Gareth B. Matthews (1929-2011) inaugurated the study of philosophy in children's literature by simultaneously arguing (1) that philosophy is essentially an encounter with certain kinds of perplexities, (2) that genuine philosophical perplexities are readily found in many children's stories, and (3) that many children are capable of appreciating…

This paper introduces an approach to teaching ethics as design in a new course entitled Design Ethics, team-taught by a philosopher and an engineer/designer. The course follows a problem-based learning model in which groups of students work through the phases of the design process on a project for a local client, considering the design values and…

This chapter explores the basis of rationality, arguing that critical thinking tends to be taught in schools as a set of skills because of the failure to recognize that choosing to think critically depends on the prior development of stable sentiments or moral habits that nourish a rational self. Primary among these stable sentiments are the…

This paper will discuss findings from a teaching project pilot study designed to investigate the ways in which pre-service teachers understand and reason through ethical tensions perceived to arise during their final professional experience situation. The project utilised an assessment strategy based on the "community of inquiry" model…

In this paper we explore the portrayal of the "authentic" past in children's literature in Ghana, as well as the problems it poses for the achievement of the broader goal of moulding children to fit into tomorrow's society. We look at two main aspects: the social and moral settings portrayed in selected books. The social order refers to…

At a brisk pace, research findings focused on children's play are finally reaching the light of day in popular media. No longer left sitting in archives of academic journals, the benefits of play to lifelong success have been touted in radio, television, magazines, and newspapers. It gives early childhood professionals a powerful, credible…

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to provide an overview of the fundamental elements of moral literacy. Moral literacy involves three basic components: ethics sensitivity; ethical reasoning skills; and moral imagination. It is the contention of the author that though math and reading literacy is highly valued by the American educational…

Moral "seeing"--the ability to take in the particulars of a moral encounter, and to interpret and imagine its implications--is analogous to aesthetic perception. This article defends and explores the use of aesthetic experiences in educational ethics classrooms as a way to enhance students' abilities to perceive and imagine moral situations and…

Describes a reflective inquiry teacher education program at one university, examining the relationship between values and teacher skills. The program emphasizes the development of analytical and critical thinking skills. The article describes 25 preservice teachers' value clusters, explores the necessary skills development, and shares one…

In plain language, these six ready-to-copy briefs state what researchers and practitioners have learned about various ways parents can help their children do well in school. "Calculating the Risks: When Should Parents Add or Subtract?" discusses the normal risks of life, the intensification of risk by poverty, and how parents can keep…