Re-Exploring Local Wisdom in The Folktale "Asal Usul Masyarakat Batu Bara" to Build Students' Local Culturebased Character

Abstract

One of the problems currently faced by Indonesia’s education world is the degradation of students’ character and lack of character education in schools. As a consequence to that, various negative behaviors arise and thus can be potentially detrimental to students’ lives and future. The aim of this study is to re-explore local wisdom in the folktale “Asal-usul Masyarakat Batu Bara” (the origin of Batu Bara people) that can be used as a reference to build students' character. The method used in this research is a qualitative method. The data are sourced from Antologi Cerita Rakyat Batu Bara (Anthology of Batu Bara Folktale), while the data are local wisdom contained in the folktale Asal-usul Masyarakat Batu Bara. The data were analyzed using the techniques: (a) data collection, (b) data reduction, (c) data presentation, and (d) drawing conclusions and verification. It was revealed that the forms of local wisdom found in the folktale Asal-usul Masyarakat Batu Bara among others are prudence and wisdom, devotion to worship, courtesy, mutual cooperation, and adaptation.