| What is moral development? | Moral development involves advances in peoples' conceptions of right and wrong, as well as the development of prosocial traits such as honesty and respect for others. |
| How does moral development occur in children? | Moral development advances when children:
1. Encounter moral issues.
2. Try to make sense of them, and
3. Construct an individual sense of right and wrong.
(Fung & Smith, 2010; Gibbs, 2010). |
| What are some of the moral problems happening in schools? | In the United States of America, nearly 50% of all students reported having been bullied (Josephson Institute Center for Youth Ethics, 2010).
Also, cheating is common in USA schools , and many students don't see a connection between cheating and morality (Honz, Kiewra, & Yang, 2010). |
| In terms of curriculum design, give 2 examples how moral issues can be taught to students. | 1. History classes can be more than a chronology of events; it's the study of people's responses to moral issues, such as human suffering, justice and whether discussions to go to war is justified.
2. In literature class, teachers commonly have students study novels such as "To Kill a Mockingbird", "The Scarlet Letter", and "A Tale of Two Cities", not only because they are good literature but also because they examine moral issues. |
| How is moral development an integral part of general student development? | Students' beliefs about right and wrong influence their behaviour. For instance, research suggests that the extent to which adolescents believe the world is fair and just influences their attitudes towards bullying (Fox, Elder, Gater, & Johnson, 2010).
Also, incidents of cheating and vandalism decrease if students believe they are morally wrong (Murdock, MIller, & Kohlhardt, 2004). |
| Can the atmosphere of a school influence students? | The moral atmosphere of a school - for example, democratic and prosocial versus authoritarian - can influence not only moral development, but also student motivation and the value students place on their own learning experiences (Christenson & Havsy, 2004; Haidt & Kesebir, 2010).
Understanding moral development helps us better guide our students in this vital area. |
