Week 3 Discussion 2 - Universal Values

Are there universal moral values that educators, parents, and community members -- regardless of philosophical, political, or religious beliefs -- that you would include in the curriculum content you have chosen? If so, what are they and why would you choose those particular values?

When defining moral values, I would say that it is a principle that governs the day to day living of life.  These principles are important in maintaining balance and are shared among members of the public (educators, parents, community members, and students).  In my classroom my universal moral values are the class rules and standards we establish during the first week of school.  We talk about accepting responsibility for personal actions and for the consequences of those actions, be honest, honor agreements, conduct relationships with integrity in other words do not use people in the classroom, trust, being fair, doing good, preventing harm, and respect.  These are not even close to all that teachers teach in the classroom.  All of these principles are modeled and are in some way utilized every single day through curriculum that is planned by the teacher of the classroom.  I would say that my classroom would not run efficiently and students would not be successful in my classroom if these principles were not taught.  Because, this foundation is laid out in my room, my classroom is able to achieve higher learning.  As a class we are respectful to one another.  Students understand the expectations in order to be successful.  Now, as an educator I am able to ask questions that allow my students to analyze the world.  We talk about human impacts on earth and how as a class we can make a difference.