Character education

Abstract: Lickona, a professor of education at the State University of New York and the author of the highly praised Raising Good Children , addresses the controversial topic of ``values'' education and its place in today's classrooms. In a well-balanced presentation distilling his decades of experience, Lickona suggests practical approaches that have been developed by several programs of moral education. Proceeding from the principle that ``there is no such thing as value-free education,'' the author demonstrates that character development is as necessary as academic achievement, and that parents and school administrators are increasingly aware of this need. In his view, two great values, expressed as respect and responsibiity, should define the public school's moral agenda. Acknowledging that values education has often proved divisive, Lickona specifies strategies likely, he believes, to make moral education effective and less anxiety-provoking for parents and teachers. This important study will be a resource for those concerned with the ``ethical illiteracy'' of children. (Oct.)