Morality should be taught in public schools. Ethics, the effort to apply simple moral rules, is too complex to teach to secondary school students. Very few adolescents can apply a conduct code requiring them to weigh refined issues, apply prudence, and display considerable self-control. Most lack the necessary maturity. Includes five references.…

The transmission of moral values has been one of public education's oldest endeavors and is currently one of its newest controversies. Today's complex arguments for and against ethical instruction in schools can be divided into three categories of issues: philosophical, political, and pedagogical. Secondary school leaders are in a key position to…

Compares "moral literacy" to cultural literacy, as both depend on prior knowledge. If we want youngsters to possess admirable character traits, then we must teach them what they are through stories and historical examples. Children cannot be expected to take messages about rules or morality seriously unless they see adults following the…

Schools as ethical, democratic communities are places where justice prevails, equity is cherished, integrity is a driving force in all relationships, full participation is an expectation, inclusion is a norm, resources are distributed equally, and members are allowed recourse to address grievances. Schools must teach democracy and ethics with…

This article presents in concrete detail a complete description of the ideal full journalism curriculum. It starts with a competent instructor, says this writer, who was named Journalism Teacher of the Year in 1972 by the Newspaper Fund, Inc. (Editor)

All adolescents have leadership potential. There are three stages of youth leadership development: awareness, interaction, and mastery. Transactional and transformational leadership provide a bridge between youth leadership development and character education. Therein lie the qualities that all parents and educators want to instill in youngsters.…

Encouraging schools to shoulder the responsibility of teaching personal ethics, these authors outline various teaching methods for the study of ethical questions. (Editor)

Teaching ethical values is often challenged as an infringement on students' religious rights. This article addresses key questions concerning schools' legal responsibilities, courts' treatment of curriculum-related challenges based on alleged First Amendment violations, and courts' handling of teacher proselytizing or "opting out" cases.…

Values education should be an essential part of the athletic experience, say these writers, who have developed a model for accomplishing that end. The model calls for specific effort to be directed toward teaching in the affective domain. (Author/TE)

By abdicating their authority and attempting to be value-neutral, teachers and textbooks have, in effect, become valueless. If the American democratic tradition is to survive beyond the end of this century, American educators must ensure that future generations of all races, religions, and cultural backgrounds respect and honor this country's…

Describes the Central New York Education Consortium's efforts to develop university-school district partnerships and devise a positive approach to ethical instruction. The group identified essential "schools of character" aspects, such as clean, orderly environment, constant curriculum evaluation criteria, administrator role modeling,…

An outline of eight types of questions that teachers can use to maintain focus on their subject matter in values/moral education. (Author/MLF)

America's faith in its schools is still strong, says this pulse-taker of public opinion. But to be worthy of this faith, schools must take measures to reinstate discipline in students' lives, which can be done only in cooperation with parents. (Editor)

This review of the work of Maryland's Commission on Values Education excerpts recommended student character and citizenship objectives and personnel policies for administrators, including policies requiring principals' leadership in values education. (MJL)

Ethical instruction is a difficult task in any society, but doubly so in the U.S., because our culture stresses individual development over commitment to the group. Attention to school bonding, special ethics instruction, California's Community of Caring project, and community service opportunities are powerful strategies to aid moral development.…