With hall of fame editors and luminaries as authors of the chapters, this Handbook of Moral Education is timely and thorough. This volume takes the ongoing conversations and research fostered by organizations such as the Association for Moral Education and delivers multi-faceted overviews of the threads of understanding the offspring of Kohlberg and others have generated. From historical reviews of moral and character education to contemporary streams of research and theory, this volume delivers the essentials for the students or scholars who wish to ground themselves in an understanding of issues and applications. The editors understand that while delivering moral education in schools is a central task of the profession, the broader question of professional ethics–and how important it is for moral educators to walk the walk is addressed as well. How varied approaches to moral education have developed is also a focus. Several chapters address the journey from identifying beliefs to measuring and fostering behavior deemed ethical. Perhaps a Volume II could be in the works somewhere to examine in broad scope the contributions of 20th century philosophers to the discussion of “what is moral?” and the ontological question of, “what does it mean to be human?” Relevant issues for such a volume could address what is relational morality, and in what, in addition to autonomy, does ethical being consist?
Rating: 5 / 5