The Good The Bad & The Difference: How to Talk with Children about Values

The concepts for The Good, The Bad and The Difference originated in Porter Hospital after I survived open heart surgery, December 21, 1989. The book is my gesture to repay, even if only in a small way, the cosmic debt I owe for my good fortune. The book presents a template for teaching ethics and moral reasoning skills to young children. By developing a culture of conversation on important and serious issues through purposeful dialogue, the book shows parents how to teach children to value reason and to become stronger independent thinkers and actors. The book is divided into four sections. Section I defines good, introduces a tool to measure morality and presents reasoning skills. Section II presents discussions about the ethical principles Autonomy, Beneficence, Justice and Sanctity of Life. Section III presents discussions on seven virtues and skills, Character, Choices, Compassion, Competence, Conscience, Consequences and Courage. Section IV presents in-depth discussions on moral dilemmas and the role of the family for teaching and preserving moral values. The book presents a fact-based guide to moral reasoning and includes dozens of actual classroom dialogues that can guide the reader and children to engage in their own investigative journey toward virtuous responsible action. The book shows how good and bad can be measured and evaluated. It shows how morally confident children are more likely and more motivated to act virtuously. The book asserts that doing good is not easy but is the result of complex analysis and moral will. Teaching that good behavior is easily or naturally achieved weakens children. The Good, The Bad and The Difference helps parents become stronger and guides them to raise children committed to moral reasoning and developing virtuous character.

Michael G Sabbeth, Michael G. Sabbeth, Esq., Denver, Colorado Michael Sabbeth, has been a panelist on several continuing legal education ethics programs. He lectures throughout Colorado and nationally on ethics, rhetoric and trial advocacy to bar associations, judicial conferences and district attorney associations. He lectures to corporate and civic groups on ethics, rhetoric and persuasion as a management and executive skill. He has been an adjunct professor at Arapahoe Community College and Metropolitan State University in Denver where he taught courses on Ethics, Rhetoric and Propaganda and Entrepreneurialism. He has written articles in national publications on ethics with an emphasis on teaching ethics to children. He has been featured in The Christian Science Monitor for his volunteer work teaching ethics in Denver-area schools. After the Columbine High School killings Mr. Sabbeth lectured on skills for ethical reasoning to the Littleton Fire Department to enhance the department's school outreach programs. Mr. Sabbeth has taught classes on moral reasoning in Denver-area public and private schools for twenty years. His book The Good, The Bad and The Difference: How to Talk with Children About Values is a guide for parents and for other persons working with children on how to talk with children about ethics and values and how to teach moral reasoning. The book has been available since late October 2010. Mr. Sabbeth graduated from Williams College with an Honors degree in Political Economy in 1969 and from the University of Denver Law School in 1973. He is a sole practitioner in Denver. He writes for many magazines on travel, fishing and engraving. He is married and has three children.