Resumo

OLIVEIRA, Renato José de. Ethics at school: (re) kindling a controversy. Educ. Soc. [online]. 2001, vol.22, n.76, pp. 212-231. ISSN 0101-7330.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0101-73302001000300012.

Considering that Ethics at school and the education of students' character have been discussed all over the world, this paper focuses its subject based on three axes. The first one presents some philosophical views on Morality and Ethics in order to investigate whether or not theoretical distinctions have social impacts. The second axis is related to the foundations of Morality and Ethics as practical disciplines. The main question is: Should general principles legitimate moral/ethical judgments or vice versa? Finally the role assumed by school in the ethical/moral education of the citizen is explored. Both educational conceptions as those owing to Comenius and Dewey and the homogenizing pedagogical practices are discussed, as well as the ethical proposals included in the Parâmetros Curriculares Nacionais (National Curricular Guidelines)

Palavras-chave : Ethics at school; Education of human character; Moral/ethical principles; Arguments; National Curricular Guidelines.