Good character equals character, since bad character is not character.
Some would have us believe that character is good and bad, but I cannot see that reasoning. If it is bad – is it really character at all?
A definition from the book Character, Character Builder Series, Vol. #1 says that “Character is a consciously developed inner firmness….” If it is consciously developed, can we include good and bad? If a person consciously develops a pattern of life that is bad, does that person have character? I think everyone would agree that such is not the case. If, however, a person consciously develops a pattern of life that is good, we would be quick to call such a one a man or woman of character. I believe character is only good – that the phrase “good character” is redundant. It uses more words than are necessary.
Looking again at the definition in Character, we read that true character causes a person to “… harness the energy of objective high moral values….” High moral values assume “good” character, don’t they? One who harnesses the energy of objective high moral values is not likely to be bad – or, as some would say, have bad character. If a person takes such strong action, that person becomes a man or woman of character.
Good character equals character. Even small children can grasp that concept. Listening to you read Christopher Cat’s Character Club, Character Companions™ Series, Vol. #1, preschool children quickly learn that character is a good thing. All good. No bad. The little black and white kitten helps children learn that character is doing what’s right. Therefore, character is good.
Good character equals character according to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Its applicable definition for the word is: “moral excellence and firmness - a man of sound character.” Perhaps “sound character” is a better phrase than “good character” in the long run. Again, a person who possesses moral excellence and firmness can hardly be a man of bad character. As I read the definitions given for the word “character” in the dictionary, however, I fail to find one that refers to moral values that does not, in and of itself, refer to that which is good.
If you try to teach this to an upper elementary or middle school student, as the teacher did in Mystery at Lake Cachuma, Character Mystery Series #2, you will find that they agree with that book’s definition: “Character is knowing the right thing to do, and doing the right thing, even when no one is watching, and taking the consequences for what you do.” There is nothing in the definition that would make the audience of ages 9 and up think for a moment that character comes in good and bad packages. Character is good.
Good character equals character – it’s a concept that every character education teacher should fix firmly in mind before launching a character education program. Any educator involved in character education who understands this basic concept presses forward with passion and purpose to be sure that this part of the curriculum, above all others, gets its full time and emphasis. After all, character education is good – all good.
That’s the view from my chair. What’s your view?