The question of whether or not character education can reverse moral decline and should therefore be included in school curriculum and programs is seen by Thomas Lickona (2005) as easily answered with a resounding "yes." Lickona (2005) argues that character education is needed in the schools because of the decline of the family, troubling trends in youth character, and the need to recover shared and objectively important ethical values in order to move society forward in a positive manner. Conversely, Alfie Kohn (2005) believes that character education is merely a euphemism for the transmission of conservative values and norms and that the vast majority of character education programs do not truly tech young people what ethical behavior is all about.
In 1993, B.D. Whitehead (1993) argued that former Vice President Dan Quayle was right in his criticism of schools and society for failing to inculcate appropriate values and ethics in children. From my perspective, schools are an ideal locus for the transmission of societal values, particularly those that emphasize justice, fairness, truth, compassion, and equality. Helping young Americans learn to navigate honestly and equitably in a complex and often hostile social environment not only ensures harmony in the schools, it also prepares young people for life after school.
References
Kohn, A. (2005). How not to teach values. In J.W. Noll (Ed.).
Taking Sides. Dubuque, IA: McGraw-Hill/Dushkin, pp.
Lickona, T. (2005). The return of character education. In
J.W. Noll (Ed.). Taking Sides. Dubuque, IA: McGraw-Hill/
Whitehead, B.D. (1993). Dan Quayle was right. The Atlantic,
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