Ethical Education: Towards an Ecology of Human Development

by Scherto Gill, Garrett Thomson

Overview

Ethical education should help students become more sensitive to the perspectives and experiences of others. However, the field is dominated by the teaching of moral values as a subject-matter, or by the fostering of character traits in students, or by moral reasoning. This book proposes an alternative to these limited moralistic approaches. It places human relationships at the core of ethical education, in its understanding of both ethics and education. With contributions from renowned international scholars, this approach is laid out in three parts. Part I develops the underlying theory of ethics and education; Part II focuses on the relevant pedagogical principles, and Part III provides illustrations of emergent innovative ethical educational practices in worldwide schools. Against a backdrop of divisiveness and apathy, the innovative practices described in this book show how a new vision for ethical education might be centred around caring for students' well-being.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781108477406
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	07/16/2020
Series:	Cambridge Education Research
Pages:	220
Product dimensions:	9.84(w) x 6.89(h) x 0.79(d)

About the Author

Scherto R. Gill is Senior Fellow at the GHFP Research Institute, and a Visiting Fellow at the University of Sussex. Scherto writes in the fields of education, dialogue and peace, and with Professor Garrett Thomson, she co-developed the notion of human-centred education, now practised in various countries.

Garrett Thomson is Chief Executive Officer of the GHFP Research Institute. He is also Professor at the College of Wooster, Ohio, where he holds the Compton Chair of Philosophy. Garrett writes in the fields of well-being, education, peace and dialogue.

Table of Contents

General introduction Scherto R. Gill and Garrett Thomson; Part I. Theoretical Perspectives on Ethical Education: Introduction to Part I Scherto R. Gill and Garrett Thomson; 1. Ethical education: a relational perspective Kenneth J. Gergen; 2. Ethical relationships in schools: learning to engage with others Scherto R. Gill; 3. Towards an ethical understanding of others Garrett Thomson; Conclusion to Part I Scherto R. Gill and Garrett Thomson; Part II. Pedagogical Approaches to Ethical Education: Introduction to Part II Scherto R. Gill and Garrett Thomson; 4. Changing cultures: relationship and sensibility Sharon Todd; 5. Ethical, existential and spiritual re-orientation Hans Alma and Christa Anbeek; 6. Confirming moral agency: through pedagogy of the sacred and pedagogy of difference Hanan A. Alexander; Conclusion to Part II Scherto R. Gill and Garrett Thomson; Part III. Practices of Ethical Education in Schools: Introduction to Part III Scherto R. Gill and Garrett Thomson; 7. Re-learning the value of direct experiences: schools as ethical community Colleen McLaughlin; 8. Cultivating inner qualities: a case study of developing ethical relations in Chinese schools Yaqing Mao; 9. Ethical relationships in secondary classrooms: a case study of pedagogical practices in the UK and Colombia Scherto R. Gill; Conclusion to Part III Scherto R. Gill and Garrett Thomson; 10. Towards an ecology of ethical education: a human-centred approach Scherto R. Gill and Garrett Thomson.

Editorial Reviews

'A hugely important and timely book, Ethical Education, not only exposes and challenges the widespread contemporary betrayal of education, it also offers inspiring alternatives that return us to the enabling conditions and lived practicalities of human flourishing. The elegance and depth of its intellectual analysis is matched by the richness and range of its grounded cases studies. A must-read for all who wish to deepen their understanding of our present malaise and work for life-affirming, truly educational alternatives.' Michael Fielding, Emeritus Professor of Education, University College London

From the Publisher