Faith-Based Organizations & the
“I Care” Parent Engagement Character Curriculum Model
All faith-based organizations provide religious training for children and youth. However, educational experts within every major faith say that's not enough and that character development needs to become more of a focus.
- A Christian research organization found that one of the barriers to spiritual growth is the tendency to focus on Bible knowledge alone (i.e., memorize verses, know the stories of key biblical personalities) and not include character development. (George Barna, Growing True Disciples)
- Lawrence Kelleman has written extensively about the need for character development in Jewish schools. He even recommends that parents and teachers participate in “mussar vaadim” (ongoing character development workshops) so they are better prepared to teach their children at home. (SimpleToRemember.com—Judaism on-line)
- “We are proud of the great job our Catholic schools have been doing, but we’ve come to realize that we need a more systematic and comprehensive approach to character building if we are to reach today’s youth,” said Sister of Charity Mary Elizabeth Glat, Archdiocesan Chancellor. (From the Tidings On-Line)
Role of Faith-Based Organizations
- Simultaneously teach, reinforce, and model the same character traits being taught at home and at school
- Offer parent workshops on character development
- Model and encourage good character within the congregation
- Support character education throughout the community
Benefits to Faith-Based Organizations
- A unique opportunity to support the efforts of the schools and the community
- Children and youth who are better prepared to integrate their religious training into their everyday lives
- Parents who are more attentive to the spiritual growth and character of their children
