How fiction is used in a college-level political science seminar to teach about democratic decision making and U.S. politics is described. The fiction used is clustered around the following topics: community-level decisions, limits to consensus, group values and politics, acquiring elected offices and trying to keep them, and public bureaucracies.…

Maintains that a course in U.S. political thought is necessary to increase students' knowledge of democracy, liberty, and human rights. Provides course goals, structure, and useful texts. Suggests a topical format rather than a chronological approach. Focuses on judicial opinions as an important indicator of traditional values. (RW)

Agrees with John Goodlad and others that teacher education programs do not include discourse about the moral dimensions of teaching. Offers suggestions for developing such curricula. Presents evidence that the curriculum was successful and that a program of modest duration can influence ethical development. (CFR)