David E. Puurpel

Curry 230

336-334-3467

Purpeld@dewey.uncg.edu

Moral Dimensions of Education

ELC - 604

Syllabus

I.          Outline of course

Jan. 14 Introduction of course: definitional issues; video on Cain and Abel.

Jan. 21 Discussion of concepts of good and evil.  Video tape.

Jan. 28 Discussion of moral responsibility.  Video - My Lai Masacre.

Feb. 4              Historical perspectives on American public education.  Discussion of Scheffler article.

Feb. 11            Moral education.  Discussion of Gilligan, Kohn, Kohlberg, Lickona, and Noddings articles.

Feb. 18            Discussion of text, chapters 1-3.

Feb. 25            Discussion of text, chapters 4&5.

Mar. 4             SPRING BREAK

Mar. 11           Discussion of text, chapters 6&7.

Mar. 18           Discussion of The Scarlet Letter.

Mar. 25           TBA

April 1 Guest Speaker

April 8 Student reports          

April 15          Student reports          

April 22          Student reports

April 29          Film Weapons of the Spirit

II.        Readings

A.        Texts

1.         Nathaniel Hawthorne The Scarlet Letter

2.         David Purpel The Moral and Spiritual Crisis in Education

B.        Articles on Reserve

1.         Carol Gilligam Woman’s Place in a Man’s Life Cycle

2.         Lawrence Kohlberg     Moral Stages and Mobilization: The Cognitive                                                                     Developmental Appoarch

3.         Alfie Kohn                  How Not to Teach Values: A Critical Look at                                                                     Character Education

4.         Thomas Lickona         The Case for Character Education

5.         Nel Noddings              Care and Moral Education

6.         Israel Scheffler Moral Education and the Democratic Ideal

III.       Assignments

1.         Reaction paper to the Scarlet Letter, due March 18th.

2.         Research paper due April 29th.

3.         Discernment exercise.

IV.       Suggested Readings

Bellah, Robert, et. Al.             The Good Socity

Bowen, C.A.                                       Elements of Post Liberal

Educational Philosophy

Bloom, Allen                                       The Closing of the American Mind

Brueggemann, Walter              The Prophetic Imagination

Cox, Harvey                                        Religion and the Secular City

Delbanco, Andrew                              The Death of Satan

Eliade, Mircea                         The Sacred and the Profane

Fox, Matthew                                     A Spirituality Named Compassion