Questions Regarding the Required Reading

Q1—Comment on the 6-year-old with a telescope and his interest in abstract ideas.  How unusual was he?  Have you encountered students with similar focus and reasoning abilities?  Discuss.

Q2—Were you surprised to read that young children may be “ethically introspective citizens”?  Discuss.

Q3—Do you agree that morality can be taught in all kinds of classes.  Give examples from experience.

Q4—What was meant by the phrase encountered in you required reading:  “We are all moral witnesses”?  Describe an instance in the classroom when you were a good moral witness.

Q5—Define courage.  Tell of a youngster who has had the courage to stand up for his/her beliefs/values.

Q6—Comment on the discussion on Courage that took place during a 4^th grade history lesson, as outlined in the required reading.  Share an experience where your class spontaneously engaged in a moral analysis.

Q7—How is a good person described at the end of the required reading involving A Bronx Tale?

Q8—What should a teacher do when she/he sees a student trying to get another student in trouble or somehow disrupting the class?

Q9—The Harry Singer Foundation pilot project, Dream Machine, White Hats and Problem Solvers are based on the premise that students have the capacity to act responsibly, interact with adults in the community and make mature decisions.  In light of the article by Shannon Brownlee regarding the development of the teen brain, do you think the Foundation may be giving teens too much credit?

Q10—If you think your students are capable, will you engage a group in one of our pilot projects?  If not, why not?                                                            back