Values Clarification
The corruption of America's youth is a popular topic today in the media, among lawmakers, and with concerned parents. Often the "good old days" of generations past are looked upon with longing because of their simpler ways. Decades ago the largest problems in schools were talking out in class, not paying attention, and forgetting to do homework. Today's problems are violence, teen pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse, and delinquency in general. Everyone believes these issues are a result of something different: bad home lives, lack of religious ideals, the media, the wrong education or no education at all. Throughout the years, moral education has been looked to as both an answer and cause. Schooling in morals and values that is provided to youth can be categorized (somewhat) two ways: values clarification education and character education. I believe that the extremes of both of these options are not the answer. Concentration on values clarification education, with some indirect character education woven into the general curriculum, is the most practical answer to this on-going argument. Not all people are familiar with values clarification and character education, so it is necessary to specify the standpoint of both pos
http://www.watchman.org/nondirec.htm. Values clarification promotes reasoning and thought. Reasoning is the basis of moral and virtuous action, as said by philosophers like Aristotle. Reason is what sets humans apart from other species when it comes to their "unique activity." Aristotle bases all virtuous moral behavior on the use of reason to function well and lead a practical life. (Aristotle) By using a V.C. system, personal values are not imposed upon, separation of church and state are further preserved, and family lessons are not overridden. Also children are not brainwashed into all thinking along the same lines. When children/teenagers are told what to think and do, they become mindless, and the lessons they learn mean less than when people learn things through practical experience. All people formulate their values based on three methods, which are all rooted in experiences. These methods are inculcation, modeling, and values clarification. (Howe, Simon, Kirschenbaum) I feel that a system of V.C., along with indirect character education that recognizes the three methods of value formulation, is the only answer to this problem.
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1705
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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