Marvin Berkowitz and I first discussed creating this journal at the beginning of 2002. It was not clear at that time whether or not such a journal would survive. We had high hopes that this would be a journal that would serve as a scholarly publication outlet for researchers in the field and that it would appeal to a wide audience of readers interested in character education research. With the strong support of George Johnson of Information Age Publishing and Esther Schaefer, formerly of the Character Education Partnership, Marvin and I were able to launch the first volume of the journal in 2003. At the close of 2005 the journal appears to be quite healthy. We have seen an increase in both the quantity and the quality of the manuscripts submitted to the journal. Given that our acceptance rate typically hovers around 30%, it is safe to argue that we are producing a reasonably selective journal. It is my hope that the readers of the JRCE are finding the articles to be relevant and rigorous examples of research in character education.
I have decided that this is a good time for me to step aside as co-editor of the journal. My research agenda, students, and family life each beckon for more of my time and attention. It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve as the co-editor of the Journal of Research in Character Education. I could not have asked for a better partner in this endeavor than Marvin Berkowitz. His candor and wit have made our frequent email exchanges both thought-provoking and humorous. His integrity, scholarly instincts, and knowledge of the field have made me feel privileged to have had the opportunity to work with him. It has also been a pleasure to interact with numerous authors and reviewers over the past 3 years. Without the hard work of these individuals, the journal would never have become a reality.
I believe that the future is bright for the journal. Stephen A. Sherblom of the University of Missouri-St. Louis has agreed to become the new co-editor of the journal. He will join Marvin in the effort to continue producing a high-quality research journal for the field of character education. Steve and Marvin will be a great team. I look forward to reading future issues of the journal.
