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Date:         Sun, 22 Nov 1992 01:08:52 EST
              <EDPOLYAN@ASUACAD.BITNET>
From:         gallagherj@SATURN.GLASSBORO.EDU
Subject:      RE: Moral and Spiritual Values

I think that John Covaleskie's response to the number of
discussions regarding morals education and religion in the
schools is a good one. I found the discussions informative
although I have my own opinions regarding some of the positions
held. That is why I enjoy this list so much! Thanks for all of
your arguments and points of view.

I am not an educational foundations specialist. So, please
forgive me if I make some bad errors in the following and inform
me where I go astray.

The discussion of morals education frequently arises in my
graduate curriculum courses, especially when I require my
students to respond to the question "What should be the central
purpose of education in the USA?" They must respond in one page
only, typed. I get some real groans and it is a difficult
assignment, especially for teachers who never contemplated why
they do what they do. Of course, I am trying to get them to
develop a philosophical position to direct their subsequent
curriculum development activities. In my course, textbook DOES
NOT equal curriculum. Unfortunately, in too many schools, the
textbook IS the curriculum. The curriculum is in congruence with
the textbook's table of contents.

To morals education. Many of my graduate students fear the
discussion of morals in schools. I ask them whether they would
tolerate stealing. No. I ask them whether they tolerate students
assaulting others. No. I ask them whether they tolerate students
performing sexual acts in the classroom or on the school grounds
or on the school bus. No. I ask them whether they tolerate
students making character damaging statements about others. No. I
ask them whether they counsel students who make negative
statements about their parents, the teachers, the principal, etc.
or about themselves (the teacher). Yes. I ask them whether
students should behave in the school and follow the directions
and dictates of the teachers, administrators, and staff. Yes.
I ask them whether they would tolerate a student killing another.
No. I ask them whether they would tolerate cheating in their
classes. NO!!!! I ask them whether there exist civil laws which
prohibit most of the behaviors listed. Yes. I ask them whether
there are school rules which prohibit most, if not all, of the
behaviors listed. Yes. Soooo... why can't one include instruction
on the above behaviors? (This list is not totally inclusive.)

Now, I didn't mention God, the Bible, the Koran, or any other
religious document or doctrine. I didn't mention Christian values
or any other religious values. These behaviors are expected of
civilized people and I hope they are expected of all in the
schools. I would certainly HOPE that children would be taught
these values by example and by other methods of instruction. I
would hope that these values were ENFORCED in the school. I have
a teenage daughter in public school and I expect her to follow
these behaviors and I expect the school to support her behaving
according to these behaviors.

It seems to me that morals education, or values education, or
whatever one calls it, should be the responsibility of all school
professionals. It should be a part of the total curriculum
(including the hidden curriculum), the affective domain which so
much concerns values. (Note that the America 2000/National Goals
ignore values education, except that school should be safe and
drug free.) Our society has so many problems which concern the
above values. Stealing, cheating, assaulting others (or oneself
by using drugs or abusing alcohol), destroying another's good
name (the election campaign was a good example of that!),
killing, etc. seems to be the content of the local TV news. Do we
just hide from this or do we become responsible educators who
attempt change by example and instruction, and behavior
expectations of ourselves and our children in the schools?

Now, am I wrong? If I implemented an educational program of the
above moral values, would some civil liberties lawyer haul me
into court for violating the first amendment? Cannot school
boards institute a code of moral behaviors expected of students
and school professionals, and make the code a part of the
curriculum?

John V. Gallagher, Ph.D.
School of Education and Related Professional Studies
Rowan College of New Jersey
Glassboro NJ 08028

GALLAGHERJ@saturn.glassboro.edu