Is character teachable?

I’ve struggled with this question the past few years that I have been teaching Values to High School kids in an international school in Bangkok. I’ve pored over many books on character education, searched and attended as many professional development events I could find in this part of the world – all in the hopes of becoming a good teacher of character, and all the while, in search of the answer to this question.

At Dr. Hal Urban’s seminar in Singapore on Feb. 28th to 1st March 2011, I may have found my answer. For the new teacher, I would say Dr. Urban’s ideas about the teaching of character is THE road map to success. If you’re someone who is eager to start a career in teaching, yet have some apprehensions on how to start on your career path in this profession, go to his seminar/workshop or at least, buy his book, Lessons from the Classroom, and you will never go wrong.

It will tell you specific ideas on how to start your classes on the right track from Day 1. He has simple yet timeless ideas to ensure that your lessons are meaningful and purposeful no matter what subject you teach, and more importantly,  you will have enough ammunition up your sleeve to face potential problems from “difficult” parents and students later on in terms of grading and behavior.

For the older teachers, those on the verge of becoming jaded, listening to years and years of toxic talk and conversations from other teachers who have stopped being idealistic and positive about the profession, it is a breath of fresh air. He will remind you what and how noble this profession is – teaching. And he will remind you that you have a touch call, on this job, because how you affect the students who go through your classroom, your classes, you will never know how your influence enriches their lives, or how negatively you could affect them if you do things wrong.

He is a wealth of knowledge, and I believe there is nothing more potent and more lasting and more meaningful, to revive your love for teaching, or to jumpstart your career in teaching, than to sit through his talk, as he gives you anecdotes and real life examples of all the principles he has written in his book/s.

Our world is wanting of “heroes”, of people who actually “practice what they preach”.  They now come in trickles and are far between. Don’t let this one gem of an educator pass you by.

So when Hal Urban is coming to your city, to talk about his hard earned, and well lived principles about life and about teaching, grab a seat and listen well. The lessons you learn will not only help you in your profession, but would have a positive effect on your personal life as well.

A special gratitude goes out to Joanne Wang, for having the foresight and passion to bring educators like Hal Urban to Asia, for it is important for us to know, on this side of the world especially, that there are educators in the West, who still believe in all these books we read about education, and who still actually practice what they preach in seminars, in books they write.

Tags: Character Education, featured, Hal Urban, teaching values to high school, Values Education in Asia

Category: Character Education