After its publication in 1916, "Democracy and Education" opened up a global debate about educational thought that is still ongoing. Various translations of Dewey's work, appearing at different times, have aided in introducing his ideas within different conversations and across different cultures. The introduction of Dewey's masterwork…

Today's "just say no" approach to moral education is as simplistic as the values clarification emphasis of the 1960s and 1970s. One solution is to combine the best approaches of past decades. The Comprehensive Values Education model is progressive and all-embracing in content, methodology, and application throughout school and community.…

Character-education programs can be implemented without creating a political firestorm if planners carefully consider key process and content elements, including community involvement; core values; comprehensive, effective curricula; formal evaluation; prosocial behavior codes; communications; family outreach; and leadership from a knowledge base.…

Right-wing conservatives and religious groups have mobilized grass roots support for a campaign to eradicate sex education from schools. To meet the challenge posed by these groups, the nature of this opposition and what they are saying, must be understood. (FG)

A moral sex education program in the public schools can contribute to sexual health and be an important factor in the prevention of sex-related problems. Given certain guidelines, even the most controversial topics may be discussed in school within a moral framework. (JN)

This monograph offers leadership approaches for school principals. Discussion applies the business leadership theory of Warren Bennis and Burt Nanus to the role of the principal. Each of the booklet's three parts concludes with discussion questions. Part 1, "Visions and Values for the Provident Principal," demonstrates the importance of…

Political education is back on the agenda, following the Labour Party's election in Britain and the end of Communist one-party rule in Central/Eastern Europe. This paper explains the formal teaching of political literacy to students in Scottish secondary schools through the Modern Studies curriculum. Contains 37 references. (MLH)

Contrasts the "English model" of school self-evaluation with another used by seven other European countries. Whereas the English model may be characterized as instrumentalist, action-oriented, rationalistic, and managerial, it lacks several important elements: the ethical; affective; non-rational; and democratic modes of thinking.…

The current demands for values education, like recent basic educational reforms generally, reflect a superficial consensus. The push for values education by educators and politicians is a response to two developments: (1) the public's perception that schools are too disorderly; and (2) a desire to inculcate a common belief system. However, the…

Some enlightened approaches to encouraging staff participation and ownership culled from Oregonian school executives include 4 C's (comments, criticisms, complaints, and compliments) advisory committee, 5-minute stand-up staff meetings, potlatches (monthly dinner workshops), "5/10" (short-answer) reports eliciting teacher comments,…

Too many college students seem conditioned (by authoritarian teaching styles) to serve as "clerks" to the decision makers and power holders. To help students learn to think critically and independently, this article advises faculty to create practica based on televotes and mediation training, creative projects (such as monopoly games and…

Summarizes a study attempting to explain how an East Texas junior high principal influenced cultural values. The case study provides a time- and context-bound glimpse into the school's evolutionary acculturation process. Findings suggest no definitive ways to manage school culture but show the importance of using symbolic resources (newspapers,…

Discusses the results of a correctional education program which appears to lead to a reduced rate of return to prison. The operation of the program is based on the moral development models and attitude change theories of Piaget, Kohlberg, and others. (SK)

Describes the development of the Environmental Issues Attitude Defensibility Inventory (EIADI), an instrument for assessing the amount of information a person uses in making a value judgement. Also presented is evidence regarding the EIADI's reliability and validity as well as suggestions for its application. (WB)

Character education's goal is to help young people know, care about, and act on core ethical values such as fairness, honesty, kindness, respect for others, and responsibility. In this interview, a high school principal in Memphis, Tennessee, explains how staff implemented a separate character-education course. (MLH)