Transformasi Karakter Siswa: Integrasi Budaya Sekolah dalam Perspektif Manajemen Pendidikan

Abstract

This study explores the strategic implementation of character education through the development of school culture. The research is driven by the increasing prevalence of moral deviations among youth, including criminal acts, drug abuse, bullying, and academic dishonesty, which necessitate a systemic approach to fostering national character. Character is defined as an operative value in action, encompassing moral knowing, moral feeling, and moral behavior. The findings indicate that school culture—comprising beliefs, norms, and habits—serves as a primary vehicle for internalizing values. Building character through this culture requires a comprehensive management approach: first, by creating a vision-driven environment where leaders and teachers act as primary role models ; second, by maintaining these values through human resource practices, such as selection processes and the implementation of reward and punishment systems for students ; and third, through consistent socialization. To ensure that character values are deeply embedded, schools must effectively communicate their culture through various media, including stories of achievement, icons like mottos and trophies, and routine rituals such as ceremonies and examinations. Ultimately, the study concludes that character education is most effective when integrated into the school’s daily fabric, heavily influenced by the exemplary behavior of educational leaders and the continuous reinforcement of national character values.