The Case for Character Education: A Developmental Approach

In this dynamic look at the current state of character education, Alan Lockwood assesses its strengths and weaknesses and finds fault with leading advocates for failing to respond to sound critiques of their work.  Lockwood argues that contemporary character education can be significantly improved by using key principles from established theories and research on developmental psychology.  He offers numerous examples to support his recommendations while inviting character education theorists and practitioners to generate their own implications from his presentation. 

For anyone interested in improving the quality of values-based education for children and adolescents, this book:

• Elaborates an alternative view of values education that is critical to pursuing a mission to promote good citizenship.


• Explains what contemporary character education is, identifying its strengths and addressing its major criticisms.


• Offers recommendations for curriculum and instruction that systematically take into account developmental perspectives.

Alan L. Lockwood is professor of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

“Brimming with fresh insights on almost every page, Alan Lockwood challenges contemporary character education’s fundamental assumptions and proposes a coherent perspective to guide more defensible and effective programs.  This is a significant addition to theory and practice in the field of character education.”—James S. Leming, Carl A. Gerstacker Chair in Education, Saginaw Valley State University