Children’s Morality Code of 1916
Stuff You Missed in History Class
00:00
Shifting Paradigms in Children's Moral Education
This chapter examines the historical proposals and contentious practices regarding children's moral education in the 20th century, particularly the state's role in determining who is deemed educable. It highlights the implications of these ideas, their connections to the eugenics movement, and the evolution of the Children's Morality Code, all while addressing the emotional journeys of those facing significant health challenges.
Transcript
Play full episode
Transcript
Episode notes
In 1916, the National Institution for Moral Instruction had a contest to see who could come up with the best morality code. For kids. Evolving views on childhood, child labor laws, patriotism, and eugenics influenced this effort.
Research:
- “$5000 Prize Winners Announced Oct. 1” Dean Bennion in Race.” Daily Utah Chronicle. April 23, 1917. https://www.newspapers.com/image/289878324/?match=1&terms=%22Morality%20Code%22%20winner
- “93 Virtues Make the Perfect Man.” Tulsa World. Dec. 22, 1919. https://www.newspapers.com/image/884436330/?match=1&terms=Iowa%20%22character%20education%22%20
- Brimi, Hunter. “Academic Instructors or Moral Guides? Moral Education in America and the Teacher’s Dilemma.” The Clearing House, vol. 82, no. 3, 2009, pp. 125–30. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/30181093
- Character Education Inquiry. “Studies in the nature of Character.” New York. Macmillan. 1928. https://archive.org/details/studiesinnatureo0001char/page/n7/mode/2up
- “Character Education Methos Research.” Atlanta Constitution. Sept. 30, 1917. https://www.newspapers.com/image/26907400/?match=1&terms=%22Morality%20Code%20Competition%22
- “The Children’s Morality Code.” Virginia Teacher. March 1924. https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2194&context=va-teacher
- “College Professors and Others in All States Take Part in Contest to Decide Best Method of Character Building in the Growing Generation.” Washington Post. March 4, 1917. https://www.newspapers.com/image/28849374/?match=1&terms=%22Morality%20Code%20Competition%22
- Davis, Emily C. “Why Children Lie.” Springfield Daily Republican. May 20, 1928. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1062989775/?match=1&terms=%22Character%20Education%20Inquiry%22
- “Dean Competes in $5000 Contest.” Daily Utah Chronicle. Nov. 23, 1916. https://www.newspapers.com/image/289875150/?match=1&terms=%22National%20Morality%20Codes%20Competition%22
- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF EDUCATION. “Character Education.” REPORT OF THECOMMITTEE ON CHARACTER EDUCATION OFTHE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION. Washington Government Printing Office. 1926. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED541955.pdf
- “Educational Body Offers Big Prize.” New Britain herald. April 4, 1922. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82014519/1922-04-04/ed-1/seq-12/
- “Efficiency Methods Applied to Task of Codifying Ethics.” Times Herald. Jan. 27, 1917. https://www.newspapers.com/image/79883841/?match=1&terms=%22Morality%20Code%20Competition%22
- “Educating Body Offers Big Prize.” New Britain Herald. April 04, 1922. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82014519/1922-04-04/ed-1/seq-12/
- Fairchild, Stephen G. “Character education in the United States.” University of Georgia, PhD Dissertation. Mary Frances Early College of Education. 2006. https://esploro.libs.uga.edu/esploro/outputs/doctoral/Character-education-in-the-United-States/9949334479002959
- Hartshorne, H., & May, M. A. (1930). A Summary of the Work of the Character Education Inquiry. Religious Education, 25(7), 607–619. https://doi.org/10.1080/0034408300250702
- Hutchins, William J. “The 5,000 Prize Code of Morals for Children.” The Mahoning Dispatch. September 13, 1918. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84028473/1918-09-13/ed-1/seq-4/
- Jackson, Allison. “THE CHARACTER EDUCATION WORK OF MILTON FAIRCHILD: A PRISM FOR EXPLORING THE DEBATE BETWEEN LIBERAL PROGRESSIVES AND CONSERVATIVE PROGRESSIVES IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY.” Notre Dame of Maryland University. https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/character-education-work-milton-fairchild-prism/docview/2125417636/se-2
- “Keating-Owen Child Labor Act (1916).” National Archives. https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/keating-owen-child-labor-act
- “New Statement of Old Principles.” Democrat and Chronicle. April 4, 1916. https://www.newspapers.com/image/135312787/?match=1&terms=%22Morality%20Code%20Competition%22
- “The plans of the Interstate Character Education Method … “ Kansas Teacher. April 1, 1918. https://www.newspapers.com/image/390015780/?match=1&terms=%22Character%20education%20methods%22
- “VERIFIED AND REVISED CHILDREN’S MORALITY CODE.” The Journal of Education, vol. 100, no. 5 (2491), 1924, pp. 130–32. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/42750282
- “What a Child Should Do in a Moral Emergency.” Richmond Times-Dispatch. May 21, 1916. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045389/1916-05-21/ed-1/seq-49/
- Yarrow, Andrew L. “History of U.S. Children’s Policy, 1900-Present.” First Focus. April 2009. https://firstfocus.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Childrens-Policy-History.pdf
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The AI-powered Podcast Player
Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!
