Author Description

This book debates the values being taught in American public schools. The book considers whether moral, ethical, social, and religious values of any kind should be taught or inculcated in the public school setting--specifically, should the values embodied in the literature typically read in English literature classrooms be advocated by the teachers, or ought the literary and historical discussion of meaningful texts be used by teachers as an opportunity to help students work towards clarity about their own values? The debate presented in this book is another engagement in the ongoing struggle to shape the value structures of young Americans, and the opposing viewpoints which form the substance of the book are those of two educator brothers, Bernard and Charles Suhor. Chapters in the book are: "Religion at School: A Word from the Moderator" (Carl B. Smith); "Values in the Teaching of Literature--A Public School View" (Charles Suhor); "Values in the Teaching of Literature--A Catholic School View" (Bernard Suhor); "Response to Bernard Suhor" (Charles Suhor); "Response to Charles Suhor" (Bernard Suhor); "Further Comment" (Charles Suhor); and "Further Comment" (Bernard Suhor). The book concludes with a 158-item annotated bibliography of resources containing activities and ideas for clarification from the ERIC database. (NKA)