Values education and moral development : what beginning teachers need to know

Abstract

The notion of values education, that teachers explicitly teach students about morals and values, has been gaining momentum in Australian schools over the last five or so years. This chapter begins by defining values and values education, and highlights the way in which values education has developed in Australia. Theories of moral development as articulated by Piaget (1932) and Kohlberg (1976) are explored, in order to demonstrate the way in which the morals and values of children develop. As the need for teachers to be reflective practitioners is very important, activities are provided that allow the reader to consider their own values. The chapter closes by discussing the range of ways in which beginning teachers can implement values education in their classroom, and offers six questions for reflection that can aid the ongoing professional development of beginning teachers.