Character and Citizenship Education
Who provides character and citizenship education?
Parents are the primary providers of character and citizenship education, but schools fill an essential supportive role. Teachers, staff, administrators and community leaders reinforce the teaching of positive character traits and help students to develop civic responsibility and healthy attitudes.
What is it?
Character and citizenship education promotes core values through teaching and modelling. It helps students to know and act on such universally accepted traits as honesty, fairness, caring, responsibility and respect.
When is it taught?
Character and citizenship education is not taught as a separate subject but is integrated into the existing curriculum and into daily experiences and interactions.
Where is it taught?
Most schools in Alberta are providing some form of character and citizenship education but may not call what they are doing “character and citizenship education.”
Why is character and citizenship education important?
Character and citizenship education can help create school environments that are safe, caring and conducive to learning. Outcomes of such an initiative can include a climate of respect for self and others, higher academic achievement, improved interpersonal relationships and a positive school culture.
How can we include it in our school?
For more information on implementing character and citizenship education in your school, see Alberta Education's teaching resource:
The Heart of the Matter: Character and Citizenship Education in Alberta Schools
