Is there a legal mandate for teaching character in North Dakota public schools?
Courses in Character Education are not mandated by the state. However, article 15-38-10 of the North Dakota Century Code states that “Each teacher in the public school must provide moral instruction tending to impress upon the minds of pupils the importance of truthfulness, temperance, purity, public spirit, patriotism, international peace, respect for honest labor, obedience to parents and deference to old age”. Also, Article VIII, Section 149 of the Constitution of North Dakota states “In all schools instruction shall be given as far as practicable in those branches of knowledge that tend to impress upon the mind the vital importance of truthfulness, temperance, purity, public spirit and respect for honest labor of every kind.” • Why is character education being emphasized now? The present emphasis on character development has grown out of need. This is found nationally as well as in North Dakota. In a 1999 study it was found that alcohol use by North Dakota students in grades 9 – 12
