Ethical Education involves exploring different worldviews and beliefs, considering ethical dilemmas and the process of ethical decision making. Ethical Education invites students and teachers to engage with issues and problems facing society and aims to develop the skills of critical thinking, discussion and debate.
Ethical Education allows students:
- To explore and extend their understanding and ability to engage with moral and ethical issues and dilemmas
- To interrogate their own beliefs and values and those of others
- To come to a sense of understanding of how their own beliefs and values have been shaped
- To engage critically with principles and values in moral and ethical issues
- To make sense of their lives in a human search for meaning.
Ethical Education aims to extend and hone students’ ability to explore, question, understand and reflect critically on their own values, beliefs, worldviews and those of others and to develop their skills to communicate effectively and respectfully and act ethically.
Ethical Education Course
Strand 1 Values
Students explore what is of value to them and what has influenced this. The concepts of morality, principles, facts and opinions are also examined.
Strand 2 Making Moral and Ethical Decisions
Students apply five approaches to Ethical Decision Making (Utilitarian approach, Rights approach, Fairness or Justice approach, Common Good approach, Virtue approach) and consider different ethical dilemmas using these approaches.
Strand 3 Beliefs and Worldviews
Students investigate different ideological standpoints and religious beliefs and identify how these might impact on an individual’s worldview.
Strand 4 Different Teachings and Perspectives
Students study a number of texts, myths and narratives and consider how these may have influenced human behaviour and thought.
Strand 5 Diversity in Ireland
Students explore diversity in a local and national context and think critically about the experience of minority groups in Irish society, particularly experiences of discrimination.
Strand 6 Migration
Students develop an enhanced awareness of the language associated with migration; discover how migration has had an impact on Ireland and; critically analyse how the media reports migration in different contexts.
Strand 7 Power and participation
Students reflect on and assess the power and decision-making processes in their school.
Strand 8 Gender Equality
Students research, debate and reflect on issues related to gender equality in national and international contexts.