Augustine and Character Formation
There’s an interesting post over at ISI by the Dean of Undergraduate Studies at Regent University on the topic of “Competency vs. Character.” The author’s basic argument is that in higher education the mania for defining and measuring various competencies (about which we heard plenty during our SACS reaffirmation process) threatens to eclipse the role of educators in shaping the character of students. He quotes Augustine’s Confessions to argue that this has always been a live issue in education.
Several of the MLA students are considering teaching careers after graduation. Do you think this author a) is using Augustine appropriately, and b) is correct in his diagnosis of the educational system? If he’s right, how are we to answer his closing question?
Great Books MLA at Faulkner University 
I think that his usage of Augustine is a bit off, because although Augustine did not approve of his educators’ attempts (or lackthereof) at character formation, he placed most of the blame for his malfeasance on himself. As far as the education system as a whole, it is inadequate from very design as far as teaching character. When the family does nothing to inculcate adequate values, no school as presently constituted will be able to fill the gap. This is true for multiple reasons. Reason 1, there are too many students in small schools, even, for educators to give the level of personal attention required to adequately form character. Reason 2, more time is spent in the family, thus the level of influence of the family will be higher. The only possible way for an institution to fulfill the role of the family in character formation is if said institution takes upon itself all the roles of the family, as in Plato’s republic. The other option, though odious to the modern world, would be for Christianity to be taught in its fullness, and possibly could change the world as it did once before