Learning Log Chapter 3

What?
The chapter gave the studies of two theorists and their ideas about emotional and moral development. Erikson's theory depicts the emotional growth of a human being as they grow in their understanding of themeselves and their connection, or lack of, to the people and world around them. Kohlberg's theory shows stages of moral development: preconventional, conventional, and post conventional. These stages explain the various reasoning behind people choosing right from wrong.

So what?
It is clear that a child's emotional and moral stability will have a great impact on their success in school. Emotionally, a student must be equipped with the confidence it takes to function in and contribute to a group with an understanding that their contribution is valid and important. Morally, if a student is going to get along well in the world (and the classroom), and if the classroom is supposed to help them prepare for life as an adult then they must understand ethical behavior and the expectations of the culture. Though one's belief system may be different, at least a prosocial understanding must be in place.

Now what?
My task as a future educator and fellow member of the human race is to learn to balance individuality and personal beliefs with creating accepting and loving environments in school and elsewhere. This topic of study has come at a perfect time for me as I try to understand the beavior and needs of a roommate. Her personality and emotional stability are different from mine and, in order to keep from making her feel that she needs to change, I must learn to understand where she is coming from and have sympathy for the motives to her actions. When morality comes into play in the classroom, it will be important to make sure that the values of the individuals are protected while still creating some norms in the classroom to follow. A classroom should be a safe place and, while moral development is key in creating that atmosphere, ideas of right and wrong should not be discussed in a way that would make anyone feel uncomfortable. We want to be very free to discuss deep and interesting things in the classroom, but to a degree, some discussions must be kept to the individuality of a home. I can see this as a struggle, especially in a state with such a prominent church as Utah's. Morality must be discussed without impossing religious values on anyone or making them feel uncomfortable with the ones they have already.