Citizens of Character explores the attitudes, dispositions, and values of 14-16 year old students in a particular urban environment – the six schools of the Hodge Hill constituency in Birmingham – and the extent to which the education system and the local environment advance or inhibit their sense of self, their values and their character development. These students constituted a heterogeneous group of religious and non-religious individuals.
This project goes beyond the normal exploration and measurement of strengths of character in individuals and looks at the factors that build character in families and schools. This research has wider implications for the relationship between character and aspirations, social change, school cultures, citizenship, identity and religion. The study discusses what students understand by character. It set out to ascertain the moral values held by a group of students living in an inner-city area. The study sought to question who or what has influenced their moral values and examined which individuals, institutions and situations might have hindered or promoted their development. Some of the issues and concerns which arose – for example, relations with neighbours, the matter of local and national pride and questions of trust – may seem not to impinge upon character education as such but are relevant in a wider context.
Background
Whilst there is a connection between individual character and civic life, it is important to acknowledge that schools constitute only one element in a student’s environment. Indeed the most influential source of guidance in promoting character development is parental, the mother being especially important. A lack of public institutions in Hodge Hill means that there are few places available for the cultivation of a common citizenship or a sense of shared life. Opportunities to exercise civic and social virtues such as leadership, volunteering, courage, charity, toleration, and respect are extremely limited. Students in this sample live in one of the most socially and economically deprived areas in the UK; many of them come from underprivileged backgrounds. The local community provides very few public amenities to stimulate the development of character skills, with few public libraries, community centres, youth clubs or sporting facilities accessible to young people.
Key Findings
From all the evidence gathered in this project – interviews, questionnaires, written reflections – there is an overwhelming sense that these students are concerned about values and character and about the quality of their communities and the society in which they are growing up. The key findings of this research include: Self-Image, Aspirations, Identity, Engagement and Community, School Life and Ethics and Society.
Research Strategy
As far as possible the research strategy was designed to explore the ways in which young people describe how they think, feel and behave.
The main research concerns were:
1) What do these young people understand and say about character and values?
2) To what extent is it true that the local environment and the particular school context influence character development?
3) Is there a relationship between socio-economic status and positive character development?
The study sought to explore the qualities of character and values espoused by participating students, and to explore the ways in which they see these values as shaped, cultivated or even negated by their teachers, mentors, parents, peers and by prevalent societal factors. For many students these will be the values with which they leave school. The study also sought to find out the type of person that these young people aspire to become.
Observations
All the evidence gathered in this project conveys an overwhelming sense that students in Hodge Hill are concerned about values and character and about the quality of their communities and the society in which they are growing up. The picture emerging from this study is complex and variegated, but it does provide a genuine snapshot of the views and aspirations of a cross-section of young people living in a challenging environment.
Downloads
- Citizens of Character – Summary Report
- Citizens of Character – Full Report
Inspire > Aspire Values Poster Programme
Primary Schools Resource
Church Schools Resource14-18yrs
Church Schools Resource9-13yrs
16+ Youth Programme
