Abstract

BARRIOS, Alia; MARINHO-ARAUJO, Claisy Maria  and  BRANCO, Angela Uchôa. Promoting teachers' competence to foster moral development within school contexts. Psicol. Esc. Educ. (Impr.) [online]. 2011, vol.15, n.1, pp. 90-99. ISSN 1413-8557.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1413-85572011000100010.

In this paper we emphasize the importance of a continued training program to support teachers in promoting moral development among their students. Our goal is to discuss central aspects of such training aiming at developing values and competences leading to moral reasoning and action within school community. Moral autonomy, respect and active negotiation of social practices, norms and beliefs are a fundamental aspect to be promoted throughout such an effort. School psychologists have a fundamental role in this process, since they can foster the necessary critical analysis of social beliefs and values that impregnate daily activities in the school context. We propose that such teacher trainings should focus upon the development of values, competences, and personal resources leading to the active internalization and the co-construction of a moral culture characterized by ethics and morality. Without daily experiences oriented by ethical standards, we will never construct a democratic society.

Keywords : Continuing education; moral development; School Psychology.