New Horizons in Education

Abstract

Background: Since the 1980s, the reform and open policies have exerted much in uence not only on moral character of adults but also children. During 2002 to 2005, we did a project “A survey of the Problems of Teenage Moral Characters and Family Education and it solution in China’s South-East Coastal Region” for the National Ministry of Education, which was a focus program for the tenth “five-year plan” in the field of education. During the research, we made some deeper probe into the moral character of primary students in the three provinces, Guangdong, Fujian and Zhejiang.

Aims: Factual investigation and analysis were done to get an overall view of the situation of the development of children’s moral character in southeastern areas. Some possible solutions to improve the ethical education in primary education were also formulated.

Objects: Students of grades 3 to 6 from 16 primary schools in 15 cities were investigated (Guangzhou, Zhongshan, Shenzhen, and Dongguan from Guangdong Province, Fuzhou, Quanzhou and Xiamen from Fujian Province, Hangzhou, Ningbo and Wenzhou from Zhejiang Province). The range in age was from 9 to 15, with a mode of age 12. A total of 2968 questionnaires were collected.

Method: The students were randomly sampled from 16 primary schools of the 15 cities to do the questionnaire, along with some informal discussions and case interviews.

Results: The development of children’s moral character is revealed in 8 aspects: nation and society, international and environment, laws and discipline, science, technology and learning, life and culture, courtesy and friendship, financing and life, parents and family. The results collected are generally satisfactory.

Conclusion: In the 21st century, the development of children’s moral character has been generally satisfactory, and shows a firm and solid tendency. Yet some sharp ethnical problems are found in the current middle school and primary school students. We should continuously strengthen and improve the ethical education in school. Meanwhile, enough attention should be paid to home and social education.

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