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Information/Consultation Seminar: Introducing Ethics Education in Schools Information/Consultation Seminar Introducing Ethics Education in Schools The Maltese Proposal for the Teaching of Ethics in Schools: A Rationale The Maltese Proposal for the Teaching of Ethics in Schools: A Rationale Kenneth Wain

2 Information/Consultation Seminar: Introducing Ethics Education in Schools Ethics is used interchangeably with: • moral behaviour • values • qualities of character. Aim im: • to bring all three related dimensions by educating pupils/students into: 1. understanding the nature of moral language, 2. making sound and reflective moral judgments, 3. living an ethical lifestyle, in other words a lifestyle that corresponds with and reflects one’s moral values. The Maltese Proposal for the Teaching of Ethics in Schools: A Rationale Kenneth Wain

3 Information/Consultation Seminar: Introducing Ethics Education in Schools Ethics as here understood is not a code of conduct you teach by giving instructions or laying down a body of doctrinal principles or rules; • this ethics course, being non-denominational, the scope is not to teach a particular moral doctrine. Its purpose is : • to develop a mature individual moral outlook and sensibility based on values that are uncontroversial in principle; • to make mature and informed moral judgments based on the values; The Maltese Proposal for the Teaching of Ethics in Schools: A Rationale Kenneth Wain

4 Information/Consultation Seminar: Introducing Ethics Education in Schools In a pluralistic society, these judgments may be contested and controversial. Pupils and students will be taught: • to negotiate with others; • to argue for their view in a manner that respects difference; • to respect the integrity of those who think differently; The Maltese Proposal for the Teaching of Ethics in Schools: A Rationale Kenneth Wain

5 Information/Consultation Seminar: Introducing Ethics Education in Schools For this purpose it is important that the class itself is: • a moral community, one in which the values learnt are experienced in practice; • a community of democratic inquiry where students/pupils feel that they can speak comfortably and safely. The Maltese Proposal for the Teaching of Ethics in Schools: A Rationale Kenneth Wain

6 Information/Consultation Seminar: Introducing Ethics Education in Schools The ‘uncontroversial’ values included in the programme include: • • truth tolerance and respect for others • • honesty understanding • • fairness loyalty • • sense of justice courage • • compassion generosity • solidarity with others The Maltese Proposal for the Teaching of Ethics in Schools: A Rationale Kenneth Wain

7 Information/Consultation Seminar: Introducing Ethics Education in Schools The overlap between these ethical values and democratic values will be evident and inevitable since values of this kind correspond with democratic behaviour. These values will also be promoted as virtues understood as qualities of character. The Maltese Proposal for the Teaching of Ethics in Schools: A Rationale Kenneth Wain

8 Information/Consultation Seminar: Introducing Ethics Education in Schools An important aspect of the ethics programme will be the development not just of the collective but of the individual character or personal qualities of the pupils/students, as: • just • compassionate • honest • considerate • fair • truthful people The Maltese Proposal for the Teaching of Ethics in Schools: A Rationale Kenneth Wain

9 Information/Consultation Seminar: Introducing Ethics Education in Schools Perhaps a way to describe them is as individuals endowed with phronesis , or what may be called practical wisdom in the Aristotelian understanding of the word. Practical wisdom is exercised: • in one’s relationship with oneself through an ethics of care of the self • in one’s relationship with others in an ethics of care for others which grows in a widening circle that extends from one’s immediate family to humanity in general, to animals and the natural environment; The Maltese Proposal for the Teaching of Ethics in Schools: A Rationale Kenneth Wain

10 Information/Consultation Seminar: Introducing Ethics Education in Schools In summary the ethics programme will develop an ethical sense of caring for oneself and others based on practical wisdom in conducting one’s personal life and one’s life with others. An ethics of care of the self also implies an aesthetics of the self ; learning to care for one looks and one’s taste. The Maltese Proposal for the Teaching of Ethics in Schools: A Rationale Kenneth Wain

11 Information/Consultation Seminar: Introducing Ethics Education in Schools The programme will: • be designed in stages and tailored to correspond with the cognitive, emotional, and social growth of the child into an adolescent; 5-7, 8-10, Form 1-3, and 4-5, the last leading to certification; • take students from the first stages of socialization into the values and appreciation to the later stages of critical discussion of issues including the difficult and controversial; • draw on the extensive experience and resources of the area of practice and research constituting doing philosophy with children and in the classroom; The Maltese Proposal for the Teaching of Ethics in Schools: A Rationale Kenneth Wain

12 Information/Consultation Seminar: Introducing Ethics Education in Schools employ different learning methods and resources corresponding with the different stages that include different skills/ attitudes/values: • understanding, • formation, • reflection, • analysis, • consideration, • debate, • appreciation • empathising through thought experiments, and so on; The Maltese Proposal for the Teaching of Ethics in Schools: A Rationale Kenneth Wain

13 Information/Consultation Seminar: Introducing Ethics Education in Schools • be spiral in its development, in other words the themes, issues, concepts etc. addressed are returned to time and time again, and the learning needs revisited and reinforced through the different stages of the programme; • work with other identified curricular areas that take on the themes and topics identified in it, notably PSD, religious education, and civics education, or education for democratic citizenship. The Maltese Proposal for the Teaching of Ethics in Schools: A Rationale Kenneth Wain