Education’s ethical challenges: Navigating complexity in community

What does it mean to make an ethical decision in the classroom? And how can schools prepare for dilemmas that don’t have a single right answer?

On this episode of School’s In, we’re joined by Stanford GSE Professor Meira Levinson, a leader in the emerging field of educational ethics. She walks us through the complex terrain of real-world ethical decision-making in schools – where competing values, pressures, and priorities often collide. From everyday classroom challenges to district-wide decisions, Meira shares how the field of EdEthics can help educators and policymakers navigate those moments with greater clarity and confidence. She covers several topics, including:

• (02:57) Understanding ethical decisions in education
• (06:19) The need for a field of educational ethics
• (10:00) The myth of the value-free classroom
• (11:15) Case study: Ethical dilemmas in the classroom
• (18:56) Developing ethical frameworks for educators
• (24:22) Ethics as community practice: Advice for working through hard decisions together

Meira Levinson is a professor at Stanford Graduate School of Education whose work focuses on civic education, justice, and the ethics of teaching and learning. She founded JusticeInSchools.org, a site that offers real-world ethical case studies for educators and policymakers. Levinson's current mission is to formally establish the field of educational ethics, aiming to bring clarity, conversation, and support to the morally complex world of schooling. Learn more about her work on her faculty profile.

School’s In is your go-to podcast for cutting-edge insights and fresh perspectives on the future of learning. Hosted by Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE) Dean Dan Schwartz and Senior Lecturer Denise Pope, each episode dives into the latest research, innovations, and real-world challenges shaping education today.

Stanford GSE is at the forefront of education research and teacher preparation, dedicated to advancing equitable, accessible, and impactful learning experiences for all.

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