One of the most frequently debated components of educational reform is character education. The debate revolves around two important questions. Identify these two questions and present the opposing positions on each

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

ANSWER: Suggested answer: The first question deals with whether or not the school as an institution is an appropriate venue for character education. Opponents argue that character education is primarily the responsibility of the family and of religious institutions, not the school. Supporters insist that, historically, the schools always had a moral component that was lost sometime in the 1960s. They agree that the family should be the primary moral educator but too frequently is abandoning that role, leaving many children in a moral and ethical vacuum. Therefore, the schools must reclaim their moral responsibility to educate the whole child. The second question revolves around what values to teach if values are indeed taught in school. Opponents maintain that values are culturally and religiously based, and teaching values in school would necessarily mean teaching values particular to a certain religion to the detriment of others. Supporters argue that there is a core of civic values, such as honesty, respect, tolerance, kindness, and justice that are common to all cultures and religions.