CREATING A POSITIVE MORAL CULTURE IN THE SCHOOL

High school students who believe in self-centered, irresponsible ways (including students at academically “top” schools) very often do have higher moral reasoning available. The surrounding environment the ethos or moral culture of the school doesn’t evoke student’s best morality and may even discourage them from operating at their highest moral levels. Just how the school’s moral culture effects students moral functioning has been studied by psychologists Clark Power, Ann Higgins and Lawrence Kohlberg.
Not so in high schools that are not experienced by students as just and democratic communities. There, the research shows a reasoning gap using moral dilemma are likely to show a reasoning. In short, students operative moral reasoning level tends to rise or fall to match what they perceive to be the moral environment of the School.
Six elements of a positive moral culture in the school:
1. Moral and academic leadership from the principal.
2. School wide discipline that models, promotes, and upholds the school’s values in all school
environment.
3. A school wide sense of community.
4. Student government that involves students in democratic self-government and fosters the
feeling. This is our school and we are responsible for making it the best school it can be.
5. A moral atmosphere of mutual respect, fairness, and cooperation that provides all
relationships-those among the adults in the school as well as those between adults and
students.
6. Elevating the importance of morality by spending school time on moral concerns.