The Character to Seek Justice: Showing Fairness to Diverse Visions of Character Education.

摘要: Showing Fairness to Diverse Visions Of Character Education Overall, Alfie Kohn fails address the deeper issues that influence our understanding of morality, Mr. Glanzer maintains. Dennis Prager, a Jewish author and talk show host in Los Angeles, tells having asked U.S. high school seniors what they would do if their dog stranger were both drowning. In 15 years he has been asking question, two-thirds have said not save first. He gets different answers at religious schools. Secular students say love dogs but don't even know stranger. "They raised on as only value," says Prager. "We [people] . believe humans are created God's image not. Therefore, though I my more than strangers - admit before either dogs. That is how behave because l value system."(1) Prager this story illustrate importance world views when discussing moral questions. His simple tale reveals students' beliefs about humanity around them will deeply understand apply virtues such love. While educators may it fairly straightforward task teach list virtues, fact, As Warren Nord, philosopher from University North Carolina, points out, character education influenced by whole other connected view: Morality very much bound up with identities, place community or tradition, nature human nature, convictions afterlife, hopes fears, feelings guilt, experiences sacred, assumptions mind can know, makes life meaningful. We make sense we ought do, kind person should be, light all these aspects least reflective.(2) Nord's includes number highly controversial contentious issues. Sadly, most packaged curricula read conferences attended avoid topics, although directly education. Kohn's article February 1997 Kappan brought refreshing change discussion raising five questions behind movement.(3) The touched upon level, goals, choices, theory learning certain types Yet analysis disappointed me for variety reasons. Some his criticisms, especially habit formation,were misdirected demonstrated some faulty assumptions. Most problematic all, merely offered another worldview own brand program instead offering proposal justice be done parents children hold. follows, outline disagreements overview basic addition, want suggest important steps could taken help diversity families public 1. At level problems addressed? According Kohn, people who think immoral behavior primarily dependent "bad values" must also "that political economic realities irrelevant need addressed."(4) i few proponents (in narrow sense) draw sharp distinction. actually agree structural injustices, well within those structures, considered pursuing development. stronger case attempts "fix kids" (which equates teaching virtuous habits) ignore evidence social psychology demonstrating prior fix kid's environment. …