People can use a variety of different strategies to perform tasks and these strategies all have two characteristics in common. First, they can be evaluated in comparison with either an absolute or a relative standard. Second, they can be used at varying levels of consistency. In the present article, the authors develop a general theory of task…

Explores two additional meanings of "moral democracy" to enhance John Dewey's concept and identifies possible procedures to identify basic democratic values. Reviews writings on some recognized scholars of democracy and explores how educators may use a democratic ethic to improve the quality of education in a changing democratic society.…

Analyzes the ethical perspectives of four technical communication textbooks. Argues that the textbooks engage in moralism and in ethics-related activities that deduce moral judgments. Suggests that at least two of the textbooks introduce ideas that are either inconsistent with traditional ethical theories or are subject to previous objections. (RS)

The United States is experiencing a revived interest in character education, responding to the public's perception of a moral decline in America's sociocultural life. Educators are responsible for becoming attuned to their schools' moral atmosphere and for setting a tone that positively motivates the entire school community. (13 references) (MLH)

When you read or hear an unethical suggestion, such as "Steal this article and sell it to another magazine," we're guessing that your internal compass indicates "wrong direction." In other words, your internal voice says, "No, that would be wrong!" Your internal compass tells you when something is right and something is wrong. In our example, your…

In this paper I distinguish between two sorts of ideologies, moral (or ethical) ideologies that embrace the conceptual condition of human agency: free will, moral intelligence, and fallibility; and amoral (or non-ethical) ideologies that do not. Initiation into the former, which are suited to open societies, is best accomplished through education,…

"Positive Action," a K-12 program, aims to promote character development, academic achievement, and social-emotional skills and to reduce disruptive and problem behavior. The program is based on the philosophy that you feel good about yourself when you think and do positive actions, and there is always a positive way to do everything.…

This study examined and assessed teachers' and students' use of and reactions to the Heartwood Program, a multicultural, literature-based curriculum designed to promote elementary students' ethical understanding of courage, loyalty, justice, respect, hope, honesty, and love. The Pennsylvania Department of Education Division of Federal Programs…

The challenge for a Web site designer is always to get the users to the correct information. According to experts in the field, site design should be aimed at simplicity above all else. This paper evaluates the Indiana Clearinghouse for Citizenship and Character Education's Web site. The paper finds that the format is simple and excellent, easily…

Starting with basic philosophic positions and principles, nursing students can be helped to analyze ethical dilemmas of increasing complexity. A hypothetical situation is presented and discussed as an example of a case study used to teach these principles. (CT)

Examines the role and function of theatre rituals for approaching ethics in the curriculum. Discusses the ritual's main traits as a collective experience, constituting performed actions with symbolic status, within a structure of formal qualities and defined relationships. Concludes that theatre rituals: enable children's individual voices to…

The recent shift in pharmacy practice from product to information orientation, patients' desires to know more about medications, computerized access to records, and increased third-party payments may result in serious ethical dilemmas for pharmacists. Pharmacy schools must provide background in the responsibilities of health care professionals to…

Exhorts educators to teach children to be truthful, respect others' rights, and learn to take risks and make commitments. Although international schools can't teach morality, they can teach philosophy and explore the importance of developing a sensitivity to ethical questions. All subjects, honestly taught, exemplify the triumph of ethical…

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.…

Controversy over a proposed outcome-based-education package in Pennsylvania forced school reformers to eliminate explicit values instruction from the curriculum. Although respect and responsibility were agreed-upon moral values, tolerance was not. Proponents erred by failing to publicize and promote positive aspects of the reform, underestimating…