This study explores the enactment and evolution of moral education in Beijing, China. In particular, the author examines the extent to which moral education teachers develop reflective thinking and broach controversial issues within their classrooms. Drawing on interview data from secondary moral education (deyu) teachers, professors who prepare…

The teaching of ethics or controversial issues in health education must meet two criteria: (1) The controversy must be addressed from various viewpoints; and (2) The issues must involve questions of right and wrong. Examples of values clarification activities are given. (JN)

Identifies issues arising from the inclusion of sex education in the school curriculum. Issues range from the questions of content and organization to those concerning teaching based upon moral considerations. Examines the primary school and the secondary school's curriculum. Calls for a program that is realistically tailored to the needs of…

Defines Law-Related Education and describes its goals: citizenship and ethics education, delinquency prevention, teaching survival, and critical thinking skills. Justifies Law-Related Education's place in the social studies curriculum. (CH)

Discusses criticisms of global education by Gregg L. Cunningham in a report for Thomas G. Tancredo, and the National Council for the Social Studies' response to the report. Contends that an ethnocentric curriculum restricts students ability to think critically. Distinguishes between cultural relativism and moral relativism. (DB)

Drawing on contemporary research literature, recently developed curriculum guides, and blue-ribbon reports, this digest reviews 10 contemporary trends in K-12 social studies in the United States. Trends are as follows: (1) History, history, and more history; (2) More geography, too; (3) Using literature to teach social studies; (4) Focus on the…

Argues that geography teachers should help students explore ethical issues in geography, such as questioning where exploitation ends and conservation begins. Outlines guidelines for ethics, considers pedgogical implications, and offers strategies for motivating students and making geography relevant. (DB)

The social studies curriculum recently has been subjected to many changes. New curriculum patterns coupled with more effective instructional strategies have altered significantly subject content and teaching methods. Drawing from contemporary research literature, newly developed curriculum guides, and blue-ribbon reports from content specialists…

A survey of 319 residents, recent graduates, and faculty of McGill University medical school investigated which ethical issues were viewed as important to include in the curriculum, frequency of occurrence, difficulty of management, and helpfulness of discussion. Gender differences were also studied. Results indicate little consensus on ethics…

Summarizes the results of an International Bioethics Education Survey conducted in Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. Compares knowledge and teaching of 15 selected topics with particular emphasis on the teaching of social, ethical, and environmental issues of in vitro fertilization, prenatal diagnosis, biotechnology, nuclear power, pesticides,…

Criticizes the concept that secular, rationalist thought is more objective than religious thought. Maintains that all human inquiry and interaction is rife with subjective bias and assumptions. Defends the teaching of religious subjects in public schools on this basis and calls for an "intersubjective" approach (acknowledging rationalist…

As part of a federal grant to develop an across-the-curriculum ethics program, ethics instruction was integrated into English classes at Colorado's Community College of Aurora (CCA). In the English classes, students were first asked to read case studies from CCA's ethics handbook detailing specific ethical problems. In subsequent classes, students…

Reviews approaches to teaching values in elementary schools. Describes a model consistent with the core values of the United States. Recommends an elementary curriculum resting on three cornerstones: (1) caring, (2) citizenship, and (3) conscience. Points out that controversial issues must be discussed openly within such a curriculum. (CFR)

Educators from over 30 countries judged the suitability of incidents in moral education in the context of their native environment. Participants were 54 secondary school principals or teachers, most of whom were graduate students or married to graduate students at the University of California, Santa Barbara. They were given descriptions of 23…

Examines possible reasons for the lack of issues-oriented instruction in social studies classrooms. Provides curriculum suggestions to remedy this, including exploring debatable issues that can be researched and are interesting. Includes 12 instructional strategies designed to maintain student interest and smooth over rough spots. (MJP)