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VALUES AND VIRTUES: CHARACTER EDUCATION AT VALLEY FORGE MILITARY ACADEMY AND JUNIOR COLLEGE

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"The paramount problem of modern education is ethical, not technical. As a country, the United States has mastered technological complexity such as space flight, while the deterioration of our society's moral and ethical climate has continued unabated."

So reads the opening paragraph in the Introduction chapter of the 1985 hardcover "Values and Virtues: Character Education at Valley Forge Military College". Published by Lieutenant General Willard Pearson, US Army Retired, "Values and Virtues" is the cornerstone of the Center for the Study of Character Education founded on the VF campus on February 22, 1976. As the introduction goes on to note, the Center's first task was to find a way to "introduce the teaching of ethics into the regular academic curriculum". To do this, they sought ought individuals who exemplified the virtues of good citizenship and good character. A book was ultimately put together from this, containing speeches made at Valley Forge by such individuals. Thus, "Values and Virtues" was born.

This book contains 150 pages divided into 12 chapters. Each chapter contains a speech made at Valley Forge during LTG Pearson's time there, the oldest being from 1979 and the most recent from 1985, when "Values and Virtues" was published.

Listed below are the speeches and those who made them.

1. "The Case for Character Education", Mr. Frank Goble, Founder & President of the Thomas Jefferson Research Center in Pasadena, CA.

2. "The Challenge to Leadership: To Spread Hope", Dr. John A. Howard, President of the Rockford Institute, Rockford, IL.

3. "Helping the Young to Acquire Good Character", Dr. Edward A. Wynne, Editor, "Character II", Chicago, IL.

4. "No Empty Heads, No Hollow Chests", Dr. Edwin J. DeLattre, President, St. John's College, Annapolis, MD.

5. "On the Education of Character", Dr. William J. Bennett, Secretary of Education, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C.

6. "The Gods of the Copybook Headings", Dr. John R. Silber, President, Boston University, Boston, MA.

7. "Science and Scientists: The Character Education Connection", Dr. Thomas Peter Bennett, The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA.

8. "Your Pyramid of Life", LTG Willard Pearson, USA (Ret), President of Valley Forge Military Academy and Junior College, Wayne, PA.

9. "Student Attributes- Some Ethical Dilemmas", Dr. Barbara E. Jones, Director, Council for Religion in Independent Schools, Nyack, NY.

10. "Values for Better Living", Dr. Thomas S. Haggai, Chairman of the Board, Independent Grocer's Alliance, High Point, NC.

11. "Character: Why? What? How?", Reverend Donald Grey Barnhouse, Jr., Pastor, Bridgeport Presbyterian Church, Bridgeport, PA.

12. "Character and Citizenship Education", Dr. Ernest W. Lefever, Founder and President, Ethics and Public Policy Center, Washington, D.C.

And while this book is best tailored for use at Valley Forge, I believe that its teachings, the advice offered and beliefs stated in these twelve speeches, could be used at schools and colleges everywhere in America. It's a rare book and not something to be read unless you are fully paying attention- how could it be otherwise? I find its rarity to be "Values and Virtues"'s most lamentable characteristic. Why must it be so rare, so expensive? Just like the Calvin and Hobbes textbook that saw a very brief release in the 1990's, "Values and Virtues" is an excellent book for use in schools, and just as relevant today as when it came out in 1985. I can't recommend this book too highly- if you can find a copy, buy it. You won't be disappointed.