This article explores how educating lives for Christian wisdom might serve as an antidote to the vice of "acedia," a prominent feature of the culture of contemporary higher education. After suggesting that the capital vice of "acedia" seems to capture well various facets of our present age and how the pursuit of wisdom serves…

The author advocates an approach to ethics teaching that places critical reflection at the center of ethics inquiry. Three other approachs to ethics teaching (applied ethical theory, applied Kohlberg, and values clarification) are critiqued. Suggestions for curriculum design are offered. (MT)

Explores some of the major components of the values clarification theory and discusses some of the most frequent criticisms which have been made of the theory. A major part of the paper summarizes the early research on values clarification and reviews nineteen more recent studies. For journal availability, see SO 504 730. (Author/DB)

Student activities programing, viewed as essential to the college experience, is defended by outlining some of the values and growth opportunities it provides for students. Several specific programing strategies useful as catalysts in values development are described, including values clarification exercises, multicultural programing, and…

This book examines six models of moral education: rationale building, consideration, values clarification, value analysis, cognitive moral development, and social action. The public is demanding that schools become increasingly involved in moral education. More than two thirds of the respondents to 1975 and 1976 Gallup polls on education stated…

Describes and evaluates eight valuing strategies for both general values education and environmental values education. Strategies include laissez faire; moral development, inculcation; values analysis; action learning (service learning); confluent education; and behavior modification. (JN)

In this position paper, the authors respond to the frequent criticisms and charges that values clarification is value free, relativistic, superficial, and without a cogent theoretical or research base. The authors first examine values clarification as theory. As originally developed by Raths, values education is a theory based on the thinking of…

A total of 59 studies were reviewed, 33 focusing on values clarification and 26 on moral development. The research on values clarification indicated that little or no confidence is warranted regarding its potential curricular effectiveness. However, the research base for the moral development approach indicated that cautious optimism is…

Contends that students must understand the foundations of ethical reasoning in order to develop the ability to think critically about ethical issues. Discusses three foundations upon which all ethical reasoning must rest: (1) a sound understanding of ethical concepts and principles; (2) the knowledge that ethics is different from other domains of…

Recent trends and strategies in reforming moral education in higher education are traced and critiqued, including such approaches as values clarification, Kohlberg's moral development theory, and applied ethics. Traditional moral education is supported as the means to serving students best. (MSE)

The Lisle Fellowship program in 14 countries focuses on human relations in an intercultural group and integrates interaction within the group to interaction within the host community, attempting to broaden personal perspectives about values and attitudes. A time is provided to risk new behaviors or test new responses. (MSE)

During American colleges' current process of reexamining their commitment to fostering moral development in students, questions have arisen: What is the place of values education in higher education? Does the study of ethics improve moral character? Is it possible to teach values without indoctrinating students? What are the best methods for…

Examines four problems associated with developing character in college students: two concerned with moral cognition, or knowing what is right, and two concerned with moral action. It then reviews educational programs concerned with moral action, and provides suggestions for designing character development strategies. (Author/TE)

An assessment is made of selected outcomes of an undergraduate human relations course in the teacher education program at Hamline University (St. Paul, Minnesota). The program was comprised of two basic structural elements: 35 hours of large-group instruction and 25 hours of field experience in a public school. Course content was designed to…

Teaching moral behavior in schools is particularly difficult today because there is a diversity of standards reflecting the diverse elements of the culture. Even if consensus on morality could be assumed, however, past experience suggests that students would reject much of it, and neither arguing with them nor joining their rebellion is…