MONDAY JUNE 22ND, 2009

2008 Ethical Literacy(R) Conference Participant.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rockland, Maine June 22, 2009 — “21^st Century Skills” is a widely used term in U.S. schools, but what does it actually mean and does ethics have anything to do with it?  The Institute for Global Ethics (IGE) sees ethics as the pivotal ingredient for 21^st century society. 

Participating Ethical Literacy® schools, and new schools interested in learning more about the Ethical Literacy® community will meet together at Brimmer and May School in Chestnut Hill, Ma this week.  All participants have a common interest:  balancing attention to academic rigor with equal attention to ethics in today’s schools.  Through the Ethical Literacy® process, IGE provides specific training and support to help schools develop a culture of integrity, balancing both academics and ethics as central dimensions to education.

Schools attending the Ethical Literacy® conference will:

•  Learn about specific concepts and approaches to help raise awareness about ethics campus-wide
•   Learn to engage students alongside adults to build school cultures of integrity
•  Try out new activities directly relevant and applicable to schools
•  Learn and apply new research to help build cultures of integrity
•  Meet like-minded practitioners who are taking steps to make ethics a central dimension of learning in their schools
•  Become part of an expanding community dedicated to making school more meaningful and relevant to young people, while developing the next generation of ethical leadership

            On June 24, the first of three conference days, interested schools will learn about conceptual frameworks and research IGE has applied in schools in a comprehensive approach to building school cultures of integrity.  Participants will learn concepts and applications that help all members of a school community uphold core ethical values, improve their ethical decision making and bolster their moral courage.  They’ll explore IGE’s recent research on what exemplary schools are doing to balance attention to both academics and ethics.  They will also receive an inside explanation of the Ethical Literacy® initiative, including specifics about the readiness phase of work, about training and about follow on services provided by IGE. 

On June 25, these “interested schools” will meet with current Ethical Literacy® schools to learn more about the Ethical Literacy® process and the results.  Selected Ethical Literacy® schools will make presentations to share their achievements and help other schools in the Ethical Literacy® community find pathways forward to building ethical culture.  Presentations will target student leadership, strategic planning, SWOT analysis applied to schools and visions for moving forward.  In addition, Claire Sheff Kohn, Masconomet MA school superintendent will define and explore 21^st century skills in a plenary presentation.  As a luncheon speaker, Ethical Literacy® coach Don Proffit will describe how 21^st century skills contribute to the innovative Asia Society Graduate Profile.  “It’s a new era” says Don Proffit, “and schools reforming to keep up with the times are realizing the central role that ethics plays in modern decision making and learning.  We want to graduate good kids from our schools.  Financial events of the past year demonstrate that expertise is not enough – we need ethical people leading our industries and making ethical decisions.”

On June 26, only participating schools will meet with IGE staff to discuss progress, plans and ways to strengthen the Ethical Literacy® community.  Participants will pilot and learn to facilitate two new activities designed for schools.  In a panel discussion they’ll exchange ideas for growth of the community, and in smaller teams they’ll assess progress and explore implementation of school action plans for next year.

Says Paula Mirk, Director of Education at IGE, “I look forward to the Ethical Literacy® conference each year because I learn so much, and I get new inspiration from the enthusiasm and accomplishments of participants.  It’s great to be involved in work that truly is making school – and the world – a better place for everybody.”

             IGE is gratified and encouraged to find that this year’s Ethical Literacy® conference is larger than previous years despite economic hard times in schools.  Participants will be coming to Boston from across the U.S. and even from as far away as England to learn about this exciting community of educators.  Both independent and public schools will be represented at the conference, and participants work in schools spanning Pre-k to college.  This year, for the first time, student representatives of Ethical Literacy® teams will also attend. 

            The Institute for Global Ethics is a nonpartisan, nonsectarian 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting ethical behavior in individuals, institutions, and nations through research, public discourse, and practical action.  Clients include corporations, government entities, academic institutions, and nonprofit organizations in the United States and abroad.  For more information see www.globalethics.org.