EDUC 380: Ethics and Education
Ethics and Education, Winter 2003
Educ 380
Course Description
This course will explore the ethical issues that face educators, parents, and volunteers as they attempt to guard the physical safety and nurture the educational well being of kids in schools. The course will introduce students to range of ethical theories. It will be organized around a set of specific topics including: systems of discipline, honesty and deception, moral indoctrination, School climates of bullying, hazing and harassment, and student rights to dissent and protest. The course will use case method to engage the issues and spur discussion.
Course Objectives
The course aims to develop students’ knowledge and skill in several areas: 1)In their understanding of how and why school life poses ethical problems for the adults who work in them or with them; 2) In their understanding of a range of ethical theories, concepts and arguments; 3) In their skills of persuasive argumentation, and ability to detect and critique faulty reasoning; 4) In their skill at designing and using case method to generate discussion about ethical issues.
Course Requirements
1) Essay Topic “An unresolved ethics and education dilemma” Due Thurs. Jan 24 (25% of final grade)
2) Writing and Leading a Case Discussion of an “Ethics and Education Issue”. (As scheduled) (25% of Final grade
Due Fri. Mar 9)
3) Essay Topic: “Agreeing and/or Disagreeing with “The Ethicist” Due March 4 (25% of final grade)
4) How Children Think and feel about Right and Wrong” : Reflections on a Service learning Project. Presented in class March 6 and 11. (25% of Final grade)
Calendar, EDUC380, Winter 2003
Ethics and Education, TTh 1:15-3:00
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Week 1 |
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Jan 7 |
Course overview and Vivian Paley, The Kindness of Children, pp. 1-64 |
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Jan 9 |
The Kindness of Children, pp. 64-129. & Anthony Weston, “Dialogue: Learning by Talking.” |
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Week 2 |
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Jan 14 |
Werner and Voce, “Designing Service Learning to Empower Students and Community,” & Anthony Weston, Ethics as a Learning Experience,” & Weston, A Practical Companion to Ethics, Chapter 3 and “How To Write an Ethics Paper.” |
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Jan 16 |
Anthony Weston, “Paying Attention to Values,”& “Families of Moral Values.” |
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Week 3 |
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Jan 21 |
Richard Paul and Linda Elder, Ethical Reasoning. |
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Jan 23 |
Mark Timmons, “An Introduction to Moral theory,” and Strike and Soltis,” The Ethics of Teaching “Code of Ethics and “What This book is About.” Case: “Truth or Consequences.” (p. 16) |
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Week 4 |
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Jan 28 |
Michael Pritchard, Reasonable Children, Chap. 1 & 2. |
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Jan 30 |
Pritchard, Ch 3 & 4 and Pixie. |
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Week 5 |
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Feb 4 |
Prichard, Ch 5, 6, 7 |
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Feb 6 |
Pritchard, Ch 8, 9, 10 |
Mid-Term Break, Feb 8-10 |
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| Week 6 | |
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Feb 11 |
Strike and Soltis Ch. 2 & 3. and Timmons, Chapter 2 & Case #1 |
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Feb 13 |
Strike and Soltis, 3 & 4. & Timmons Ch. 3 & Case #2 |
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Week 7 |
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Feb 18 |
Strike and Soltis, Chapter 5 & 6 and Timmons Chapter 4 & Case. #3 |
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Feb 20 |
Cases 4,5,6,7 |
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Week 8 |
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Feb 25 |
Randy Cohen, “Why Ethics, Why Now?” Timmons Chap 5 & 6. |
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Feb 27 |
Cases, Randy Cohen, “School Life,” Timmons Chap. 7 & 8 |
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Week 9 |
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Mar 4 |
Randy Cohen, “Civic Life,” Timmons Chap 9 & 10. |
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Mar 6 |
Presentation of Service Learning Projects |
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Week 10 |
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Mar 11 |
Presentation of Service Learning Projects |