An analysis of aims of eight moral-related educations, with implications for the teaching of morals

L Education (General);LB Theory and practice of education

Robb, William McCall ; McKinney, Stephen

University:University of Glasgow

Department:School of Education

关键词: values education, character education, sex education, drugs education, moral education, environmental education, citizenship education, multicultural education, religious education.;   

Others  :  http://theses.gla.ac.uk/30679/7/2018RobbMPhil.pdf

来源: University of Glasgow

【 摘 要 】

This dissertation records the results of a study into the aims of eight “educations”: Character Education, Citizenship Education, Drugs Education, Environmental Education, Moral Education, Multicultural Education, Religious Education, and Sex Education. Since the initial impression was that these educations had a moral component, they are referred to as moral-related educations. The purpose of the research was to examine the extent and nature of moral content in each of the moral-related educations, and the extent of any duplication.Criteria for selecting the eight moral-related educations are explained and the methodology of analysing their stated aims is justified. Each moral-related education was taken in turn and data on it stated aims extracted from relevant literature. The collected data for all eight moral-educations was then analysed.The main findings from the analysis are that: i) there is considerable duplication of aims among the “educations”; ii) many aims are to do with behavioural change; iii) the main behavioural change aimed for is “responsible behaviour”, and iv) the fundamental aim is “moral behaviour”. Consequently, it is reasonable to refer to the selected “educations” as “moral-related educations”.Two of the recommendations have major implications for the organisation of teaching of morals, namely, i) the formation of a single subject (“Practical Morality”) consolidating the morals and moral issues of the moral-related educations, and ii) formation of a subject (“Personal Skills”) to develop the personal and social skills. Further justification for the two major recommendations is provided in the form of findings from fellow-educationists, and in the form of five possible advantages, should the recommendations be implemented.Four main suggestions for further research are provided. The methodology employed to conduct the research seems to be a pioneering approach, and a critique of the methodology is given to assist fellow-educationists should they wish to replicate the research reported in this dissertation.