Sowing the seeds of character: the moral education of adolescents in public and private schools

Abstract

Reviews the book, "Sowing the seeds of character: The moral education of adolescents in public and private schools" by Judd Kruger Levingston (2009). In this book, the author delivers far beyond the typical fare in the field of moral education literature. Much of the literature in the field is prescriptive, written as moral philosophy advocating a specific perspective on human morality, as developmental psychology suggesting a specific trajectory for individuals’ moral development, or as pedagogic theory setting out a specific program for inspiring moral growth. Even in a descriptive study, however, the author’s perspective and assumptions can significantly influence the direction and findings of the work. The foundation that the author has laid through his focus on teenagers’ relationship to tradition and authority has particular relevance for Jewish educators. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)