Morality and the Ethic of Care: Peaceable Rural Schools, Caring Rural Communities

Abstract

There is violence and a loss of personal safety in rural schools as there is in urban and suburban schools. The impact is felt by children, teachers, support staff, administrators, and citizens in the communities in which those schools are located. These tensions are as wide-spread as are the great differences and increased diversity of America's rural communities. In this article, these concerns are discussed. Solutions are presented with violence and the loss of personal safety being highlighted as resolvable problems via a consideration of all members of the community moving to an ethic of caring, living in communities characterized as caring, thus, attending peaceable schools. Morality and the Ethic of Care: Peaceable Rural Schools, Caring Rural Communities “To educate a person in mind but not in morals is a menace to society.” T. Roosevelt “A question a'int really a question if you know the answer too.” J. Prine “The best thing for disturbances of the spirit … is to learn.” T.H. White Recently on National Public Radio's “Morning Edition” it was reported in Butte, Montana, the Superintendent of Schools now has the principals in the district hold regular safety drills for her students, teachers, aides, and other staff in light of the recent spate of publicized attacks of violence taking place in American schools, especially those taking place in Rural Schools.