Every teen can be a leader. That's because leadership is not just about taking the lead in big ways, but in everyday small things, too. The 21 sessions in this youth leadership curriculum guide teens to explore ethical decisionmaking, teambuilding, what it means to be a leader, how to work with others, risk taking, communication, creative…

The transition to middle school can be difficult. Most teens are excited about getting older, but they're often not prepared for some of the challenges that come with growing up. Physical and emotional changes, evolving relationships, and increased expectations at school can all make for some major adjustments. "Too Old for This, Too Young for…

The growing political, social and scientific attention that is being devoted to the moral aspects of teaching has implications for teacher education. This paper reports on a study of the actual moral education practices of 54 teacher educators within one institution. We encouraged these teacher educators to make their values explicit and to…

This guide lists 134 colleges and universities selected as exemplars of character-building institutions. Its goal is to provide counselors, parents, and students with helpful information on the various programs that have been established to develop moral virtue and character. All 4-year accredited colleges and universities were given the…

Outlines instructions for conducting a student forum addressing the relevance and appropriateness of character education. Five students agree to portray fictional members of the panel (teacher, minister, single parent). The rest of the class researches the issue and asks questions. (MJP)

This collection provides teachers and librarians with Readers Theatre scripts to promote and reinforce character education. Each original script presents a wide variety of dilemmas and situations, often drawn from true events, and includes suggestions for presentation and props. Student interpretation enables the audience to fully understand the…

This curriculum has been designed to provide high school students with an increased awareness of the importance of responsibility in their own lives and its place in contemporary society, and to encourage their capacity and inclination to deal with issues of responsibility wisely and effectively. Students are asked to examine and make decisions…

Designed as a text for high school students and adults, this illustrated book presents ethical concepts and teachings of Native societies throughout North America concerning the nature and possibilities of human existence. The final component of a course in self-discovery and development, the book begins with the legend of the "Sacred Tree"…

Successfully implemented in 15 elementary schools, the program provides a curriculum structure, rationale, learning activities, and visual aids for teaching sixth graders about responsibility. Following an introduction, the unit presents over 20 teacher-developed lessons, black line masters, parent letters, program evaluation information, songs, a…

College graduates face the contradictory and inconsistent beliefs of a society that seems to be struggling between a desire to either degrade or enhance the dignity of man. Amid all the current mechanical marvels there exists social ills of nightmare proportions. In the turmoil to find solutions to the many problems many have lost sight of the…

This handbook makes clear what the legal rights and responsibilities of California teachers and students are with regard to moral and civic education. For example, the duty of teachers concerning the instruction of pupils in ethics, morals, manners, religion and democratic principles is explained through discussion of the values that teachers are…

This curriculum presents an overview of responsibility as a concept intrinsic to the functioning of a democratic society. The curriculum has been developed to provide students with an increased awareness of the importance of responsibility in their own lives and its place in contemporary society, and to encourage their capacity and inclination to…

Young people need guidance from caring adults to build strong, positive character traits--but they can also build their own. This book by the best-selling author of "The Kid's Guide to Social Action" invites children and teens to explore and practice honesty, kindness, empathy, integrity, tolerance, patience, respect, and more. Quotations and…

This curriculum unit presents an overview of privacy as a concept intrinsic to the functioning of a democratic society. The unit requires students to examine the concept of privacy, some differences among individuals and cultures in relation to it, its benefits and costs, and its proper scope and limits. The curriculum is organized around topical…

This curriculum is designed to help students understand and apply basic principles and considerations useful in examining issues of justice so they can determine for themselves what would be just in a particular situation. From such activities, students should gain an increased awareness of the importance of justice in their own lives and its…