Seminar in Ethical Values (YR)

This is the first semester of a yearlong seminar designed to enhance students' understanding of ethical issues and address the broader ethical and moral responsibilities of the lawyer as citizen and leader. This Seminar in Ethical Values examines early and modern battles – or “culture wars” – regarding who is in charge of Pre-K-12 American classrooms. Is it families, schools, elected officials, the taxpaying public, or a combination thereof? Our Commonwealth of Virginia is an epicenter for this national debate, as are California, Florida, Texas, and Massachusetts. However, our culture wars in Virginia and beyond are much older than the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. In some ways what we have been fighting over regarding schools for more than 200 years is grounded in themes influenced by the American Revolution – the pursuit of happiness and self-governance – as well as the Civil War – democracy, citizenship, freedom, and federalism. In this seminar, we will analyze the competing interests, political negotiations, and ideological demarcations that have shaped the evolution of American education and the particular role families play in it. We also will compare and contrast these themes through the lens of race, religion, and regionalism. As a group we will explore these topics through conversations that are complemented by articles, government documents, films, and popular media resources.