In the early 1990s, character education became a term teachers examined. Now, a speaker touting the benefits of character education is coming to Luverne to deliver a message of its importance to parents.
Hal Urban will speak to teachers and give a public presentation at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 22, in the Elementary School Commons.
Urban said the speech, "Raising Good Kids - 4 Suggestions," is ideal for parents, but it can be applied to any member of the community.
"I have concerns about young people's character, and that's why I'm doing this," Urban said.
He said the old notion of becoming what you are exposed to rings true. "Children are bombarded with garbage.
… violence, sex, rampant materialism, bad language."
Urban teaches high school psychology and government and also teaches part-time at the University of San Francisco. His awards range from "Most Supportive Professor" to "National Educator of the Year."
He travels across the country and around the globe to speak on character development. His trip to Luverne will be his first to Minnesota.
Character education in schools isn't something that teachers lecture about in a separate course - it's a principle integrated into curriculum of all grade levels. To Urban, good character has roots in everything from good manners to genuine kindness.
There have been hundreds of books in recent years published on the principles of character education. Urban’s is one that has stood out. "Life's Greatest Lessons - 20 Things I Want My Kids to Know" was first printed in 1992, updated in 1997, and the third edition was recently released.
Hal Urban's presentation, at 7 p.m. Monday in the Luverne Elementary Commons is targeted toward parents. The book that gained Urban notoriety, "Life's Greatest Lessons - 20 Things I Want My Kids to Know," will be available for sale.
Some chapter titles from "Life's Greatest Lessons":
-Success is more than making money.
-Life is hard and not always fair.
-Life is also fun and incredibly funny.
-Being thankful is a habit — the best one you'll ever have.
-Honesty is still the best policy.
-Goals are dreams with deadlines.
-There is no substitute for hard work.
-Successful people don't find time — they make time.
-The body needs nutrition and exercise — so does the mind and the spirit.
-Essential #1 is being a good person.