Values clarification: History and current relevance of a moral education method
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5294/edu.2024.27.1.4Keywords:
Values clarification, character education, values education, moral education, moral valuesAbstract
Values Clarification is a trend in moral pedagogy that had a significant impact in the United States during the second half of the 20th century. It emerged during the crisis of character education and when the United States entered an era of great prosperity after World War II. It was a reaction to the prevailing moralistic dogmatism of the first half of the century and sought to connect students with their values in a personalized way. This article presents the historical context of Values Clarification’s emergence, popularization, sudden decline in American classrooms, and transformation in the 21st century. It also analyzes the philosophical, anthropological, and pedagogical antecedents in Rousseau, Dewey, and Rogers and his quest for moral neutrality, which was part of its shortcomings. In conclusion, this article critically analyzes some elements that serve to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the model and provides some reflections on the field of ethical education.
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