Jurgen Habermas' concepts of the Theory of Human Interests, although a descriptive interpretation of history, fails to offer hope of freedom for the human race. This occurs because the components' technical interest, practical interest, and emancipatory interest are inherently conflictual. Habermas' use of Communicative Action Theory to harmonize…

The nation's schools face difficult problems that must be solved if they are to continue serving our society constructively and effectively. The two hundred years of our country's history demonstrate that in the past the schools have met new needs and have responded well to growing demands for education. An examination of several of the problems…

Suggests that the formation of habits is the basis of character and morality. Supports this suggestion with citations from Henry James and other writers, and with examples of intellectual diligence from the lives of Helen Keller and Anne Frank. (HTH)

Students' decisions are influenced by the moral climate of their school. Changing social, economical, and traditional family structures have contributed to an upheaval of moral foundations. As a result, schools are becoming a critical arena for students to develop into morally responsible adults. Consequently, the moral growth of teachers is an…

After discussing with his students the widely reported view of many college students that financial security is their overriding goal, a business professor conducted a survey of the students' opinions on the subject. Of specific interest were: (1) the extent to which students believed their awareness of ethics had been altered; (2) the extent to…

In analyzing various moral and legal philosophies, two perspectives emerge, absolute moral rules/higher law, and situationally-specific moral rules/legal positivism. From these two perspectives, four types of individuals emerge in accordance with their degree of adherence to ideological tenets: (1) situationists (high on idealism and relativism);…

Reported are two studies of the categorization of adolescents' justifications for the morality of others' actions. To analyze interview data, a new method of scoring moral judgments was developed. Study 1, involving 180 individuals from 12 to 21 years of age, focused on dimensions of reflection and abstraction associated with four categories of…

Kurt Hahn valued the adventure ethic for the qualities of character it developed, but his particular concern was the development of personal and social responsibility and compassion. Samaritan service is the key element in institutions, such as the Round Square Conference Schools, founded or inspired by the mature Hahn. (JHZ)

Social scientists and educators who favor the developmental approach to values acquisition focus on the individual and his or her own psychological growth as the means to acquiring a healthy set of values. On the other hand, those who favor the transmission approach to values acquisition focus on the instillation of societal and group norms in the…

This paper presents some theoretical background and practical guidelines for the teacher choosing literature concerned with human values. Kohlberg's theory of moral development, which postulates seven stages of development, is described, and a discussion on how literature can be used to further moral development at each stage is presented.…

With a renewed national emphasis on education, its teachers, and their influence, the moral aspect of teacher leadership has surfaced. It is logical to infer that teacher education, its programs, aims, and strategies would powerfully impact the kind or lack of moral leadership demonstrated by its graduates. To gain perspective, morality is defined…

Character education's single-minded focus on virtues and moral exemplars is apt to leave young people wondering what an individual does to be honest or courageous or generous or determined. Kohlberg's well-known levels of moral development do not involve the application of universal principles until the most mature stages. Some discussion of moral…

Liberal arts colleges are seen as engaged in moral education. Three moral lessons that a college teaches are described as (1) love for the truth, (2) learning is a human good, and (3) learning requires intellectual rigor or "discipline." Colleges are seen as places of hope. (MLW)

This paper reports on a study to investigate measurement of moral reasoning with respect to age. Additional potential influencing factors, including ethnicity, gender, and influence of early environmental factors, also have been included for analysis in this study. Twenty-seven nontraditional students participating in a new student orientation…

As communication is a moral action involving personal choice, composition instructors must help promote their students' character development. Whether during audience analysis, invention, or disposition, composition always involves the development and testing of four virtues: honesty, courage, love, and a combination of hope and humility. Teachers…