| Advocating progressive values and equality for humanists, atheists, and freethinkers |
|
| Advocating progressive values and equality for humanists, atheists, and freethinkers |
|
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 Ethics Curriculum Project began in 2005 as an effort to produce high-quality online resources to enable educators to introduce ethics and critical thinking across the curriculum. ECP is a project of the Youth Ethics Initiative, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charity. This site provides "modules" on a broad array of topics under the headings "Language Arts," "Science and Math," "Social Science," "Arts and Humanities" and "Special Topics." The modules include content introductions, lesson plans, student activities and knowledge assessment tools.
The ECP team includes university faculty with special expertise in the individual topics. These experts include faculty at Barry University, Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University, Miami Dade College, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, St. Thomas University and the University of Miami. The website is under development. While the site is intended to be an open-source utility, the ECP asks that it not be used without prior arrangement. Schools and individual educators interested in using these materials are asked to contact them first. For further information, including a lesson plan template and an “ethical reasoning tool”, check their web site: www6.miami.edu/ethics/ecp
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.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.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
