Moral courage in a world of dilemmas: Ethical decisions grow from a process that promotes rational discourse against emotional tensions

School Administrator, Feb, 2002 by Rushworth M. Kidder, Patricia L. Born

* The Character Education Partnership in Washington, D.C.

The leading coalition of organizations and individuals dedicated to developing moral character and civic virtue in the nation's youth. Created the Eleven Principles of Character Education, directs the annual National Schools of Character awards and publishes Character Educator, a quarterly newsletter. www.character.org

* Institute for Global Ethics in Camden, Maine.

Offers Ethical Fitness seminars for educators based on its Building Decision Skills and Elementary Decision Skills curricula. Publishes Ethics Newsline, a free weekly Web-based periodical covering breaking news on ethics, with instructional guides available. www.globalethics.org

* Josephson Institute of Ethics in Marina Del Rey, Calif.

Sponsors the Character Counts Coalition, an alliance of human-service and educational organizations working to strengthen the character of young people. Offers training sessions, community forums and curricular materials around its "Six Pillars of Character." Established the American Youth Character Awards. www.jiethics.org

* "Taking Responsibility: Standards for Ethical and Responsible Behavior in Maine Schools and Communities," produced by the Maine Department of Education, Augusta, Maine.

The most recent comprehensive report on character education in the nation. Created by a statewide commission to give practical guidance to schools and communities for establishing, practicing and assessing values-based education. Useful chapters, on "Identifying Community Values,"' "Hallmarks of an Ethical and Responsible School Culture" and "Best Practices." www.state.me.us/education/cep/cep_reports.htm

Common Dilemmas

The world of school system leaders is rich with right-versus-right dilemmas involving situations where a clear moral backing exists for each option but where the two are mutually exclusive. Consider these:

* Having just fired a teacher for suspected sexual harassment, do I pass this information on to a colleague in another school district who may be about to hire him? (truth versus loyalty)

* Having been offered a better opportunity in another school district, do I seek to be released from my current contract or stay until the agreed-to end? (individual versus community)

* With pressure from some quarters in the community to keep taxes low, do I nevertheless push for a new middle school to prepare for an in flux of students down the road? (short-term versus long-term)

* When students cross the line of acceptable behavior--as they did at the St. Paul's School outside Baltimore--do I exert the full force of justice or bow to the pleas of their parents and friends for an exception? (justice versus mercy)

Rushworth Kidder and Patricia Born