In this article, the author shares her research, as well as the work of other scholars, on social studies education narratives that portray individuals as heroes or villains and the effect these portrayals may have on students. These narratives not only stifle students' feelings of civic agency, but they minimize the role of community in creating…

How might social educators encourage civic reasoning and genuine dialogue across different perspectives? Disagreements about policy and appropriate action are part and parcel of democratic societies, and yet identifying and working through the roots of those disagreements are tricky skills for students (or anyone, for that matter). In this piece,…

When highly visible lapses in ethics occur, education gets some of the blame. Principals in the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis and the Enron scandal had been educated at Harvard and other elite business schools, where professional and moral ideals had arguably been replaced by a focus on profits at the expense of ethics. A long-standing tradition…

An examination of the ways moral education was taught in elementary public schools during the first three decades of the century suggests that moral education should be (1) indirect--not taught as a isolated subject; (2) comprehensive--include all aspects of school life; and (3) broadly conceived--moral education is multifaceted. (RM)

This article suggests two projects for high school students to help them analyze the steps that lead to involvements such as Watergate. (Author/RM)

Characterizes American folk wisdom about the teaching of moral behavior. Compares the moral education offered in the Soviet Union, Japan, and India. Reviews Lawrence Kohlberg's theory of moral development and concludes with speculations on the moral development role of religion, autonomy, and the environment. (JDH)

Examines, with power and warmth, the obiligations and achievements of social studies in meeting the moral, life-or-death crisis in which we are all involved. (JB)

Outlines procedure for group activity centered around an historical event. The group must perform mathematical problems in reaching a solution to a feudal community's moral dilemma. Copies of handouts are included. (KC)

The author criticizes values clarification techniques done without parental consent in non-elective courses because they invade privacy, lead to ethical relativism, and have the potential to damage children's ego-strength. (Author/AV)

The author argues that moral behavior can be developed by instructional strategies that are primarily cognitive in nature. These strategies include the teacher telling, explaining, or arguing; and students being encouraged to identify, discuss, and analyze ethical issues. (Author/RM)

The author argues that moral behavior cannot be developed by instructional strategies that are primarily cognitive in nature. Encouraging students to (1) analyze and clarify their own values and behavior and those of others and (2) evaluate different values and/or solutions to moral problems will not make anyone more moral. (Author/RM)

Schools should continue to teach values now that traditional institutions (church, family) have less impact on children. Although some new techniques have concerned parents, it is the school's responsibility to teach the secular value system which is an outgrowth of the religious values of our nation's founders. (AV)

Describes the Amnesty International USA's Urgent Action letter writing program for schoolchildren. Discusses monthly cases, preparation material for parents and teachers, opportunities for classroom discussion, and a sample letter. Suggests that the program can be an action component in social studies, civics, religion, ethics, and English…

Explores the meaning of distributive justice and considers the importance of teaching the concept in social studies classes. Delineates characteristics of reasonable arguments for treating people differently to bring about justice. Presents situations to generate classroom discussion of the concept of justice. (NL)

Presents a four-part lesson designed to introduce elementary and junior high school students to moral and legal dilemmas. Dilemmas involve students in role playing, decision making, critical analysis, and evaluation. The dilemmas, although hypothetical, are based on real life situations. (Author/DB)