In an attempt to clarify the confusion about the teaching of morality in the classroom, the author discusses the distinction between the concepts of morality and convention. Young children can distinguish between rules and moral principles, and successful moral discussion is more likely to occur in classrooms employing cooperative goal structures.…

Discusses four levels on an indoctrination continuum: the values clarification approach, Emile Durkheim's approach, Lawrence Kohlberg's approach, and the revolutionist's position. Argues that moral education is not extreme indoctrination and that the milder forms of indoctrination are necessary in education. (MM)

Suggests that religious education has a distinctive responsibility to enhance pupils' understanding of life, enlarging their range of skills, responses, and sympathies while liberating some greater sense of hope and possibility. Discusses ways for teachers to achieve these goals. (GEA)

States that unwarranted negative attitudes toward homosexuality need to be countered by dissemination of correct information and constructive discussion. Urges moral educators to guide people toward, and foster respect for, caring and committed relationships whether they be homosexual or heterosexual. (Author/GEA)

Maintains that imaginative philosophical dialogue is an essential and necessary condition to education. Contends that the development of an autonomous person who has the ability to think well and to think for him or herself about matters of importance is essential in a democracy. (Author/JDH)

Reports a field experiment designed to explore the effectiveness of social learning and structural development prescriptions for moral pedagogy in a summer sports camp. Eighty-four children, aged five to seven years were taught by two trained instructors for a six-week period. Statistically significant results were not obtained between the…

Maintains that the content and methods of moral education are inextricably intertwined. Develops a view of moral education which recognizes the synthesis of content and process in students' school and home life. (JDH)

Describes how an adviser can help newspaper staff balance decisions between what they can do and what they ought to do in terms of publication decisions. (CRH)

Describes a course in which students examined the social implications of biological research, discussed the individual's role in research and whether there is an honor code of science, and completed a simulation which involved private companies competing for a government research grant. Instructional strategies used with the exercises are…

Growing public concern with student discipline, increases in student suicide rates, homicides, and high pregnancy rates of teenage girls are causing educators to give renewed attention to the concept of "character development" in public education. (MD)

The state of nuclear war education in the college curriculum is briefly discussed, and a successful interdisciplinary course is described. Readings are listed for each course emphasis: nuclear science and weapons; consequences of their use; visions and nightmares; paths toward war: language, psychology, and politics; and paths toward peace. (MSE)

A field work, internship, or practicum course, by virtue of its emphasis on practical decisions and interventions, is perhaps more directly concerned with values and ethical issues than any other course in the undergraduate psychology curriculum. Methods and resources for facilitating discussion of ethical issues are discussed. (RM)

Two intensive 11-week moral education programs improved the moral reasoning abilities of medium-security prison inmates. One program was based on the cognitive disequilibrium induction techniques of the Kohlberg orientation, the second on the adequacy of the moral reasoning competencies approach advocated by the Association for Values Education…

This digest addresses two components in the moral and ethical preparation of teachers: identification and assessment of professional ethical concepts and structures in teacher education, and foundations and specific models for the preservice training of teachers of character. A teacher's first moral obligation is to provide excellent instruction.…

Conceptions of morality and moral education are in need of reexamination in this time of global transformation. Historical views of morality and moral education are briefly presented, the commonalities and implications of these conceptualizations discussed and their influence on civilization briefly explored. The modern-day conceptions of morality…