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.…

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

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…

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

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.…

Character education's goal is to help young people know, care about, and act on core ethical values such as fairness, honesty, kindness, respect for others, and responsibility. In this interview, a high school principal in Memphis, Tennessee, explains how staff implemented a separate character-education course. (MLH)

Chaska High School (Minnesota) established a firm district policy to prevent unauthorized, illegal duplication of computer software by teachers and students. The policy's success depends on an ethics re-education program for users, increased funding for software, and a preview library for teachers. (MLH)

The United States needs more citizens who question the morality of using military power to conduct foreign affairs and who can ethically weigh federal spending and industrial, environmental, and social priorities. Instead of bemoaning students' dismal math and science performance, we should address their woeful ignorance of history, literature,…