Values clarification is a dynamic process in which people come to understand what they individually view as important in their lives by placing a name or label to what one values. This process commonly occurs during the traditional college years and is a critical component of leadership education. This qualitative study examined how junior-level…

The teaching of ethics or controversial issues in health education must meet two criteria: (1) The controversy must be addressed from various viewpoints; and (2) The issues must involve questions of right and wrong. Examples of values clarification activities are given. (JN)

Analogies help students to unlock long-term memory and to project the implications of courses of action. Gives examples of how analogies can be brought into the social studies curriculum in areas like value claims and decision making. (CS)

Discussing the Jonestown mass suicide, Charles Manson, etc., this article maintains children must be alerted to the fact that there are people and advocacies capable of exerting the kind of influence that causes followers to act with total irrationality; educators must emphasize the development of strong, questioning minds. (Author/JC)

The purpose of this paper is to assist early childhood teachers in developing curriculum content by considering the philosophical issues that surround the curriculum decision-making process. Curriculum development is construed in terms of a multi-step decision-making process through which teachers progress. Steps of the process are: (1)…

Highlights the data collected from some 70 teachers and administrators, several hundred parents, and approximately 3,500 students involved in a family life curriculum project in 13 California public schools. Students reported that decision making, factual information, and self-esteem were the most important things they learned from the course.…

Health educators can play a significant role in the development of students' mental health. Key concepts identified for the mental health curriculum include: (1) an understanding of the student's self esteem; (2) values clarification and decision making; and (3) health counseling. (JN)

Presented are the teacher and student editions for six modules designed to teach students how to investigate and evaluate science-related social issues. These modules (each of which includes an introduction, objectives, readings, and activities) focus on: (1) environmental problem solving; (2) preparing to investigate an environmental issue; (3)…

The moral criticism approach employs elements of criticism and moral reasoning to reach reasoned decisions regarding the rightness or wrongness of actions in applications of scientific knowledge. (JN)

A six-stage program was designed to teach students about the sexual problems of our society and to help them grow individually on three levels: general knowledge about sex; self-awareness; and social consciousness. The eight-week unit has received considerable support from parents. (FG)

Five groups of people must become involved in the production of a sex education program: administrators, faculty, parents, students, and the school board. An elective year-long course is offered for ninth graders, and a parent education program is offered twice yearly. An ongoing parent-community committee functions as a support group for the…

This revised curriculum, developed for use in Florida middle schools, is a comprehensive family life education course. The content of the course was determined (1) through a "Needs Assessment Inventory for Teenage Pregnancy Prevention," which was sent to more than 1,200 home economics teachers in Florida (and returned by the majority of…