| Surviving has always been a challenge in this | | | | society we need to build our future which has |
| competitive world. To win in all circumstances and | | | | talent accompanied with character. |
| be successful seems to be on everyone's mind. | | | | Developing character among children has been an |
| Being successful is generally synonymous to being | | | | integral part of growing up. Character was a result |
| famous or financially independent. But to be able | | | | of the environment at home, at school, and |
| to contribute to the society positively, we need | | | | interaction among peers. Now it is a part of |
| individuals who believe not only in personal growth | | | | formal education. Character education is |
| but growth of the entire society. | | | | developing character that is socially desirable and |
| A couple of day's back I happened to be in a | | | | responsible. Character education is to develop |
| department store. A senior citizen had finished his | | | | positive emotions of altruism, and compassion. To |
| shopping and was billing at the counter. He found a | | | | train, to empathize, understand the power of |
| mistake in the bill, thus requested the staff to | | | | forgiveness and learn to be grateful to the |
| recheck. The young lad was extremely rude and | | | | society, for the contribution that it has made |
| did not apologize for the mistake. The old man | | | | towards individual growth. It helps to use our |
| was very upset and put across his grievance and | | | | creative imagination through visualization. |
| left. I'm sure the shop owner would not have | | | | We all want to be successful at what we do, and |
| expected his staff to be so complacent. This | | | | success brings happiness. But with the right |
| shows the character of his staff; plainly insensitive. | | | | character we develop the right attitude to tackle |
| Let us look at a positive example of character. | | | | failures, because mistakes and failures are an |
| This is an incident that has not washed away | | | | integral part of learning. |
| easily from my memory. While boarding a train I | | | | May it be elders or children, we strive to be |
| accidently dropped my wallet. When I realized it, it | | | | happy and character education helps to achieve all |
| was too late. I assumed that I will never get it | | | | of this. Character education lays the foundation |
| back. After almost a month, I found two young | | | | among children to develop beliefs that will benefit |
| lads at my door. I didn't know them. I asked | | | | them all their life. We need to take ethical decision |
| them, who they were and they said they had | | | | and set an example for our future. |
| come to return the wallet. They had traced my | | | | Trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, |
| address and had taken the pains to get it home | | | | caring, and citizenship, are the six pillars of |
| for me. I was so touched. | | | | character. School education has made these pillars |
| We in our daily lives come across positive and | | | | an integral part of their curriculum. Schools are |
| negative examples of character. Why is building | | | | training children to develop these values in their |
| character so important even in today's | | | | lives and we can see a future that has talent, |
| competitive world? The rule of the jungle should | | | | creativity and character. All of this will lead to a |
| not prevail if we claim that the society today is | | | | peaceful and prosperous society. |
| civilized. For a civilized, peaceful and prosperous | | | | |