Following its unanimous approval by the State Senate's Education Committee, Senator Allyson Schwartz's "character education" bill is heading to the full State Senate less than a month since it's initial proposal.
Schwartz's legislation defines character education programs as those that foster "basic civic values and character traits, a service ethic and a community outreach." The programs specifically focus on the development of core character traits -- trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship, among others. The bill also creates a grant program through the state's Department of Education for the promotion of "character education."
However, it would seem that the state would have more important matters to contend with. The Pennsyvlania System of School Assesment, which includes an exam taken by 5th, 8th, 9th and 11th grade students, has had very low success rates. In its state report card, the Pennsylvania Department of Education reported that the numbers of students falling below proficient in math and reading vering towards 50 percent.
A school report card by The Philadelphia Inquirer would add more cause for concern, noting that Philadelphia's schools spend the state's fourth lowest amount on each child's instruction. The school district also holds the second highest number of students to a computer. The system's schools lack the money required to raise their testing scores, signified by the looming privitization takeover this fall.
With the Philadelphia school system failing to provide even a basic education at an acceptable level and in a state whose educational system is marred by chronic underfunding and funding inequalities that are among the worst in the nation, spending precious dollars on "character education" is irresponsible and unfair.
The money earmarked to create the programs could be much better spent. Students across the state, and in Philadelphia in particular, are suffering with textbooks woefully out of date, an inadequate supply of computers and classroom overcrowding and deterioration. The schools are desperate for money to alleviate these problems.
Character education, though important, does not help to alleviate those most fundamental problems. With the situation in Pennsylvania's schools so dire, the state should not be seeking to create new programs with funds that are so necessary in existing coffers.
While it is certainly well-intentioned, we would encourage the state Senate to dismiss the "character education" bill and focus on the more pressing educational issues facing the residents of Pennsylvania today.
