Description
Can virtue be taught? In Teaching the Virtues, David Hein gives a hearty yes, drawing on examples from history, literature and film to show that education is central to character formation.
Drawing on a long career of teaching and historical research, David Hein demonstrates that virtue emerges from nurture as well as nature, by educating the mind and habituating the will to the good. It is therefore essential for syllabi to reflect and encourage Christian virtues such as prudence, justice, courage, temperance, faith, hope, love, loyalty and patience.
The author offers practical advice for integrating these into the school day. For instance, he presents the impact of shortening attention spans on reading and writing. In an age where the constant dopamine rush of social media feeds and reels threatens to reduce meaningful reading and writing to nil, educators have the opportunity to promote patience and forbearance in scholarship, creating lifelong learners.
Teaching the Virtues is an invaluable primer for teachers at traditional church schools, classical Christian schools and home-schooling settings, as well as for parents of school-age children.
