From Values to Virtues: An Investigation into the Ethical Content of English Primary School Assemblies’

Smith, G. and Smith, S. (2012) From Values to Virtues: An Investigation into the Ethical Content of English Primary School Assemblies’. British Journal of Religious Education. pp. 1-15. ISSN 0141-6200

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

School assemblies are unique and important events in the lives of schools. They are an opportunity for a head teacher to shape and cele- brate the ethos and priorities of a school. However, the discussion of assemblies has stagnated because it is mired in the debate about legal compliance to the 1988 Education Reform Act and its interpretation in circular 1/94. This article reports on a research project which investigated the ethical ideas communicated in primary school assemblies. It is found that almost all assemblies sought to communicate a form of virtue ethics. We observed the promotion of courage, kindness, loyalty and responsibil- ity. Further, different virtues were emphasised in different schools depending on their social location. For example, perseverance and resil- ience were often stressed in a school from a low socio-economic area. The article concludes with an examination of the implications of our find- ings for the discussion of legal compliance to the 1988 Act.

Publication Type: Articles
Uncontrolled Keywords: school assembly; collective worship; virtue ethics; values; moral education; circular 1/94
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BR Christianity
B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BV Practical Theology
B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BV Practical Theology > BV1460 Religious Education
K Law > KD England and Wales
Divisions: Academic Areas > Institute of Arts and Humanities > Theology, Philosophy and Religion
Depositing User: Graeme Smith
Date Deposited: 27 Nov 2015 14:25
Last Modified: 18 Sep 2017 14:17
URI: https://eprints.chi.ac.uk/id/eprint/1628

Actions (login required)

View Item
View Item
▲ Top

Our address

I’m looking for