| The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the Heartwood Ethics Curriculum and value-based Bible stories on the ethical understanding, ethical sensibility, and ethical behavior of preschool students at a church-connected preschool and daycare. A secondary goal of this study was to determine teachers' and parents' perceptions about the effects of a character education program. A mixed methodology evaluation method consisting of both quantitative and qualitative measures was used to explore the relationship among the variables in the research questions. Structured surveys, structured interviews, and structured questionnaires were used to determine whether an ethics curriculum of stories, discussion and other activities has an impact on preschool students. The results of this study indicated that the ethical sensibility, ethical understanding, and ethical behavior of 3-, 4-, and 5-year old students who received instruction in the Heartwood Ethics Curriculum and value-based Bible stories were significantly higher than when entering the study. The knowledge gained from this study might assist educators and parents in search of the effective character education to offer children. It will also extend knowledge of the effectiveness of character education programs on preschool students. |
