Reports on experiments that examined the extent to which children's moral orientation is affected by the gender of characters experiencing a dilemma in children's literature. Children often responded to the character's dilemma by expressing a concern for others (care orientation) or focusing on issues of rights and justice (rights orientation).…

This collection of essays addresses the debate over moral education. The contributors deal with whether educators should influence children's value orientation through a direct program advocating restraint and higher moral standards, or whether educators should teach students to cope and adapt by providing a variety of alternatives from which the…

This study of values education was conducted in primary schools in Scotland between April 1993 and April 1995. The study: (1) explored the kinds of values implicitly and explicitly taught; (2) investigated teachers', pupils', and parents' perceptions of values education; (3) explored the ways value education occurs; and (4) sought to raise…

This resource manual integrates literature and social studies with an emphasis on character development. Using children's literature as a catalyst for investigating representative cultures, the manual's curriculum writers crafted multicultural, integrated, thematic lessons for the K-6 classroom that can be used throughout the year. Included are…

Aside from being an invasion of privacy, values clarification exercises are inappropriate for most elementary students who, still in the concrete operations stage of mental development, are incapable of generalizing moral principles. It would be better to teach concrete problem-solving processes until the formal operations stage is reached. (SJL)

Describes the education of young children in the Soviet Union. Considers changes that have taken place since the school reform of 1984 within a historical perspective. Focuses on the first year of schooling and the ways in which systems attempt to inculcate values and beliefs. (Author/BB)

Tested third-, fifth-grade, and college students for ability to apprehend moral messages in selected stories from "Book of Virtues." Asked participants to generate the message, select the message from a list, and select a vignette with the same message from three possibilities. Results Indicate a developmental difference in moral-theme…

Picture books, showing young characters' struggles to control their anger and cope under stress, are cornerstones of the East Side San Jose Schools' Leadership through Ethical Action and Development (LEAD) program. Sponsored by the Markkula Center, LEAD enrolls 11 university student leaders who share their knowledge of ethical behavior with…

This revised teacher's manual focuses on the need to develop compassionate concern in students if they are to be moved to action. The 12-step processes in the 8 units promote a personal relationship or friendship with the persons or groups involved. The units include: (1) "Of Dreams and Vision"; (2) "Interpersonal Peacemaking/Reconciliation"; (3)…

This descriptive study investigated ethical conflicts within teaching, examining Swedish teachers' writings about their personal ethical conflicts in teaching. The study uncovered an ambiguity about ethical practice, noting that teachers sometimes seemed ready to abandon the value of caring for children out of respect for other adults. (SM)

Presents the idea of enhancing the humane values of elementary students by taking another perspective. Outlines a number of children's books for use with the development of the concept of justice. Gives insight into the risks of perspective taking by discussing the inadequacies of projection in understanding others. (KO)

Reviews the literature on school-based community service programs and examines community service as a means of developing student character within a group of urban Catholic elementary schools. It suggests these urban Catholic schools offer a model for other elementary schools, both private and public, in building student character. (GR)

Character or values instruction has been relegated to the hidden curriculum since the decline of 1960s values programs. However, teachers are beginning to use character instruction in an organized way. The purpose of this study was to determine whether instruction using children's literature would effect student perceptions of value laden…

This paper examines how values education is taught in Chinese and American elementary schools and what values are advocated in Chinese and American elementary textbooks. Differences in attitude, content, method, and outcome are analyzed in the context of social and cultural backgrounds. It is concluded that American textbooks tend to emphasize…

The Child Development Project (CDP) was designed to enhance the development of prosocial characteristics in school children in kindergarten through sixth grade. It was developed and evaluated in a school district (San Ramon) in the San Francisco, California area. The features of the program include: (1) an instructional approach that enhances…