Provides an annotated bibliography of 11 documents from the ERIC database concerning the teaching of religion. Includes items that explore the role of religion in public education, moral education, and secular humanism. Explains how to obtain ERIC documents. (SG)

Reports a study involving students who were exposed to an educational intervention curriculum designed to facilitate moral development. Describes a means of promoting moral reasoning through conceptualizing and integrating essential philosophical concepts. Concludes that the curriculum is effective in stimulating moral development and principled…

Consistency of moral judgment across different dilemmas and social contexts and the relationship between the structure and content of moral judgment was studied for 40 men given hypothetical dilemmas. Findings demonstrate that type of dilemma may affect the structure of moral reasoning and illustrate various stages of moral reasoning. (SLD)

Examines the conflict between the "politically correct" movement and educational "traditionalists." Suggests that the "politically correct" view seeks to purge sexism, racism, and economic classism, whereas traditionalists desire to inject values into education. Identifies the one-sidedness of each position. Argues…

Surveys of first- and fourth-year Johns Hopkins University (Maryland) medical students found little change in attitudes about abortion over four years. Attitudes correlated most strongly with personal beliefs about when a fetus is considered human life and somewhat with student gender. Results are used in a medical ethics course to illuminate…

Academics in Catholic colleges and universities are anxious about the Pope's warnings that they adhere to Catholic doctrine and avoid public dissent, fearing a threat to academic freedom. Scholars see them as a forceful declaration of long-held papal views and reflection of concern that moral teaching is in disarray. (MSE)

Two studies examined Amish-Mennonite, Dutch Reform Calvinist, and Conservative and Orthodox Jewish children's concepts of moral and nonmoral religious rules. It was found that the subjects differentiated between moral and nonmoral religious rules: judgments regarding moral issues were justified in terms of justice and human welfare considerations,…

Results of the administration of Forsyth's Ethics Position Questionnaire to 20 student teachers, 20 experienced teachers, and 24 business majors were as follows: education majors and teachers were more idealistic and less relativistic than business majors; business majors showed significant disparity among themselves. Implications for the…

Britain's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act provides for the assessment of adults for parenthood on both medical and social grounds, justified by concern for the welfare of the child. Compares these assessments with those undertaken in the adoption process and questions the utility of such decisions for the welfare of the children involved.…

A study compared student responses (n=137) on measures of trustworthiness and attitude when they were either just responding honestly or supposedly applying a graduate school or for a job. Results suggest students would modify their responses in some situations. Implications for use of honesty tests are examined. (MSE)

Comments on revision of Piagetian theory of reciprocity in forgiveness by Enright (PS 522 365) in this issue. Reviews relationship of Enright theory to previous research. Suggests that forgiveness may require moral insights in addition to reciprocity, but reciprocity appears central to children's and adults' understanding of forgiveness. Provides…

Reflects on the actions of individuals who have sought to bring about justice and goodness in the face of overwhelming odds and at great personal risk. Notes evidence of the alienation of American students today, and suggests that schools expand the curriculum to involve students in real-life activities that foster moral understanding and action.…

Based on questionnaire responses, 139 ninth and twelfth graders were divided into low and high drug use groups. High use subjects viewed drug use as less harmful than did low use subjects and were less likely to view parents or the law as authorities concerning drug use. (BC)

Outlines the theory of the significance of early memories used as a projective tool by Adlerian psychologists. Describes a procedure for elicitation and interpretation of early memories and provides several examples of their use in an encouraging therapeutic context. Attempts to show effectiveness of this technique in assessing client issues and…

Examines ethics in the rhetoric of teacher professionalization. If persons allow themselves to be defined in limiting ways, they become limited and see themselves as others do. If teachers ignore the moral dimensions of teaching in favor of subject matter knowledge and pedagogical technique, they present themselves as lackeys. (SM)