Rushworth Kidder, Ph.D.

2006 - 2007 Common Ground Speaker

HELPING KIDS FIND THEIR MORAL COMPASS

The ability to tell right from wrong might be the most important skill parents can give their children. But in today’s complex world, are we doing enough? Are we teaching our young people how to think for themselves and make ethical decisions — now and in the future? Please join us for a fascinating evening with Rushworth Kidder, Ph.D. in which he will illustrate how we can help our kids find their own moral compass. He’ll explain why teaching about moral courage involves more than just showing our kids right from wrong, but about teaching them how to weigh short vs. long term consequences, the needs of the individual vs. the needs of the community, and the values of truth vs. loyalty. Using compelling true-life stories, Dr. Kidder will show us how we can help our kids become better decision-makers and transition from talking values to doing values. Dr. Kidder is the President of the Institute for Global Ethics and the author of How Good People Make Tough Choices and Moral Courage. He is a popular newspaper columnist and a recent op-ed contributor to the Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Tribune and The Boston Globe.