Moral Identity and Moral Education: A Roycean Proposal for School Choice

Sean Riley, Baylor University

Introduction

Over the past two decades, educational theorists have given increasing attention to character education in American public schools. Those leery of the character education movement have attacked it from many angles, some theoretical and some practical. Alfie Kohn is one such detractor. Kohn points out what he takes to be five problems with the character education movement:

1. The problems are addressed at the level of individual character instead of at the level of the learning environment.
2. The movement assumes human beings are essentially evil.
3. The broad vision for character education is inconsistent with the broad vision for character education of many Americans.
4. The movement assumes we can agree on which values and virtues should be taught.
5. In practice, it often assumes a passive learner theory of learning.