Character Education for Young Generation through Local Wisdom

Culture Understanding in Global Era

Satrijo Budiwibowo and

Aris Wuryantoro

Postgraduate Program, Universitas PGRI Madiun, Jalan. AURI No. 16, Madiun, Indonesia

{satrijo, aris.wuryantoro}@unipma.ac.id

Keywords: Character Education, Local Wisdom, Global Era.

Abstract: This research aims to describe (1) the challenge of the Indonesian nation in globalization era, (2) the need for

character education in the perspective of local wisdom culture, and (3) building characterized nation in the

global era. The research used qualitative by using phenomenological type method. Techniques of collecting

data were observation and in-depth interviewing to the informant of young generation in the forms of

individual and organizational in Madiun area. Data analysis by using interactive model of Miles and

Huberman. Results of the research reveal that: (1) there are eight points of the Indonesian nation’s challenge

in globalization era, namely (a) nationalism and national pluralism, (b) the global crisis, (c) primordialism,

(d) moral crises, (e) the crisis of good exemplarity, (f) socio-cultural crisis, (g) high levels of competition, and

(h) the nation's increasingly vague character; (2) the need for character education in the perspective of local

wisdom culture. Education as a humanization process focuses more on the role of human beings as social

creatures that have moral autonomy and cultural sensitivity. This means that humans as individual beings as

well as social beings must be able to manage conflict and appreciate the advancement of various cultures; and

(3) building characterized nation in the global era. The Indonesian nation must start a new phase in which

colonialism and oppression for any reason cannot be annulled from this country. Likewise with the umbrella

of justice must be enforced. The researchers concluded that there are five pillars of noble character of the

Indonesian nation that must be considered in educating character for the young generation in global era.

1 INTRODUCTION

A nation is a collection of behaviors or values. Joint

that support a nation in general is a character and

mentality of the people who become the firm

foundation of the nation's value system. The collapse

of a nation is generally characterized by the declining

of nation’s cultural values and the splitting of local

wisdom culture although physically the existence of

the nation still exist and recognized (Djatmiko, 2006).

Building a nation by optimizing the role of young

people in global advantage cannot be separated from

the participation of government, youth organizations

or other non-government organizations. Moreover,

the role of institutions which have idealism and goals,

as the goals of national (never ending goals). As the

heir of the nation, the young generation must be

considered and nurtured.

The benchmark for the success of a nation is the

success of the young generation in the future, because

maintaining success is more difficult than achieving

the success itself (Zuhdi, 2009). The young

generation is the successor of the leadership baton,

the struggle to remain strong, along with the task, the

competition in various fields is also higher due to the

swift flow of capital turnover services throughout the

world that affect the national integrity, all may only

be lived with the quality of competence that is

powerless high competitiveness.

2 RESEARCH METHOD

This research uses qualitative methods because the

data concerned appear in words rather than in

numbers. It efforts to provide broad, deep, and natural

explanation research about the subject. The type of

research is phenomenology, because researchers

attempt to dig and to reveal the meaning of

informant’s experiences about local wisdom culture.

Bogdan and Biklen (2007) state that researchers in the

phenomenological mode attempt to understand the

meaning of an event and interactions to ordinary

people in particular situations. In this case, the

484

Budiwibowo, S. and Wuryantoro, A.

Character Education for Young Generation through Local Wisdom Culture Understanding in Global Era.

In Proceedings of the Annual Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities (ANCOSH 2018) - Revitalization of Local Wisdom in Global and Competitive Era, pages 484-487

ISBN: 978-989-758-343-8

researchers wanted to obtain the authentic

information from people who really experience it and

explore how that person gives meaning to his

experience. Techniques of collecting data were

observation and in-depth interviewing to the

informant of young generation in the forms of

individual and organizational in Madiun area. Data

analysis by using interactive model of Miles and

Huberman. Data analysis activities start from data

collection by using observation and in depth

interview techniques about young generation’s

attitude (young generation’s characters) in facing

global competition. Data obtained from observations,

interviews are recorded in field notes of what was

seen, heard, witnessed and also what findings

encountered during the study.

3 DISCUSSIONS

3.1 The Challenge of the Indonesian

Nation in Globalization Era

The challenges currently facing the Indonesian nation

are: (1) nationalism and national pluralism are

questioned and even national identity is questioned;

(2) the global crisis, which has broadly negative

impacts on every sector; (3) primordialism, pluralistic

demands that override the integrity of the nation and

accentuate the interests of the group or regional spirit

characterized by ignorance of the fate of the nation;

(4) moral crises, widespread public affairs, which

rationalize the country's children's rational becoming

weak, low social concern, and become fertile fields of

crime; (5) the crisis of good exemplarity, reality

shows that the adaptation of the elites both nationally

and locally is now very rare, as the future generations

reflect on their leaders, both formal and informal; (6)

socio-cultural crisis arises in various forms of

disorientation and delocalization in many societies

caused by euphoria of freedom that is excessive, the

disappearance of social patience to face increasingly

difficult life; (7) high levels of competition,

competitive challenges and increasingly selective

opportunities; and (8) the nation's increasingly vague

character, due to global influence.

3.2 The Need for Character Education

in the Perspective of Local Wisdom

Culture

Education as a humanization process focuses more on

the role of human beings as social creatures that have

moral autonomy and cultural sensitivity. This means

that humans as individual beings as well as social

beings must be able to manage conflict and appreciate

the advancement of various cultures. Tolerance and

cultural transformation should be guided slowly, not

a forced social revolution It is universally recognized

human status and dignity as a super value

(Bodenheimer, 1962). As Kant states: that humanity

should always be respected as an end itself

(McCoubrey and White 1996).

The challenges of globalization and democratic

processes are increasingly strong and diverse on the

one hand, and the world of education seems to be

more concerned with mastering the dimension of

knowledge (cognitive) alone and neglecting the moral

/affective education, a strong reason for the

Indonesian nation to generate commitment and

conduct character education based on local wisdom

(Smiers, 2009). Nation character education is

expected to be an alternative solution to overcome

various problems.

3.3 Building Characterized Nation in

the Global Era

The Indonesian nation must start a new phase in

which colonialism and oppression for any reason can

not be annulled from this country. Likewise with the

umbrella of justice must be enforced. After a long

time, the proclamation was echoed but until now this

nation has not been separated from colonialism.

No body knows that the colonization of the nation

itself is more dangerous than the colonization done by

other nations. Colonization by the nation itself will

undermine the joints of justice nation and state,

weaken the state system, lower the quality of life and

make the community as a slave in their own country.

Development that should displace poverty, instead of

displacing the poor society.

4 RESULT FINDINGS

To build the character should be starts from an

education especially for the young generation so that

the culture of local wisdom of a nation does not fade

by the rampant of the global influence that is not in

accordance with the character of the nation. For that

there are five pillars of noble character of the

Indonesian nation that must be considered:

 Transcendence. Recognizing that man is the

creation of a supreme God. From this

awareness will bring the attitude of servitude

solely to the One God. This awareness also

Character Education for Young Generation through Local Wisdom Culture Understanding in Global Era

485

means understanding the existence of self and

nature around so as to maintain and prosper.

Ketuhanan yang maha Esa (Believe in one

God);

 Humanization. Every human being is

essentially equal in the eyes of God except the

science and piety that distinguishes it. Man was

created as a potential subject. Kemanusiaan

yang adil dan beradab (A fair and binding

humanity);

 Diversity. Awareness of the many differences

in the world. However, being able to take

common ground to foster strength, Persatuan

Indonesia (Unity of Indonesia);

 Liberation. Liberation for the oppression of

fellow human beings. Therefore, it is not

justified by human colonization. Kerakyatan

yang dipimpin oleh himah kebijaksanaan

dalam permusyawaratan/perwakilan

(Democracy led by the wisdom in

representatives deliberations);

 Justice. Justice is the key to prosperity. Fair

does not mean the same, but proportional.

Keadilan sosial bagi seluruh rakyat Indonesia

(Social justice for all the people of Indonesia).

The noble values that need to teach the attitude in

everyday life include: honesty; loyalty and

dependability; respect; love; selflessness and

sensitivity; kind hearted and friendship; bravery;

peace; independent and potential; self-discipline and

moderation; loyalty and purity; and justice and

affection.

The young generation in coordinating the

movement has 3 (three) important roles:

 As a character builder. In the midst of the

middle of the current globalization, then added

with a number of erosion of positive character

of the nation while the existence of symptoms

of amplification or strengthening of negative

mentality, such as lazy, corruptive and so on,

then the role of the younger generation is to

rebuild the nation's positive character. This role

is certainly very heavy, but the essence is the

willingness and commitment of the young

generation to uphold moral values above the

interests of the moment as well as collective

efforts to internalize it in activities and

activities everyday.

 As a character enabler. Rebuilding the

character of the nation certainly will not be

enough, if not done empowerment

continuously. So the younger generation is also

required to take the role as a character

empowerment or character enabler. The

practical form is the willingness and strong

desire of the young generation to become role

models of positive character development of

the nation. This role is also not less weight with

the first role, because in addition to strong will

and collective awareness with high

cohesiveness, still needed the power to engage

in an arena of ethical conflict with other entities

in society and foreign entities.

 As a character engineer. Referring to the

competitiveness adaptability to strengthen the

nation's resilience. This last role requires the

young generation to continue to learn. It must

be acknowledged that the development of the

nation's positive character, however, demands

the existence of appropriate modifications and

engineering adapted to the development of the

times. For example, the character of warrior

and patriotism certainly does not have to be

articulated in a physical context, but can be in

other non-physical contexts. The role of the

young generation in this case is expected by the

nation, because in their hands is the process of

adaptive learning can take place in the most

productive conditions.

It is hard for the young generation to play these

three roles simultaneously and interactively. It is still

necessary for the role of government and other

components of the nation in facilitating the

actualization of the role by the younger generation.

Nevertheless the concentration of role remains on the

younger generation. Without their active role in the

national revitalization movement mentioned above, it

is not impossible that the grinding of the nation's

cultural values will go on systematically and in the

end this nation will increasingly lose its integrity and

identity.

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