Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 13, 1994 TAG: 9403130064
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: BALTIMORE LENGTH: Long
But now there is a new plaint: American kids lack common values. And there is a movement to instill those values in school - to teach honesty, responsibility, caring and tolerance to the Nintendo generation.
"Across the country there is increasing interest in what is called character education," says Rushworth Kidder, president of the Camden, Maine-based Institute For Global Ethics.
Supporters of values education have more in mind than producing some high-principled citizenry down the road. They say the high incidence of violence, drug use and pregnancy among young people have underscored the importance of these lessons right now.
So in classrooms around the country, right and wrong are being taught alongside algebra and home economics:
At Eagle Valley High School in Gypsum, Colo., ex-cowboy Nick Shafer teaches Education for the 21st Century, a melange of ethics, peace, population, environment, education, international development and community service.
"The whole concept of ethical behavior is coming to the forefront because things are unraveling. How come kids are shooting each other on the streets of Denver?" asks Principal Ivan Kershner.
At Contoocook Valley Regional High School in Peterborough, N.H., teachers have been encouraged to discuss values as part of everyday classwork, said Principal Charles Breiner. For example, a lesson on the American Revolution might include a discussion about whether the British treated colonists fairly.
"There is a different climate in the school. It is one that is more invitational, more respectful, more inclusive, less afraid of taking on different topics," he said.
A state law that took effect in 1989 requires teachers to advance the values found in the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights: respect, tolerance, protection of rights for others, courage, humility, honesty and trust, among others.
Ten years ago, Baltimore County became one of the nation's first systems to emphasize values education; this school year, the neighboring city of Baltimore followed suit. The discussions are not always about major issues - although if you're 10 or 11 years old, they seem important enough.
"At lunch people save seats for each other, and I don't think there should be any saving seats because people get into fights with each other," one girl said during a student-directed discussion at Landsdowne Elementary School.
The children raised their hands, hoping to get the discussion moderator, another student, to call on them.
A soft-spoken girl said she doesn't like pencil fighting. Another girl complains that everyone was punished after a few students got out of hand during a recent field trip. Finally, the discussion focuses on whether there should be assigned lunch seating to break up cliques and keep order.
Public school teachers historically have taught morality in conjunction with the family and church, but that practice faded over the past 30 years as many people began to rethink traditional values, said Kevin Ryan, director of the Center for the Advancement of Ethics and Character at Boston University.
"The schools did it in close coordination with the general culture, the church, the family. There was no strong media, no such thing as a youth culture," Ryan said.
"The '60s did some wonderful things, but it knocked this whole area out of the box. Teachers began to think `I'm confused about civil rights, the Vietnam War, all these things, so let's redefine my role.' Teachers became information dispensers, but weren't going to get caught up in this whole thing."
Now educators are realizing that teachers can't avoid the subject because children develop their own values whether those values are taught at school, learned at home or on the street, said Michael Josephson, director of the Josephson Institute of Ethics in Los Angeles.
"Not only is there all this cheating, but schools are doing nothing about it. That means that no matter what they are saying, they are teaching `whatever you can get away with works,' " he said.
Still, values education has its Proponents of teaching values in school say character building - including patriotism, citizenship and honesty - has been a part of education for years. opponents. Some teachers are wary.
"The curriculum is already crowded, teachers have so many things to do," said Donna Fowler, a spokeswoman for the American Federation of Teachers in Washington. "If it's done well it can be a help, but if it's dumped on teachers, they will see it as another burden."
And politically, the concept is even more controversial.
"As soon as you raise those value issues you will almost always get criticism from conservative groups who don't want schools to deal with those issues," said William Spady, an educational consultant based in Colorado.
But proponents say character building - including patriotism, citizenship and honesty - has been a part of education for years.
"We do have common values," said Boston University's Kevin Ryan. "There are traditional American values our Constitution is based on and that any school group could come up with."
Spady said some districts - to deflect criticism, or for other reasons - are using values education in outcome-based programs.
In Salem, Ore., for example, students are granted privileges for demonstrating certain positive behavior. Students are graded on behavior such as attitude, punctuality, initiative, following directions and participation.
Students who maintain an "A" grade for six weeks are allowed to leave the classroom any time to go to their locker, restroom or drinking fountain. Those who maintain an "A" for the term further increase their privileges.
The program is funded by the state, which is planning to replace high school diplomas with a certificate of mastery that declares the student has shown the ability to communicate, think critically, use technology, work in a team and be a self-directed learner.
Elsewhere, values are instilled in other ways. In Jeffrey Fischer's class at Randallstown High School in Baltimore County, seniors take a critical look at history. Class discussions include the Holocaust, the "discovery" of America, and the perception of blacks, Hispanics and other minority groups.
"I'm not saying one view is right and one view is wrong, but it's absolutely essential we keep both views on the table," Fischer told students during a recent discussion on those who deny that the Holocaust happened.
Mindi Albert said the class has made her "more aware of discrimination in the past and in the world around me."
"There have not been any big studies on this," Ryan said. "The reason for that is the federal government is gutless, afraid to fund anything so controversial. This is really a core issue and they just flee from it."
But many schools where values-based curricula have been instituted report positive results, Ryan said.
"The money spent on vandalism goes down, the number of kids expelled goes down. In the long run, scores are higher because part of the movement is to get people involved in their work. Most everyone wants to do a good job. Students begin to think, `my job is to learn,' " he said.
by CNB