1. The Teacher as Educator New Challenges Rachida Kerkech ENS – Rabat STTF July 2009

2. Outline 1. The status of character / values education in the 21st century school 2. Rehabilitating the role of the teacher as EDUCATOR 3. What VALUES for the 21st century?

3. Meanings and implications Meanings and implications  Ethics; morals; values  Moral education  Character education  Values education

4. Character education focuses on the individual’s psycho-social development. Character education focuses on the individual’s psycho-social development. Values education seeks values awareness, knowledge, and behavior. Values education seeks values awareness, knowledge, and behavior.

5. Nature / Nurture Controversy

6. Nature = Temperament Genetic/ hereditary factors Genetic/ hereditary factors Relatively resistant to change Relatively resistant to change predisposition predisposition

7. Nurture = Character Educational and environmental factors Educational and environmental factors Habits we acquire as we grow and mature Habits we acquire as we grow and mature disposition disposition

8. Personality is the combination of both temperament and character

9. Importance of the issue Advancing ethical illiteracy Advancing ethical illiteracy Almost sterile educational system: Almost sterile educational system: › Focus on subject matter/exams › Neglect of psychosocial development of students

10. 1. The real status of character / values education in the 21st century

11. What factors do you think have contributed the most to the change in and (relative) “deterioration” of values? What factors do you think have contributed the most to the change in and (relative) “deterioration” of values?

12. The main cause behind the deterioration of good manners and civic behavior among the young nowadays is the lack of efficient adult guidance in a very rapidly changing world.

13. Particularly: Particularly: Parental educational deficiencies Parental educational deficiencies Resignation of teachers Resignation of teachers

14. Lack of coherence between home and school education Lack of coherence between home and school education Conflicting ideological trends Conflicting ideological trends

15. Free access to uncontrollable media: Internet, satellite TV, magazines. Free access to uncontrollable media: Internet, satellite TV, magazines. Audiovisual violence and indecency Audiovisual violence and indecency

16. Lack of efficient Moroccan educational TV programs Lack of efficient Moroccan educational TV programs Pervasive feelings of loss, disappointment, and frustration among the young Pervasive feelings of loss, disappointment, and frustration among the young

17. Misuse or misunderstanding of modern sociopolitical notions: Misuse or misunderstanding of modern sociopolitical notions: Ex. 1. Human Rights Ex. 1. Human Rights A sense of duty, responsibility, and obligations should be inculcated along with the notion of rights. A sense of duty, responsibility, and obligations should be inculcated along with the notion of rights. Ex. 2. Individual freedom Ex. 2. Individual freedom

18. Socio-political dishonesty and fraud Socio-political dishonesty and fraud Unscrupulous and unethical world actions Unscrupulous and unethical world actions

19. Consequences of the decline of values / ethics among the young

20. Loss of Respectability and Respectfulness in schools and public spaces Loss of Respectability and Respectfulness in schools and public spaces

21. Advancing ethical illiteracy Advancing ethical illiteracy Escalating behavioral problems among the young even within schools Escalating behavioral problems among the young even within schools

22. 2. Rehabilitating the role of the teacher as educator

23. Values education is incumbent on all teachers because

24. The classroom is the right space where values can be assimilated, practiced, and transmitted. The classroom is the right space where values can be assimilated, practiced, and transmitted.

25. A professional teacher is definitely more than just a subject ‘technician’. A professional teacher is definitely more than just a subject ‘technician’.

26. Acquisition of values knowledge in class should go through: Preaching students on ethics / values? Preaching students on ethics / values? Interactive class discussions? Interactive class discussions? Encouraging reflection on ethics? Encouraging reflection on ethics? Solving ethical dilemmas in class? Solving ethical dilemmas in class? Other Other

27. The teacher as role model  Professional competence  Right conduct and attitudes  Appearance and bearing

28. 2. Subject content 3. Cooperative learning 4. Class discussions 5. Extracurricular activities

29. 3. What values should educators endeavor to embody and impart to the young generation ?

30. The most important of all values: Respect It affirms our human dignity and worth. It affirms our human dignity and worth. It embodies all the other important values. It embodies all the other important values.

31. The top six values of teenagers Honesty 35% Honesty 35% Respect 25% Respect 25% Tolerance 18% Tolerance 18% Love 15% Love 15%

32. Faithfulness Faithfulness Solidarity Solidarity Freedom and a motorcycle! Freedom and a motorcycle!

33. The ethics of the teaching profession require that teachers:

34. Initiate students to rational reasoning and critical thinking Initiate students to rational reasoning and critical thinking

35. Enable students to acquire the ability to reason about their own conception of values Enable students to acquire the ability to reason about their own conception of values

36. Conclusion Values are acquired as a result of concerted and consistent efforts of parents, teachers, schools, civil society, the media, and the govt. Values are acquired as a result of concerted and consistent efforts of parents, teachers, schools, civil society, the media, and the govt.

37. Applying a comprehensive approach would foster a sense of common goals, coherence, and achievement among teachers, students, parents, and all concerned. Applying a comprehensive approach would foster a sense of common goals, coherence, and achievement among teachers, students, parents, and all concerned.

38. “Civilizations decline when their moral core deteriorates” deteriorates” Lickona / Chawqi

39. Thank you kerkechrachida@yahoo.fr