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Abrahamson smith
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Lesson plan ideas for -- The Golden Rule: Basis for Morality and Ethics by Brant Abrahamson and Fred Smith. The Teachers' Press, 3731 Madison Avenue, Brookfield. IL 60513. (nd).
Contact information:
phone: 708/485-5983
e-mail address: teacherspr@aol.com
website: http://www.
The authors indicate that, while this resource is intended for high school age students, teachers can create effective lessons for younger students as well. The resource costs $2.00 and multiple copies are available; however, they also note that "we hope that teachers will duplicate the number needed for students." (This will probably be the wisest investment of $2 that you have ever made.)
A brief overview of the contents. This 30-page resource book is in two parts: a student lesson and a teacher's manual. The student section includes an introductory presentation on the Golden Rule as a standard for moral/ethical conduct, a brief history of Golden Rule ethics, and a brief section on when the Rule became the "Golden Rule." The teacher's manual includes sections on the Golden Rule and the Ten Commandments, using the Golden Rule in difficult situations, the "Golden Rule" from McGuffey's Fourth Eclectic Reader, questions and projects, multiple choice questions, and additional discussion questions.
Objectives. What is more important than teaching morality and ethics? As the authors state at the outset, "Probably the most basic everyday guideline for human behavior is to treat people as you would want to be treated if in the other's position." The question is -- how? This resource provides some excellent insights and compact information on how to go about teaching, living by the "Golden Rule" and, perhaps most importantly, thinking about the meaning behind this widely known principle.
Suggested procedures. Needless to say, you will need to study this book closely with your students, reading parts with them and parts to them. The following are just a very few of the highlights you might wish to stress. You surely will want to explore other issues in depth.
From the Golden Rule as a standard for moral/ethical conduct:
From A History of Golden Rule Ethics:
From "When the Rule Became the "Golden" Rule:
The Teacher's Manual part of this resource is, not surprisingly, replete with wonderful information and teaching ideas. For example, the Golden Rule and the Ten Commandments section suggests having the students restate the last seven commandments (as commonly listed) into Golden Rule terms. Several examples are given, e.g., "pay attention when people talk, as you would like them to pay attention to you."
Using the Golden Rule in Difficult Situations is especially thought-provoking when the authors discuss situations with "difficult" persons, street beggars, ubiquitous telemarketers, and soldiers in combat. Also how should young children in particular react to "helpful" strangers?
Background on the term, "Golden Rule" introduces the reader to an interesting story written in the late-1800s by Emma Embury that was republished in McGuffey's Fourth Eclectic Reader. The students will enjoy discussing the ethical dilemma of Susan, the young girl in the story.
The remainder of the Teachers Manual section is devoted to thought questions and projects, 15 multiple choice questions, and still more discussion questions. Several of the questions, projects and discussion items are as follows:
You also will find a copy of The Golden Rule Poster which you can order. The poster illustrates Golden Rule statements from 13 world religions both Western and Eastern. The last five pages of the document include the actual lesson plan with the topics that have been noted above. For example, the section on the history of Golden Rule ethics includes the relevant rules from ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, East and South Asia, West Asia, the Hebrew scriptures, Islam and Baha'I, Native American and African.
Near the end of the document, the following information is given: The Golden Rule Curriculum (except for the McGuffey's Reader story) is available at:"http://www.scarboromissions.
On page 30, the last page of this very valuable resource, the following statement is made in the paragraph called "Golden Rule Lesson for all Ages": "In a slow and reflective way, read the 13 versions of the Golden Rule found on the website poster. Spend time imagining what the world would be like if all people recognized that we are connected to each other and to all creation. Imagine what would happen if we cooperated together as one global family, Be as imaginative as you wish. Draw a picture of the global family as you imagine it. Share your picture with the group in a follow-up discussion."
Reproduced with the permission of Brant Abrahamson, Director of The Teachers' Press.
A related resource. The Ethical Humanist Society of Greater Chicago, a chapter of the American Humanist Association as well as a member of the American Ethical Union, has developed an educational program for children called the Golden Rule Sunday School which has the following goals: to respect themselves and others, to value education, to celebrate the arts, to think critically and independently, to investigate and discover, to have compassion, and to make ethical choices in their daily lives. For information about the curriculum of the Golden Rule Sunday School, contact -- sundayschool@ethicalhuman.org.
Feedback. Please let us know how this went... and please suggest any additional ideas for teaching the concepts in this book. I would be most grateful if you would send them to me at - rbhaerman@americanhumanist.org
Bob Bhaerman, Coordinator, Kochhar Humanist Education Center,
American Humanist Association
