: P.O. Box 910, Villa Maria, PA 16155.
Phone: (412) 964-8083, (800) 767-9090 and Fax: (412) 964-8992
www.centerforlearning.org
THE CENTER FOR MEDIA LITERACY -- is a non-profit membership organization that translates media literacy research and theory into practical information, training and educational tools for teachers and youth leaders, parents and caregivers of children. Free catalog of teaching materials.
Address: Center for Media Literacy, 1962 S. Shenandoah St., Los Angeles, CA 90034.
Phone: (800) 226-9494
Fax: (310) 559-2944
www.medialit.org
THE CENTER FOR THE FOURTH AND FIFTH Rs ( Respect and Responsibility ) -- Directed by Tom Lickona at the State University of New York at Cortland, this Center sponsors an annual summer institute in character education, publishes a Fourth and Fifth Rs newsletter, and sponsors a network of schools committed to teaching respect, responsibility and related core values as the basis of good character.
Address : Education Department, SUNY Cortland, P.O. Box 2000, Cortland, NY 13045.
Phone : (607) 753-2455
Website address : www.cortland.edu/www/c4n5rs
E-mail : c4n5rs@cortland.edu
THE CHARACTER COUNTS COALITION -- is a project of the Josephson Institute and represents a national partnership of organizations and individuals involved in the education, training, or care of youth. Joined together in a collaborative effort to improve the character of America's young people based on six core ethical values, the" six pillars of character": trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship. the central purpose of the coalition is to combat violence, dishonesty and irresponsibility by strengthening the moral fiber of the next generation. the coalition will put the issue of character development on the forefront of the american agenda through a wide variety of grass roots activities built upon the simple but profound conviction that "character counts."
http://www.charactercounts.org/
THE CHARACTER EDUCATION INSTITUTE -- is a nonprofit Educational Research Foundation that offers a K-9 Character Education Curriculum. The program, which according to its literature reaches 40,000 classrooms in 44 states, aims to "indicate to children those values which are generally accepted by member of our society, such as honesty, patriotism, generosity, and responsibility." The program, described as developmentally sensitive, also teaches the advantages of working cooperatively in the classroom, the role of self-discipline in goal achievement, and the consequence of behavior.
Address: 8918 Tesoro, Suite 575, San Antonio, Texas 78217-6253
Phone: (210) 829-1727 or (800) 284-0499
http://solar.rtd.utk.edu/ccsi/csusa/educ/charched.html
THE CHARACTER EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP -- is a nonpartisan coalition of organizations and individuals who are concerned about the moral crisis confronting America's youth and is dedicated to developing moral character and civic virtue in our young people is one way of promoting a more compassionate and responsible society. Its activities include a national clearinghouse, community programs, school support, publications, annual and regional forums, national awards and a media campaign. Esther F. Schaeffer, Executive Director,
Address: The Character Education Partnership, 918 16th Street NW; Suite 501, Washington, DC 20006.
Phone: (202) 296-7743
Fax: (202) 296-7779
www.character.org
THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROJECT-- is an effort to take research knowledge and theory about how elementary-age school children learn and develop--intellectually, socially, and ethically--and translate it into a comprehensive, practical program for classroom, school, and home use.
Address : Developmental Studies Center, 2000 Embarcadero, Suite 305, Oakland, California 94606-5300.
Phone : (510) 533-0213
http://www.nwrel.org/scpol/natspec/catalog/children.htm
The COMMUNITARIAN NETWORK -- is a coalition of individuals and organizations who have come together to shore up the moral, social, and political environment. This national organization is non-sectarian and non-partisan. The organization sponsors an annual conference, produces position papers (family, health-care reform, domestic disarmament, character and a civil society, organ donation), and publishes a quarterly journal, The Responsive Community: Rights and Responsibilities .
Address : 2130 H Street, NW, #174, Washington, D.C. 20052. Address: The Giraffe Project, P.O. Box 759, 197 Second Street, Langley, Washington 98260.
Phone: Main Office (360) 221-7989; Education Office (360) 221-0757
Fax: (360) 221-7817
http://www.gwu.edu/~ccps/
THE HEARTWOOD PROGRAM -- is a multicultural, literature-based curriculum that uses classic children's stories from around the world to present universal values to children in grades kindergarten through eight. It is designed to foster moral literacy and ethical judgment by exposing students to seven core attributes: courage, loyalty, justice, respect, hope, honesty and love. Mt. Lebanon uses this program in its elementary and junior high school programs.
Address: The Heartwood Institute, 425 N. Craig Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213.
Phone: (800) 423-7810 or (412) 688-8570
Fax: (412) 688-8552
www.heartwoodethics.org
THE INSTITUTE FOR GLOBAL ETHICS -- is a nonprofit, nonsectarian, nonpartisan research and educational membership organization established to discover and articulate the global common ground of ethical values, analyze ethical trends and shifts in values as they develop around the world, gather and disseminate information on global ethics, and elevate public awareness and discussion of global ethical issues.
Address: P.O. Box 563, Camden, ME 04843.
Phone: (800) 729-2615 or (207) 236-6658
Fax: (207) 236-4014
E-mail: ethics@globalethics.org or www.globalethics.org/
INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR CHARACTER EDUCATION -- ICCE is concerned with the four pillars of democracy: home, school, church, and community. The Center's purpose is to enable school personnel, parents, teacher educators, faith community members, youth providers, and concerned individuals to come together to study, discuss, learn, practice, reflect, and write on issues, programs, problems and promises regarding the character education of children and youth. Center activities will include: program assessment, consulting, publications, courses, workshops, partnerships, and conferences.
Phone: For more information about ICCE call (619) 260-5980
Visit us at http://teachvalues.org
INTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION -- IEF seeks to develop a new model of comprehensive character education, involving the home, school, and community. IEF develops and publishes textbooks, audiovisual aids and other teaching materials for schools, institiutions of higher education and other educational organizations. It also targets specific issues such as sexuality, marriage and family and the problems of alcohol and drug abuse as well as sponsoring numerous conferences and other forums through which character eduction is promoted.
Phone: (212) 944-7466
Fax: (212) 944-6683
THE JOSEPH AND EDNA JOSEPHSON INSTITUTE OF ETHICS -- is a nonprofit educational and leadership training organization which seeks to increase the nation's awareness of ethical issues and to provide individuals with the skills to make their behaviors more ethical. The Institute's activities include research, publications, and skills training workshops. The Institute also sponsors the Character Counts Coalition.
Address: Josephson Institute, 4640 Admiralty Way, Suite 1001, Marina del Rey, California 90292.
Phone: (310) 306-1868
Fax (310) 827-1864
THE JEFFERSON CENTER -- an organization formed in 1963 for the purpose of publishing and promoting programs for schools that teach sound character values and personal responsibility.
Mailing address: P.O. Box 4137, Mission Viejo, CA 92690-4137
Street Address: 14 Hughes, Suite B-104, Irvine, CA 92618
Telephone: (626) 301-0403 or (949) 770-7602
Fax: (949) 450-1100
Website: http://www.jeffersoncenter.org
E-Mail: centerjcce@aol.com
QUEST INTERNATIONAL -- Founded in 1974, Quest International is an independent, international, educational organization dedicated to equipping adults with the skills, tools, and strategies essential to nurturing responsibility and caring in young people. With its global network of partners, Quest works to impart the skills and ways of thinking about young people that help enhance their capacity to flourish in an often turbulent world. Through its strategic partnership with Lions Clubs International, more that quarter of a million educators and youth workers have been trained to foster the positive potential in young people they interact with every day.
Address: Quest International, P.O. Box 4850, Newark, OH 43058.
Phone: (740) 522-6400
Fax: (740) 522-6580
Website: www.quest.edu