Why Johnny Can't Tell Right from Wrong: Moral Illiteracy Case Character Education [Hardcover]

William Kilpatrick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1992

An analysis of why American schools fail to provide a moral education argues that the new decision-making-based educational theory, which poses ethical dilemmas and allows students to work out problems by themselves, fails to teach values. 35,000 first printing. Tour.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Attacking the moral relativism of such current approaches to the teaching of ethics as Values Clarification, Kilpatrick, an education professor at Boston College, calls for a return to a traditional model of teaching morality based on content rather than decision making. In tracing the history of character education, he dissects the moral reasoning curriculum of Harvard psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg and the feminist theories of Carol Gilligan. He suggests that schools should become more authoritative and that parents should discipline their children and read to them (he includes a lengthy, annotated Guide to Great Books for Children and Teens). His jeremiad hits the mark when aimed at ambiguous approaches to drug and sex education. But with his more general assertions--such as, in a discussion of rap and rock music, The beat says, 'Do what you want to do,' --Kilpatrick fails to convince. Author tour.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster (October 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671758012
• ISBN-13: 978-0671758011
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #975,841 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent guide for teaching virtue through song, art, lit., November 27, 1998

By 

[e-mail] - See all my reviews

This review is from: Why Johnny Can't Tell Right from Wrong: And What We Can Do About It (Paperback)

This book makes its point without self-righeousness or preaching of any kind. The author argues that the mission of schools has changed from building character and citizenship to addressing social problems (i.e. drug and sex education, multi-culturalism), and the focus has changed from conveying a shared culture to a focus on the process of learning itself. The author argues that virtues can be taught by offering up heroes to emulate through classics, song, and story, as an antidote to relative values. The last section of the book contains suggested children's literature, by age group. I found this book to be riveting and profound, offering a unique perspective, evenly and logically presented with no trace of fanatacism (religious or otherwise) such as might be expected in a book of this sort.

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Valuable Reference, August 26, 2000

By 

Dr. Jerri Sendach (Syosset, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Why Johnny Can't Tell Right from Wrong: And What We Can Do About It (Paperback)

While I originally borrowed this book, I had to buy it to keep it's valuable list of recommended readings on hand. I am a child psychologist who, like Dr. Kilpatrick, is totally disillusioned with the misapplication of "expert psychotherapeutic principles" to our school-aged children. The problems that most children exhibit are not due to "blocked feelings" or an overly strict conscience. Rather, by virtue of their age, most children have underdeveloped consciences. It is our job, as adults, to strengthen children's characters, rather than assume they have some "innate wisdom" that will automatically lead them to do what is right. I have successfully used story-telling in my work as a child psycholgist because it gets messages across in a compelling, easily digested way. As a parent, I will look forward to exposing my daughters to the recommended readings in the extensive bibliography. (I can use some inspiration by re-reading many of these books too.)

39 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most important books on education, November 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Why Johnny Can't Tell Right from Wrong: And What We Can Do About It (Paperback)

I saw the author of this book speak on C-SPAN, and also this book was recommended to me, as I am researching educational issues. This book explained so many things that I heretofore did not understand. If you are disturbed by the erosion of morality in this country, then read this book. Do you wonder about the effectiveness of drug prevention programs? Do you suspect that sex education actually increases sexual activity and pregnancy among teens? Well, it does, and the author tells how and why, in an objective, clear way. Does your child have a "psychologized classroom," with unearned self-esteem as the main goal? This book will tell you the full details on educational theory and practice in this country and the far-reaching consequences. Funny thing--social science supports many of the things traditionalists have been saying. I warn you, though, after reading this you may want to put your child in a private or home school, instead of allowing him or her to be at the mercy of educational experimenters who use our children to try out the latest intellectual fashions, with diasatrous results.