Thomas LickonaThomas Lickona

Jenna VolgamoreJenna Volgamore Jody ZillnerJody Zillner Kristen HaugenKristen Haugen

BackgroundBackground A developmental psychologist and Professor of Education at the State A developmental psychologist and Professor of Education at the State

University of New York at CortlandUniversity of New York at Cortland Directs the Center for the Fourth and Fifth Rs (Respect and Responsibility). Directs the Center for the Fourth and Fifth Rs (Respect and Responsibility). Visiting Professor at Boston and Harvard UniversitiesVisiting Professor at Boston and Harvard Universities Past President of Association of Moral DevelopmentPast President of Association of Moral Development Serves on the Board of Directors of the Character Education Partnership and Serves on the Board of Directors of the Character Education Partnership and

the advisory councils of Character Counts Coalition and Medical Institute for the advisory councils of Character Counts Coalition and Medical Institute for Sexual Health.Sexual Health.

He speaks at school and conferences about character education and moral He speaks at school and conferences about character education and moral development.development.

Ph D. in Psychology from the State University of New York in Albany.Ph D. in Psychology from the State University of New York in Albany. Extensive work on the growth of a child’s moral reasoningExtensive work on the growth of a child’s moral reasoning Named a State University of New York Faculty Exchange Scholar and the Named a State University of New York Faculty Exchange Scholar and the

recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from the State University of New recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from the State University of New York at Albany.York at Albany.

InfluencesInfluences

Kohlberg (Stages one through five)Kohlberg (Stages one through five)

William Damon and Robert SelmanWilliam Damon and Robert Selman

(Stage Zero)(Stage Zero)

TheoryTheory

The Stages of Moral Reasoning: The Stages of Moral Reasoning:

Preschool to AdulthoodPreschool to Adulthood

Stage 0: Egocentric Reasoning Stage 0: Egocentric Reasoning Preschool- around age 4Preschool- around age 4

Stage 1: Unquestioned ObedienceStage 1: Unquestioned Obedience KindergartenKindergarten

Stage 2: What’s in it for me fairnessStage 2: What’s in it for me fairness Early Elementary agesEarly Elementary ages

Stage 3: Interpersonal ConformityStage 3: Interpersonal Conformity Middle to upper elementary grades and early-to-mid teensMiddle to upper elementary grades and early-to-mid teens

Stage 4: Responsibility to “The System”Stage 4: Responsibility to “The System” High school years or late teensHigh school years or late teens

Stage 5: Principled ConscienceStage 5: Principled Conscience Young AdulthoodYoung Adulthood

CritiqueCritique

What set of values the children should be What set of values the children should be learning.learning.

Character Education has no “substantive” Character Education has no “substantive” quality and does little to improve quality and does little to improve standardized test scores.standardized test scores.

Classroom ApplicationsClassroom Applications

Meaningful and challenging academic Meaningful and challenging academic curriculumcurriculum

Develop students’ intrinsic motivationDevelop students’ intrinsic motivation School staff must become a learning and moral School staff must become a learning and moral

communitycommunity Moral Leadership from staff and studentsMoral Leadership from staff and students Parents and Community membersParents and Community members Assess the school and staff as character Assess the school and staff as character

educators.educators.

““When we think about the kind of character When we think about the kind of character we want for our children, it’s clear that we we want for our children, it’s clear that we want them to be able to judge what is want them to be able to judge what is right, care deeply about what is right, and right, care deeply about what is right, and then do what they believe is right- even in then do what they believe is right- even in the face of pressure from without and the face of pressure from without and temptation from within..”temptation from within..”

-Thomas Lickona-Thomas Lickona

ReferencesReferences

http://www.cortland.edu/character/bios.htmhttp://www.cortland.edu/character/bios.htm http://www.character-education.info/http://www.character-education.info/

Articles/stages_of_moral_development.htmArticles/stages_of_moral_development.htm http://www.cortland.edu/character/bios.htmhttp://www.cortland.edu/character/bios.htm www.ericdigests.org/2001-2/character.htmlwww.ericdigests.org/2001-2/character.html