THE IMPORTANCE OF CHARACTER EDUCATION

Best PTS Sumatra Character education aims to spread one’s ability to make good and bad decisions, maintain good ones to realize that goodness in everyday life by using it wholeheartedly. Character education is closely related to moral education whose purpose is to actively build and train individual abilities for self-improvement for the better. The formation of a person’s character requires communities of character (communities of people who are able to build character). The role of schools as communities of character in character education is very crucial. Sekokah spreads the process of character education through the learning process, habituation, extracurricular activities, working with family and also the people in its development. Lack of character education will result in a moral crisis that will put people in a negative condition, for example abuse in illegal drugs, committing violence against children, promiscuity in the free world, committing theft and others.

What is Character Education

Character education is a conscious will that is patterned and directed through a learning environment that grows and develops all potentials that have good character, morality, noble character, positive impact on the environment and society. The definition of character education itself can be understood in his words separately. Education is a learning process, personal habits, skills possessed, existing knowledge to be passed on from previous generations to the next generation. Meanwhile, character is an accumulation of character, self-nature, personality of an individual that refers to beliefs and habits in everyday life. It can be understood that character education is a cyclical way to shape individual character so that later they become someone who is useful for themselves and also for many people.

The Function of Character Education

Character education has a basic function in spreading one’s potential so that he can live his life by being kind. Within the scope of formal education, character education in schools functions in building the character of students so that they have noble character, have a moral soul, are tough in life, behave well, and have good tolerance. In addition, there are 3 functions of character education in schools. There are 3 functions of character education in schools. these functions are:

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1.Function of formation for potential development

So that students can spread their potential to think positively, have a conscience, behave well, and have a virtuous soul.

2.Function in strengthening and repair

Self-improvement, strengthening the role of self, family, an educational unit, society, and government so that they have the responsibility to participate in spreading the potential of groups, institutions, or the people in general.

3. Functions in terms of filters

Character education is used so that people can determine and sort their own nation’s culture, can filter or not imitate the culture of other nations using the character and cultural values of their own nation who are exposed to virtuous character.

Values in Character Education that Must Be There

What are the cultural values of the nation that reflect that virtuousness? The Ministry of Education & Culture has set the values of character education as a priority for the development of Strengthening Character Education. And 5 primary characters that also determine the importance of character education, namely:

1. Religious Character

Manifested in the condition of carrying out the teachings of beliefs and religions that are adhered to, respecting the existence of other beliefs and religions

2. Nationalist Character

Have an appreciation of the nation’s own culture, protect the environment, obey the law, be disciplined, respect the diversity of cultures, ethnicities, and beliefs

3. Character with Integrity

Includes responsible behavior, consistency of actions and words according to the truth, respecting individual dignity and being able to show examples.

4. Independent Character

Become a lifelong learner, maximal in learning, thinking, able to realize hopes, dreams, and ideals.

5. Mutual cooperation character

Students are expected to show respect for others, be able to work together, be inclusive, help each other, have a sense of belonging and a sense of solidarity.

Elements That Must Be In Character

1. Attitude Shaping Character

A person’s attitude is part of the character, even believed to be a reflection of that person’s character. In this case, a person’s behavior towards something that is in front of him, generally proves how the character of that person is. So the better the behavior of a person, it will be said that people use good character. And conversely, the worse the behavior of a person, the person will be said to use a bad character.

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2. Emotions to Protect

Emotions are signs of moving forward in situations that are felt by humans, which are accompanied by their effects on consciousness, conditions and also are physiological processes. Without emotions, individual life will feel bland because the self always lives by using identical thoughts, feelings and emotions using strong feelings.

3. Strong Trust

Trust is an individual cognitive component according to socio-psychological factors. Belief that something is true or false on the basis of evidence, suggestion of authority, experience and heart prompting is very crucial to shape one’s character and character. So religion strengthens self-existence and strengthens interaction with other people.

4. Balanced Habits and Wills

Habit is an aspect of self-conduct that persists, takes place automatically, is unplanned and is repeated many times. While the will is a condition that strongly reflects the character of a person because the will is closely related to the actions that are reflected from the person.

Examples of Character Education in Schools

The failure or success of children’s character education is determined by various factors, including instincts, habits, heredity, and the environment. On the other hand, Strengthening Character Education involves families, schools, and communities. Therefore, schools are part of the environment that has a crucial role in character education for children. In schools too, national character education can be built through daily routine activities as well as examples according to the Smart Teacher. Strengthening character education in schools can also be integrated through extracurricular, cocurricular, and intracurricular activities. Basically, Strengthening Character Education involves literacy (thought), ethics and spiritual (heart), aesthetics (taste), & kinesthetic (sports). Have these points been our attention when carrying out character education in schools?