Essay

This is my third draft essay for UAS

Character Building in Indonesia

Do you know what the character building is? Character building was first coined by President Sukarno in which, at that time, there were political elements. What he meant was the character building of Indonesia. Then it was interpreted by educational experts as an education of character and character of each student, where students not only have capable in general knowledge, but also can solve a problem, have a good temperament and character. Progress of a nation is determined by future generations. Therefore, character education becomes very important to implant in them at an early age so that they can run the wheels of government and led the nation into a great nation, advanced,
intellectually rich and clear of corrupt practices in the future. Character education is very important because Indonesia is a developing nation and the free trade that makes a foreign culture can enter freely and affect society. This character education can be a fortress or a filter of the influence of foreign cultures. Therefore, character education must start early. Surely the role of parents is very important. Besides that, it must be supported by teacher, environment and government,

Children see, children do. Childhood is a time to learn many new things and also imitate. This period is also an early character formation. Who is be imitated? Of course the closest people such as parents or siblings. However, the fact now is that many family members who do not care about this. Many of them are busy with their jobs and did not notice that what they say and do has been absorbed or even imitated by children. So, consider every action and all around us. If there are children, please do something positive. The benefits are not only for yourself, but for future generations.

Character education can be realized not only through the role of parents, but teachers. At school age they will be confronted with the peers. In this environment of peers, they will find more diversity in behavior, social interaction, opinions and backgrounds of other individuals. Therefore, teachers have a crucial role in this regard. Once at home the children were be educated by their respective parents, the teacher’s duty is to provide reinforcement of positive values ​​that have been taught. Therefore, a teacher is required not only to deliver the material, but also provide examples of good attitude, especially for subjects that contain these norms. But the fact today many teachers who are only after the target deadline to complete the delivery of content regardless of whether students understand the application of such materials in real life. As a result, many students who get good grades by rote material. It happened because the students learn just to get the value. There is also some teacher who only deliver the material and practice questions that will come out during the exam. It makes knowledge of students do not develop and when they are confronted to the theoretical and other problems, students will have trouble. In addition, many teachers who argue that character education are the duty of parents. There is even the suggestion that nature is human nature inherited / inheritable, so no need to be formed. In fact, parents, teachers and other adults should be a model for children. From infancy, humans have learned how to behave. As children, they will record and imitate the behavior of adults around them. Children observe the interactions that occur in surrounding to study human behavior and the response given when deal. Of course they will not directly imitate the activity, but they process them first in their minds and analyze whether it is in accordance with existing norms. It will be a treasury for their attitude.

No doubt that there are still many people who do not care or do not know about character education. They acted arbitrarily without knowing that it will affect children's behavior. If the children get proper knowledge of the values ​​of life, they will develop cognitive factors, forming a self-regulatory. Self-Regulatory will fortify the child to imitate or act in itself.

Character education also the hot issues in the world of education in Indonesia. Many important people of Indonesia are touting about this. But the fact is that there is quite the opposite. Today we no longer encounter a character education in schools. The government also does not include character education into the curriculum. They argue that the norms have been included in the Subjects of Civic Education (Pkn) and Religious Education of Islam (PAI). But what happens if the teacher only to deliver the material without providing examples or apply it in everyday life? Of course children will only know the theory without knowing the meaning of the theory. In addition, the government has a national examination program that was asked as a determinant of student graduation. Is the program managed to spur the students to study hard, moreover, the government determines Education of Indonesian Language, Mathematics and English for the national exam. These three subjects had a negative stereotype that is a difficult subject? The answer is no. The meaning of the national exam is now tarnished by dirty practices of certain elements that provide key answers or help work on the exam. That certainly does not educate. National examinations should be used as a whip for the students to learn more diligent. But with the existence of such practices, students become underestimate the national exam. They will not be serious about learning to deal with it because they will get the answer key. Moreover, cheating in national examinations is also available on supervisor. I once heard a story from a friend who said that in an education department made a deal to provide oversight leeway when national exams take place. A conspiracy does not educate. That is why the quality of students in Indonesia declined and unemployment increased. That's because they get a high passing score but not the ideas themselves.

Depravity of the Indonesian people that we feel today is the result of community character that is not solid. They have a fragile character so easily incited. Many have ruled out the value of honesty for the sake of power. Many who work ethic aside for the sake of getting rich quickly. There are still have value honesty and high work ethic but losing minority of those in power. That's why character education in Indonesia should be fixed immediately. Not for the present, but for the future of Indonesia. That's the homework for parents, teachers and government. The government should begin to improve the education system in Indonesia in order to create a qualified teacher and youth. So that the Indonesian Nation which has already become as it is currently will not getting worse in the future. So what is cooled by the founding father and first hero of our education can be realized. Not only the government, parents and teachers also must immediately provide examples of good behavior so that our next generations have a good social environment.

Resources:

Anselmus Arie.M.,S.Pd., Edu-articles.(2008, July 12). Character building dan nilai jual pendidikan indonesia.  Retrieved December 12, 2011, from: http://edu-articles.com/character-building-dan-nilai-jual-pendidikan-indonesia/

Mochtar Buchori, Paramadina.( 2007, March 4). “Character building” dan pendidikan kita. Retrieved December 12, 2011, from: http://paramadina.wordpress.com/2007/03/04/character-building-dan-pendidikan-kita/

Pakteo, pakteo. (2010, August 5). Karakter building. Retrieved December 12, 2011, from: http://pakteo.wordpress.com/2010/08/05/karakter-building/

Unnes.(2011, October 13).  Nation and character building dalam perspektif sejarah Indonesia. Retrieved December 12, 2011, from: http://fis.unnes.ac.id/v2/index.php?pilih=news&mod=yes&aksi=lihat&id=573