A Study of Hard Work and Discipline Character Education in Junior High Schools

Purpose Character education is one of the efforts made to prepare humans to become better individuals. Two of major character traits are discipline and hard work, which have played an important role in dealing with the Tunggu Tubang custom in the Semende Regency, South Sumatra province. This study aimed at describing the character of hard work and discipline character possessed by students as well as analyzing the obstacles experienced in the realization of hard work and discipline character education in schools. In addition, the study also aimed at knowing the difference between hard work character education and discipline character education in Junior High School 1 Semende Barat Laut and Junior High School 5 Semende Barat Laut. Method The mixed method research design was used in this study, with a questionnaire used for the quantitative part and collect information on the character of hard work and character of students' discipline. The qualitative data was collected through interviews with students and educators. This research carried a sample of 80, collected through purposive sampling method, from Junior High School 1 and Junior High School 5 in the District of Northwest Semende. Findings The results of the study show that character education on both variables, hard work and discipline, in Junior High School 1 Semende Barat Laut and Junior High School 5 Semende Barat Laut, achieved `Good' feedback. This was evident in the description obtained in the `good' category for each indicator used. However, there were differences in character education in the two schools used. Character education of hard work and discipline at Junior High School 5 Semende Barat Laut was superior to character education for hard work and discipline at Junior High School 1 Semende Barat Laut. Implications to Research and Practice: This study research would prove a good reading material and reference to researchers and educators who wish to resolve issues related to character education related to hard work and discipline of their students.