How Teachers Help Children Resolve Moral Dilemmas

Abstract

The present study investigated the strategies that elementary school teachers employ when they help other people resolve moral dilemmas. Thirty‐six elementary school teachers were randomly assigned to one of three groups and administered the ‘Defining Issues Test’ (DIT). Teachers in Groups One and Two were instructed to respond to the DIT as if they were helping a ‘10‐year‐old child’ or a ‘40‐year‐old adult’ resolve a number of difficult moral problems. Teachers in Group Three were instructed to respond to the DIT with their own opinions concerning the resolution of the same moral problems.

Results revealed that teachers made no differentiation between their own views as to the resolution of moral problems and the advice that they gave a 10‐year‐old child or a 40‐year‐old adult attempting to solve the same problems. The implications of these findings for moral education are discussed.