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Preface to the Special Issue: Early Education for Moral Development

In his January (1 997) State of the Union Address, marking the start of his second term of office, President William Clinton made specific reference to fostering children’s character as a national priority for public education. President Clinton’s elevation of character education as a concern of the United States federal government was historic. It also made good political sense. The current emphasis on what is now being called character education is the most recent manifestation of what opinion polls have been reporting for decades. The overwhelming majority of parents expect schools to contribute to children’s moral development (Gallup, 1976). In this special issue, we examine some of the ways in which early childhood education may respond to this public call to action. To do so, however, will require attention not only to classroom practices, but to fundamental research on young children’s social development.