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Character
Education - Fairness
by
Louisa Palmer, freelance writer
Character
education fairness. The words fill my imagination with a picture of a colorful
playground in a grassy, green park. The playground is filled with children laughing
and playing. Suddenly, someone yells, "That's not fair!" "Sure
it is," answers another. "What do you know about it?" Gradually,
the children pick sides, each one sure of the fairness or lack of fairness. Pop!
The imaginary bubble bursts, and I wonder. What do they know about fairness?
Character
education fairness. My imagination remains quiet, but I continue to wonder
how those children - right to the youngest - all know the meaning of fairness.
Are they born with the knowledge? Have I just seen a character trait that does
not need to be part of character education? If so, this is something to share
with teachers. I could lighten their teaching load. |
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But
no. Neither fairness nor the knowledge of fairness is inborn. That is one reason
that the children argued over it. Some saw fairness where some saw unfairness.
As with every other character trait, fairness must be imparted through education. The
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines fairness as:
Being
marked by impartiality and honesty: free from
self-interest, prejudice, or
favoritism
This
character trait addresses social interaction. Character
education fairness (to use my title) is a character trait seen in impartial
people. It is seen in a parent who treats every sibling equally, a teacher who
has no teacher's pets. It is evident when a person cuts the cake as evenly as
possible, without contriving to get a bigger piece for self.
Character
education fairness, like many other character traits, practices the Golden
Rule, treating others the way we want to be treated. The additional meaning of
conformity to established game rules is automatic when we grasp this first meaning
and act on it. | |
