Humane Education: A Paradigm for Ethical Problem Solving in Education

What is right? What is wrong? In modem education it is often impossible to achieve single answers to this very difficult question, particularly in the current climate of increasing societal metamorphosis. It is difficult to teach or even discern an ethical answer to a question in this modem age. Factors of social change include issues such as those related to the structure of the family, the technologization of the world of work, escalating inflation, economic interdependence with foreign nations, local versus state versus federal control of education, world peace issues, and other factors. It is a highly complicated matter to fonnulate and implement ethical decisions and policies against the background of such pervasive societal change. In this context three specific concepts necessarily come into focus for educators. The first deals with people, the second with the school as an institution, and the third with basic intrinsic values. First, the concept of morality that educators as people bring to education needs to be considered. How do we approach the idea of morality? What constitutes "goodness"? What is ethical behavior?