We present the results of a literature review of studies on teaching strategies for moral education in secondary schools (1995-2003). The majority of the studies focus on the "what" and "why", i.e. the objectives, of curriculum-oriented moral education. Attention to the instructional formats for enhancing the prosocial and moral development of…

Studied 40 first through third graders to determine whether they would donate more to a worthy cause after being exposed to a humorous situation or to a serious one. The difference in giving was not significant. (RJC)

This study was designed to discover why young children fail to respond to fables in the same way as older children and adults. The paper describes a model of fable comprehension and appreciation which posits that the moral lesson of a fable is specified by the nature of the outcome that results from the actions of the main character. Although…

Parish religious education programs for children and young people are examined with emphasis on how these programs are administered and operated, how students evaluate them, and what organizational and program factors are characteristic of particularly effective programs. Nominations for effective programs were solicited from 83 dioceses, and 258…

Presents the results of a survey of Canada's 10 provincial education ministries regarding the promotion of moral education in their public schools. Compares the results with a similar survey conducted 12 years previously. Concludes that Quebec has made great strides in improving moral education while other provinces have lagged. (SG)

In recent years, concern in several Southeast Asian nations about the deterioration of values within their societies has resulted in renewed efforts to teach values by means of special courses in the schools. This paper compares the current programs of values education in four of the nations: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Phillipines, and Singapore.…

Examined were the effects of story elements in teaching moral concepts to college freshmen and sophomores. The two story elements studied were (1) context (descriptions of observable circumstances and observable actions) and (2) substance (descriptions of the internal character, feelings, desires, and beliefs of the actor). A total of 59 students…

This book identifies a method of moral thinking and moral decision making that is compatible with the methods of rigorous disciplinary scholarship. It demonstrates how a comprehensive program of values education may integrate effectively major components of learning in a manner that serves the purposes of human development. The book contributes to…

Discussion and analysis of the nature of conservative criticisms of nuclear war education and of the peace issue in general are provided in this paper. The general theme of the conservative criticism is that the proponents of such courses are deliberately serving the interests of the Soviet Union by subverting the morality of students away from…

Moral development is viewed as a matter of progression in the cognitive reasoning and rationale underlying choices and judgments. Traditionally, retrospective reports of rationales have been used to measure moral development levels, resulting in unreliable information. Information Integration Theory attempts to assess individual differences in…

Presents results of a study designed to promote social justice by teaching English primary school children about social discrimination. Confirms evidence that children aged 7 to 11 can recognize unfair discrimination against oppressed groups. Suggests children will recognize discrimination even without reference to oppressed groups. (DK)

Using a research approach founded on explicit normative assumptions about the social goals of education, and proceeding from the hypothesis that lifelong socialization largely determines an administrator's capability, this paper analyzes the experiences of one "good" principal. Following an initial discussion of educators' attitudes toward…

Asserts that, among the concerns in recent research in moral development, has been the steps involved in moral judgment stage development. Reports on a study of 490 college students and adults on the primary perspective-taking factors associated within the transition to mature moral judgment. (CFR)

Discussion of the use of simulation games to teach political strategy focuses on the relationship between honesty and expediency (winning). Three models of competition are developed, each involving a different relationship between truth and success, and the outcomes of a course on social situations and gaming are discussed. (16 references) (LRW)

Reports on a study of the effect of community service on 71 undergraduate students. Finds that community service work combined with discussion of relevant moral issues is an effective way of moving students into the postconventional stage of principled moral reasoning. Discusses other benefits of community service work. (CFR)