Acting the Part: An Approach to Moral Education through Drama
(Curriculum/Study Guide)
By Mary B. Reinhard
Includes twenty plays, grouped under five main headings (service, courage, quest, education, and brotherly love). Plays preceded by descriptions of historical setting, introduction to main characters, and suggested activities.
Allow Your Children to Fail if You Want Them to Succeed
(Book/Review)
By Avril P. Beckford M.D.
Pediatrician and CSEE Trustee Avril Beckford offers practical suggestions to both parents and school staff members.
Annotated Bibliography
(Book/Review)
By Jennifer Seed
A listing of texts, supplemental material, and audio-visual resources used in courses in ethics and character education, values in literature, the Bible, religious studies, and world religions in the late 1990s.
Applied Ethics
(Curriculum/Study Guide)
By Michael E. C. Spencer and Janet W. Tanner
Spencer and Tanner introduce virtue-based, utilitarian, justice-based, deontological and teleological approaches to ethical decision making, but focus primarily on applying ethics. This text encourages students to participate in debate and open discussion. The course covers several areas of applied ethics: medicine, business, environment, and gender. Includes case studies and related articles.
Approaches to Sacred Texts
(Curriculum/Study Guide)
By Jeffrey A. Crafton
Students study several ways that religious adherents read sacred texts. A comparison of devotional, analytical, and literal approaches. Concise, accessible guide developed for students.
Award-Winning Community Service Programs in Independent Schools
(Book/Review)
By Catherine D. Sands and Michael J. Gorman
Provides descriptions of 78 programs that demonstrate student leaderhip. The programs highlighted in this publication received awards from the Council for Religion in Independent Schools (CSEE’s former name) between 1988 and 1994. The book includes student and faculty essays submitted with award applications.
Bible (The): A Course for Those Studying It for the First Time
(Curriculum/Study Guide)
By David R. Trower
Introductory Bible course. Includes lessons in Genesis, Exodus, Kings, and the gospels. Designed to develop students’ discovery of and reflection about life, so that they will begin to connect the Bible’s insights with their own. Includes texts, materials, maps.
Blessed Are the Peacemakers
(Curriculum/Study Guide)
By Paul Graseck
Examination of the methods of violence (war, prejudice, personal and peer abuse) and nonviolence (civil disobedience, war resistance, disarmament, and pacifism). Designed to improve students’ ability in moral and religious thinking. This text is now over 20 years old, but contains some good material.
Building Moral Communities: A Guide for Educators
(Book/Review)
By Michael Schulman Ph.D.
This book’s 100 pages of practical suggestions are written for administrators, teachers, coaches, and others in K-12 schools. It includes background on how morals develop, games / activities to facilitate moral growth, and discusses the importance of community service and academic advising programs.
Children of Alcoholics in Schools
(Book/Review)
By Rev. Ralph Pitman
Discusses the difficulties the children of alcoholics face in school and at home, especially regarding authority figures, the roles they assume in school, and how school people can help. The text is now two decades old, but still contains valuable insights.
Children of Israel, The: A Workbook Introduction to Ancient Israel
(Curriculum/Study Guide)
By Katherine Respess
Lessons developed for an ancient history course and assume the use of either the Revised Standard Version or the new Jewish Version of the scriptures. Subject of this historical course is ancient Israel through the return from the Babylonian Captivity.
Christianity in China
(Book/Review)
By Bruce Hoff
Educator Bruce Hoff guides teachers through the complexities of both
the past and emerging Christian faith in China. The course uses David Aikman’s
textbook, Jesus in Bejing as its primary guide. Hoff’s curriculum is a clear, thorough resource for religious studies teachers.
Comparative Religion
(Curriculum/Study Guide)
By Jonathan Copulsky and David Wertheimer
Review of Christianity, Judaism, and the Bible; conceptual foundations, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Includes objectives, detailed list of resources, outside activities, written assignments, vocabulary, and class plans with assignments.
Conscience: The Lost Dimension in Education
(Book/Review)
By Johne E. Smith
Argues that serious problems in the present educational system leave us on the edge of moral bankruptcy, threatening the system itself unless “conscience” is recovered in schools. Argues for a new understanding of “conscience.”
Creating Classrooms & Homes of Virtue (Vol. 1 - 4): A Resource for Elementary Teachers and Families
(Curriculum/Study Guide)
By Margaret D. Walding
The most ambitious curriculum project in the 106-year history of CSEE, Creating Classrooms is character education resource for teachers and parents of children in grades Pre-K through 6th grade. (Four volumes, one each for grades Pre-K/K, 1-2, 3-4, and 5-6.)
Creating Classrooms & Homes of Virtue (Vol. 1, PreK - K): A Resource for Elementary Teachers and Families
(Curriculum/Study Guide)
By Margaret D. Walding
The most ambitious curriculum project in the 110-year history of CSEE, Creating Classrooms is a character education resource for teachers and parents of children in grades Pre-K through 6th grade. (Four volumes, one each for grades Pre-K/K, 1-2, 3-4, and 5-6.)
Creating Classrooms & Homes of Virtue (Vol. 2, Grades 1 & 2): A Resource for Elementary Teachers and Families
(Curriculum/Study Guide)
By Margaret D. Walding
The most ambitious curriculum project in the 106-year history of CSEE, Creating Classrooms is character education resource for teachers and parents of children in grades Pre-K through 6th grade. (Four volumes, one each for grades Pre-K/K, 1-2, 3-4, and 5-6.)
Creating Classrooms & Homes of Virtue (Vol. 3, Grades 3 & 4): A Resource for Elementary Teachers and Families
(Curriculum/Study Guide)
By Margaret D. Walding
The most ambitious curriculum project in the 106-year history of CSEE, Creating Classrooms is character education resource for teachers and parents of children in grades Pre-K through 6th grade. (Four volumes, one each for grades Pre-K/K, 1-2, 3-4, and 5-6.)
Creating Classrooms & Homes of Virtue (Vol. 4, Grades 5 & 6): A Resource for Elementary Teachers and Families
(Curriculum/Study Guide)
By Margaret D. Walding
The most ambitious curriculum project in the 106-year history of CSEE, Creating Classrooms is character education resource for teachers and parents of children in grades Pre-K through 6th grade. (Four volumes, one each for grades Pre-K/K, 1-2, 3-4, and 5-6.)
CRIS Case Studies for the 90's
(Curriculum/Study Guide)
By Douglas S. Nau
Second volume to The New CRIS Case Studies. Cover areas such as religion, social action, sports, and academics. Includes case study questions designed to provoke discussion, and related activities such as reflection papers, oral reports, and debates.
CRIS Tales: Moral dilemmas for Young School Children
(Curriculum/Study Guide)
By Susan C. Harris
Stories intended to help children develop their moral judgment. Basic issues include kindness, honesty, fairness, and personal integrity. Contains ten stories, background for teachers, and discussion questions.
Crossroads: Intergrated Models for Teaching Ethics and Spirituality
(Book/Review)
By John P Doester
Anthology of articles by and about teachers who integrate ethics and/or the spiritual quest into academic courses in history, literature, general humanities, and science. Attention to both theory and practice. Companion volume is In Pursuit of Values.
Death and Dying: A Paradigm for Coping with Loss
(Curriculum/Study Guide)
By James Heron
This text is now quite old, but it contains some excellent information and activities. Provides students tools to deal with death and dying more creatively and effectively in their own lives. Opportunities abound to relate to lessons to life’s ’mini-deaths" (divorce, family move, job loss, etc.) Includes lesson plans complete with assignments.
Discipline for Moral Growth
(Book/Review)
By Marilyn Watson, Ph.D.
Misbehavior can be curbed in such a way that the misbehaving child’s autonomy and competence are still fostered, and such that the child is easily reintegrated into the classroom community. In contrast to disciplinary approaches that too often leave children frustrated and angry, Developmental Discipline fosters the kind of climate that leads to moral growth in schools.
Education in the Fourth Dimension: Teachers and Their Value Commitments
(Book/Review)
By Bruce Hoff
Presentation and analysis of a survey of school heads done by the Council for Religion in Independent Schools regarding their vision of teachers and teaching, including their moral and spiritual commitments.
Environmentally Conscientious School, The: Where Do We Begin?
(Book/Review)
By CSEE Environmental Education Team
Composed by a national team of educators with expertise and experience in education for environmental sustainability, this booklet was published in paper copies for a first printing, with the support of the Forum on Religion and Ecology. The booklet explores why being reverent stewards of our Earth makes financial, social, ethical, and spiritual sense. The booklet was revised in 2007.
Ethics for the Young Child: Bible Stories, Applications, and Activities
(Curriculum/Study Guide)
By Ann Gibbs
Lessons in uniqueness, family love, respect, fairness, friendship, feelings, talents, rules, environment, and helping those in need. Includes introduction, lesson plans, and student activity sheets.
Field Notes on the Compassionate Life: A Search for the Soul of Kindness
(Book/Review)
By Marc Ian Barasch
Field Notes on the Compassionate Life: A Search for the Soul of Kindness
Handbook for Developing and Sustaining Honor Systems
(Book/Review)
By David B. L. Gould and John Roberts
A pragmatic, complete guide to developing or revitalizing an honor system in a school community. David Gould’s original text has been revised and expanded by experienced honor council advisor and workshop presenter Dr. John Roberts. It outlines the procedure for instituting an honor system and addresses ways to integrate it fully into the school’s ethos. Includes a sampling of honor codes from a variety of schools and emphasizes the honor council as a vital part of the system.
Highly Effective Programs: Character Education in Independent Schools
(Book/Review)
By CSEE Moral Development Team
A research-based, point-by-point, easy to read guidebook for independent school educators who care about creating a climate that nurtures the development of empathy, altruism, conscience, and moral thinking.
How To Talk About God; A Guide for the Twentieth-Century Student
(Curriculum/Study Guide)
By April Trew Greenwood
Fifty lessons on biblical theology, including sin, salvation, and love, applied to modern life. Includes introductory material, objectives, teaching notes, and exercises.
In Pursuit of Values, In Search of Faith
(Book/Review)
By Bruce Hoff
Anthology of articles exploring the ethical and religious dimensions of school life, reprinted from the CRIS Newsletter and The Chaplain’s Craft. Topics include priorities, community, academic excellence, awards, athletics, service, and diversity.
Introduction to the Christian New Testament
(Curriculum/Study Guide)
By Amy D. Foster
An excellent one-semester course that introduces students to the academic study of the New Testament. This course guides students and teachers through scholarly and traditional readings of the New Testament, remaining sensitive to students from all traditions. Ten units include objectives, resource list, key questions, key terms, and teachers guide.
Introduction to the Literature and Personalities of the Bible
(Curriculum/Study Guide)
By Linda F. Miller
Selected stories from the Hebrew bible and the Christian Testament designed for use in English curricula. Suitable also for Bible courses. Includes introduction, syllabus, activites, bibliography, maps, tests, and study guides to introduce Bible stories.
Issues in Philosophy and Religion
(Curriculum/Study Guide)
By John M. Kettlewell
Designed to introduce students to the great themes of philosophy and religion, with articles focusing on major subjects like the scientific worldview, the “problem of evil,” and the traditional arguments for the existence of God.
It's The Parents!
(Book/Review)
By Daniel R. Heischman
Discusses the no-win situation of schools blaming parents for students’ ills and proposes ways for schools and parents to work together. Adapted from an NAIS presentation and originally published in Independent School magazine.
Jesus: His Time, His Place, His Friends
(Curriculum/Study Guide)
By Lynn H. Lance
Objectives are to enable the student to see events in present-day Israel as related to Biblical events in history; and to help the student develop some sense for the “time-space” elements of Palestine during the lifetime of Jesus.
Life (The) and Teachings of Jesus: A Search
(Curriculum/Study Guide)
By Duane J. Estes
Teacher’s guide to a ten-week scriptural study on the birth, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Texts, lesson plans, study skills, annotated bibliography, and a list of films.
Literature for the Journey; World Literature and the Inner Life
(Curriculum/Study Guide)
By Nila J. Webster
Year-long course in masterpieces of world literature that raise deep psychological and philosophical questions on such themes as existence, altruism, the absurd, suffering, and responsibility. Readings from Salinger, Sartre, Camus, E.B. White, Wiesel, T.S Eliot.
Literature of the Holocaust: The Imagination After Auschwitz
(Curriculum/Study Guide)
By Judith Klau
Concentrates on the literature of the Holocaust. Guide includes a detailed set of lesson plans for six literary works. Books to be read include works by Anne Frank, Elie Wiesel, Saul Bellow, and others.
Need a Hand with Advising? Here's a Handbook!
(Book/Review)
By Barb Dixon Ackerman and LouAnne Smith
This resource developed for and by independent school educators is divided into two sections: The Advising Program, and A Handbook for Advisors. The first is designed for administrators of advising programs; the second consists of documents and activities that may be reproduced and used to develop a handbook for individual schools.
Non-Western Religions
(Curriculum/Study Guide)
By Daniel L. Hawley
This survey of non-western religions addresses their origins, developments, scriptures, myths, symbols, rituals, and social structures with emphasis on the religions’ essential visions of reality, spiritual goals, and life paths.
Parenting for Character: Five Experts, Five Practices
(Book/Review)
By David Streight
Four decades of research point to five practices that, when implemented by parents, lead to the development of children who are altruistic and empathic, and who have strong consciences and moral reasoning skills. In this booklet, five of North America’s leading child development researchers and character education trainers explain these practices. This booklet was written with an independent school parent audience specifically in mind.
Philip Hallie and the Power of Stories
(Curriculum/Study Guide)
By Todd L. Eckerson
Covers the writings and thoughts of philosopher Philip Hallie. Focuses on Hallie’s idea that ethics often are conveyed best through stories.
Prophetic Voice, The
(Curriculum/Study Guide)
By Brian E. Fidler
Teacher’s guide to a course on biblical and twentieth-century prophets. Eight units: What is a prophet?; Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Mother Teresa. Includes detailed syllabus, notes on the primary source readings
Putting Together High Quality Character Education Programs
(Article)
By CSEE Moral Development Team
In this powerpoint presentation created for the 2008 National Association of Independent Schools conference, members of CSEE’s Moral Development Team introduce research-based components of top-quality character education programs and take viewers through reflection activities about their school’s goals and culture.
Click the “buy now” link on the right to download and view this free resource.
Readings from the World's Religious Traditions
(Curriculum/Study Guide)
By Jane Baron Rechtman and Terry Ward
Formerly published as the Compendium of Readings, this book is an excellent resource for secondary, college, or adult education students; includes important selections looking at the experience of world religions through first-person accounts of practices and rituals as well as the history and texts upon which they are based. The recent updating has added new material, including recent materials readings on Islam.
Religious Literacy, Textbooks, and Religious Neutrality
(Book/Review)
By Warren A. Nord
Argues that high school textbooks in the social sciences are not neutral toward religion but rather implicitly hostile, and proposes both textbook revisions and a new definition of neutrality.
Selected Old Testament Themes as/in Literature
(Curriculum/Study Guide)
By Deborah A. Neely
Designed as a 30-day course that introduces students to Old Testament stories with literary analyses of their themes and use in literature and/or as an inquiry into the Bible as a literary and philosphical work. Text used is The Garden and the Wilderness.
Service Learning: The Complete Guide
(Book/Review)
By Cathryn Berger Kaye
This publication by Free Spirit Press was made available to CSEE member schools at a 20% discount after our careful review and the favorable evaluation of the guide. It is filled with ideas and resources for planning, administering, and assessing service learning programs, and includes eleven thematic chapters on issues like the elderly, animals in danger, and the enviroment.
Social Awareness: Serving God in the World
(Curriculum/Study Guide)
By Mary Robertson Power
Lessons on uniqueness, prejudice, prayer, and the handicapped, including projects with the needy, the elderly, and fund-raising education. Includes rationales, objectives, workshops, lesson plans, activity sheets, and bibliographies.
The Grounds on Which We Dwell
(Book/Review)
By Daniel R. Heischman
Series of twelve essays by the former director of the Council for Religion in Independent Schools. Has as its theme the establishment of the school as a moral community and the challenges involved in moving from blueprint to actuality in realizing moral community with students and faculty.
The New CRIS Case Studies
(Curriculum/Study Guide)
By Douglas S. Nau
Offers ethical dilemmas that continue to be relevant, such as divorce, peer pressure, plagiarism, stealing, honesty, and global awareness. Includes case studies and discussion questions.
The Word Book: Religion, Sin, and All That Stuff
(Curriculum/Study Guide)
By Jane S. Baron Rechtman and Barbara Jones
Introduction to theological concepts such as sin, salvation, Heaven, Hell, prophet, faith, covenant, Messiah, kingdom of god, worship, and prayer. Designed specifically for student use.
Twenty-One for Teens: Case Studies for the 21st Century
(Book/Review)
By Adriana Murphy
Twenty-one ethical situations with accompanying discussion questions divided into
general areas of school, family, and self.
Values in Action: A Middle School Ethics Course
(Curriculum/Study Guide)
By Carl Eliot, Elizabeth Orens, and Penny Work
Middle School teacher’s guide for ten units (about 50 classes) on the theory and practice of ethics. Part I covers sources of values (self, family, school, religions, and nation); Part II uses literature (including The Elephant Man, Gandhi the Man, and Black Like Me).
What Do You Believe? Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers
(Media)
By Sarah Feinbloom
This 52 minute documentary is one of the best resources we know for stimulating discussions with teens about issues of inter-religious understanding and being a teen with a spiritual life. Filmmaker Feinbloom interviewed hundreds of teens, and then did in-depth interviews with six: a Lakota Sioux, a Vietnamese Buddhist, a Roman Catholic, a Jew, a Muslim, and a neo-Pagan. The teens are all articulate, but eminently “real” in all respects.
What is Religion? An Introduction to Religion and Ethics
(Curriculum/Study Guide)
By Rev. William Wade
One-semester, advanced course on religion and ethics in Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Christianity. Includes objectives, assignments, class plans, tests, and resources. Includes eight lectures.
What on Earth Do You Do When Someone Dies?
(Book/Review)
By Trevor Romain
What happens to the person’s body? Will I ever feel better? These and lots of other questions provide the framework for this little book for elementary school children dealing with a death, but perhaps not completely comfortable talking with adults about it yet.
What Would You Do? (Book A-1)
(Curriculum/Study Guide)
By Michael O. Baker
Developing and applying ethical standards. Contains some 30 problems/dilemmas with discussion questions.