Taking modelling beyond ‘teaching morally’ and ‘teaching morality’

Abstract

The central question of this paper is whether and how, from a virtue ethical perspective, teacher modelling and student emulation hang together in moral education. This matters, because philosophers have often focussed either on the moral psychology of emulation or on modelling as a moral educational method, neglecting the interplay between the two. It starts by analysing the conceptual framework underlying the influential Manner in Teaching (MiT) and Moral Work of Teaching (MWT) projects. It reconstructs how modelling is understood as ‘teaching morally’ or ‘teaching morality’. These two interpretations of modelling are developed further by drawing on additional literature on teacher education and moral education. Then, the conceptual framework is extended by focusing on how students may learn from modelling through mimicry, imitation or emulation. This results in several conceptual relations that illuminate the complex dynamics between teacher modelling and student emulation. For example, teacher modelling does not guarantee student emulation, which challenges the common advocacy for teachers as role models. At the same time, students may emulate teachers without teachers being aware of their impact. This results in a more nuanced understanding of what it takes for teachers to be moral role models.