KHEC Curriculum Framework 5.2
Ethics Programs at the Ethical Culture Fieldston School. The Ethics program is based on the personal, social, and intellectual development of students and responds to the moral issues that students experience. The Ethics department offers a course of study that identifies moral problems, draws on the humanistic traditions, helps students develop skills of judgment, and increases their sensitivity to the moral dimension. In order to provide direct experience, the Ethics program includes community service through supervised placement in a community agency or through service learning courses. Here are several examples of the course offerings:
Ethics III --This course introduces a theoretical framework in ethics along with a spirit of self-reflection. Competing ethical theories are analyzed, such as those that focus on consequences, virtue, rights, duties, justice and caring. Critical thinking and the ability to recognize fallacious argument are encouraged. Ethics as it relates to business, government, citizenship, technologies, biology, diversity, and nature are discussed.
Ethics IV -- Through readings, discussions, and a semester debate project, students reflect on cases of individual interest versus the public good in public policy, examining the ethical and political issues in topics such as abortion, legalization of physician-assisted suicide, restricting private property to protect the environment, and other issues. The core question is when, if at all, is the government justified in intervening in the lives of people to prevent harm or to force them to do something they do not want to do.
Ethical Issues in Science -- Scientific issues involving the environment, genetics, and human reproductive biology are examined to study issues involved in personal and political decision-making. Possible topics for study include genetic engineering, the use of barrier islands, waste disposal, pollution of air and water resources, endangered species, agricultural and human pest management, land management in New York City, abortion, and organ and tissue transplants.
For additional information and related sources: www.ecfs.org/fieldstonupper/academics/ethics.aspx
The following highly useful books in the area of ethical and social action are valuable resources for teachers and parents:
The Kid’s Guide to Social Action: How to Solve the Social Problems You Choose-And Turn Creative Thinking into Positive Action – by Barbara A. Lewis. Minneapolis: Free Spirit Publishing Inc. (1998).
For children and youth ages 10 and up and budding social activist, Lewis provides illustrative stories of young people who care and do, guides to the skills involved, sample forms (petitions, letters, news releases) and a resource guide with addresses and phone numbers. One user wrote: “I can't imagine a better way to help young people put their ‘if only's’ into action. Kids can choose from small or larger time involvements, but this book will help them not WASTE time as they begin helping others in their communities. Many specific ideas and even templates to help the first-time volunteer feel comfortable reaching out, giving, and maybe even changing the world a little.”
The Kid’s Guide to Service Projects: Over 500 Service Ideas for Young People Who Want To Make A Difference – by Barbara A. Lewis. Minneapolis: Free Spirit Publishing Inc. (1995).
“Helping Kids Help Themselves” is a perfect way to describe this resource for anyone in need of group projects for it tells how one person can make a difference. One user wrote: “This is an excellent resource for anyone working with youth and young adults…. The book provides ideas, helpful hints and, most importantly, empowers youth to help their community…. Many of the activities can be altered, simplified, or enhanced depending on your goals.”
Kids With Courage: True Stories About Young People Making a Difference 3 by Barbara A. Lewis. Minneapolis: Free Spirit Publishing Inc. (1992).
The author relates stories of 18 young people who responded resourcefully to what they perceived as crisis situations. The young people are of varied ethnic and economic backgrounds and live in many parts of the country. The book is sure to provoke thought and discussion.
It's Your World--If You Don't Like It, Change It: Activism for Teenagers by Mikki Halpin. New York: Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse, (2004).
The topics include: Free Speech. Racism. The Environment. Gay Rights. Bullying and School Safety. Animal Welfare. War. Information about Safe Sex and Birth Control. Free Speech. HIV and AIDS. Women's Rights. This resource will show the reader how to act on one’s beliefs and make a difference.
The Complete Guide to Service Learning – by Cathryn Berger Kaye. Minneapolis: Free Spirit Publishing Inc. (2004).
A treasury of activities , ideas, and resources, this eloquent guide can help teachers and parents engage young hearts and minds in reaching out and giving back. Chapters cover a variety of common service-learning themes including animals, the environment, hunger and homelessness, community safety, literacy, and social justice. Each includes inspiring quotations, background information and resources, preparation activities, real-life examples, and ideas that have worked for others.
The Complete Guide to Learning Through Community Service – Grades K-9 – by Lillian S. Stephens. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon (1995).
This resource includes over 400 activities organized by subject areas or interdisciplinary themes and are drawn from actual teaching experience. There also are valuable chapters on service with seniors and on poverty, hunger and homelessness.
Community Lessons: Promising Curriculum Practices – by Julie Bartsch and contributing teachers. Malden, MA: Massachusetts Department of Education, Learning Support Services. (2001).
This resource is a guide for integrating community issues with meaning to students' lives at all grade levels. It provides 14 units that include lesson plans. The units include: emergency room, bus safety, ordinary heroes, literacy leaders, veterans, community garden, zoo project, nature trail, responsibilities of citizenship, and senior-senior prom.
Many other resources on social action and community service are available through the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse. Their address is – National Service-Learning Clearinghouse, ETR Associates, 4 Carbonero Way, Scotts Valley, CA 95066. They also can be reached at – 1/866-245-7378 or via email at info@servicelearning.org. For additional information, visit www.servicelearning.org
Social Action projects
Below are three examples of Social Action projects designed using “Problem Solving activity structures.” For additional information and projects, visit here.
Holocaust/Genocide Project – Grades 4-12 -- Promotes education and awareness of the Holocaust and other genocides by providing links to on-line resources, hosting a discussion board, providing e-mail access to Holocaust experts, and sponsoring an actual study trip to Poland and Israel.
I Have a Dream – Grades K-8 -- As part of the KidLink organization, I Have a Dream gives students a voice and empowers them with the knowledge that they can make a difference. There are lessons for each of the six modules of development, one of which addresses the issue of raising money to help fund the teams’ dreams.
Nonprofit Prophets – Grades 7-12 -- This interactive project challenges students to investigate a problem that they see in the world, and then create a World Wide Web Resource page on the Internet that teaches the world about the problem. Typically, students collaborate with local non-profit agencies that need a Web site.
Opportunities for Student Action
Below are seven resources for youth to apply values associated with character development. For additional information and opportunities, see the “Opportunities for Action” link in www.goodcharacter.com/
Youth Noise -- www.youthnoise.org -- This is a non-profit online network for youth activists. It is a place for young people to communicate about causes, build networks, and promote service-learning projects.
Idealist.org - Kids & Teens -- www.idealist.org/kt/ -- Here young people will find resources, project ideas and organizations that will help them get started on volunteering projects.
Do Something -- www.dosomething.org -- Their mission statement says, "We inspire young people to believe that change is possible, and we train, fund and mobilize them to be leaders who measurably strengthen their communities."
Free The Children -- www.freethechildren.org/ -- The focus is on wiping out child slavery and helping poor children in third world countries go to school instead of laboring every day in dangerous, inhumane jobs.
America’s Second Harvest -- www.secondharvest.org/ -- This is the largest hunger relief organization in the U.S. Their main activity is feeding hungry people by collecting and distributing food. Here users can learn about hunger in America.
ServeNet -- www.servenet.org/ -- This is a place to start looking for opportunities to volunteer. It lets users search a database of service roles to find one that fits.
helping.org -- helping.org/ -- This site is a good place to learn about the causes that young people care and how to volunteer to take action.
Lesson Planet: The Search Engine for Teachers. This website has links to several relevant lesson plans for grades 9 – 12 including: [1] It's a Question of Ethics -- Students discover the importance of asking questions when faced with an ethical dilemma. They practice making decisions using real-life and school situations. [2] Forming a Code of Ethics -- Students discuss and create a code of ethics for their student newspaper. (You will need to register at the site for a trial copy of these lesson plans.) To examine these plans, see: www.lessonplanet.com/directory/Social_Studies/Ethics
What's Going On: Lesson on Poverty. This lesson presents an overview of where, why, how and in what conditions poverty and homelessness exist in the United States. It also examines the ethical and moral issues related to society's treatment of the poor and homeless. The plan includes four detailed activities, many relevant facts, and web sites to check for additional information. Source: www.un.org/works/goingon/poverty/lessonplan_poverty.html
Social Action Collective. The SAC is a collection of resources, lessons, movies, ideas, and examples for teachers to challenge their middle-school age students to analyze the power structures of media, pop culture, politics, and society. SAC provides a framework to connect a variety of expressive and persuasive writing formats such as slam poetry, speeches, and essays that explore topics of social justice. This allows students to explore how poetry functions as a vehicle for social change. SAC illustrates that poetry moves students to take a deeper look at the issues facing their communities. For additional information, visit socialactioncollective.wetpaint.com/.