New Book Explores the Importance and Volatility of Moral Education

PHILADELPHIA - Two University of Pennsylvania professors have written a book that explores the often overlooked centrality of moral education in public schools and the controversies that surround both its premises and pedagogy.

"The Moral Stake in Education: Contested Premises and Practices" by Joan Goodman and Howard Lesnick will be released in early December by Allyn and Bacon.

Through a series of scenarios, in which two thoughtful teachers consistently differ with one another, the book reveals the many moral issues that are classroom constants and the disagreements they generate. Following each scenario, the authors expand on the theoretical premises held explicitly or implicitly by the teachers, leaving to the end of each chapter short readings of excerpts from classical and contemporary scholars. This tripartite scheme brings readers immediately into provocative and realistic situations that call out for a reaction, but also asks them to consider the relevance of philosophical, political, educational and psychological theory to a teacher's ordinary classroom practices.

Although this is not a how-to book, the final chapter offers benchmarks for schools to use in developing a moral education program. It seeks to establish sufficient common ground within the controversies, while allowing space for significant disagreement. The message is that to get beyond the current cultural wars teachers must listen across differences, not as a matter of mere tolerance but because there is genuine merit in the opposing view.

The authors describe their work as "aspirational yet practical: aspirational because it takes as its task a consideration of how schools can contribute to building a persistent and demanding moral identity in children and practical because, to net the results so many seek, requires the extended analysis, reflection and balancing this book attempts to provide."