Although there has been reluctance to support direct methods of teaching moral values and character traits, due in part to lack of consensus about whose values should be taught, a national call to rethink that trend has begun to be heard. An up-to-date account is provided of the recommendations of the Oregon State Board of Education to mandate character education throughout Oregon, by December 1992, along with suggestions on policy and implementation. This publication explores the need for character education and shows how a direct approach can work in an interdependent and multicultural world. Chapter 1 attempts to define character education and discusses the need for instilling character traits. Several modern theories of moral development and their limitations are also explored in the chapter. Chapter 2 describes several ongoing character education programs and features Oregon's North Clackamas School District. Character education curriculum is the subject of chapter 3. Finally, chapter 4 deals with the legal and public policy aspects of carrying out character education in Oregon. The appendix lists seven sources of information on programs and curriculum. (54 references) (MLF)