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 was higher than any other state. The percentage of students who had ridden with a driver who had been drinking was fifteen percent (15%) higher than the national figure. Greater percentages of North Dakota youth had seriously considered, planned, or attempted suicide than was found nationally. Only in the areas of violence and sexual behavior were youth in North Dakota significantly less likely to engage in risk behavior than their national peers (North Dakota Department of Health, 1999). • Does character education represent a hidden liberal or conservative political agenda designed to integrate a particular groups’ values into a school’s life? No, North Dakota recognizes that the home has the primary responsibility for developing character, but there is a growing recognition tha
