Comparing Teachers’ Views on Morality and Moral Education, A Comparative Study in Turkey and the United States

This article was published in Teaching and Teacher Education, Vol 27 number 2,
Author(s): Pamela LePage, Hanife Akar, Yeliz Temli, Derya Şen, Neil Hasser, Ilene Ivins,
" Comparing Teachers’ Views on Morality and Moral Education, A Comparative Study in Turkey and the United States", Pages 366-375, Copyright Elsevier (February 2011).

The authors examined how K-8 teachers approach morality, moral education, and the moral development of children in Turkey and in the United States.

Both countries have diverse cultures and long histories with secular education systems.

Surveys were sent to teachers in nine cities in both countries.

It was found that Turkish and American teachers had different views on the definition of morality.
Turkish teachers emphasized societal values and global values, which have implications for the sustainability of the Turkish nation-state.
On the other hand, American teachers emphasized moral action and morality in context (cultural relativity) rather than global values.
These findings emphasize the importance of inter-cultural awareness and tolerance.

Furthermore, teachers in both countries agreed on the most basic issues such as whether or not morality should be taught and by whom, and with what supports.