AcknowledgementThis study was supported by the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).
Ma [2] has proposed an integrated model of moral development www.selleckchem.com/products/mek162.html and moral education based on a number of contemporary psychological theories of moral development. There are four parameters in the model: (a) Human Relationship and Altruism, (b) Moral Feeling and Psychological Needs, (c) Moral Judgment, and (d) Citizenship. The following 4-stage developmental model of citizenship is based on the fourth parameter in Ma’s [2] theoretical model.3.1. Stage 1: Discipline and ComplianceAccording to Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development, young children at this developmental stage develop tendencies to explore and experiment their initiatives in family and school settings.

Constant discouragements from the adults on their initiatives will lead to a feeling of guilt. Older children at this level tend to develop a sense of industry in their learning. Constant failure in their learning will lead to the development of a sense of inferiority [3, pages 53�C56]. In other words, children at this level will develop a clear social self in the interaction with others in family and school settings. One thing that they should learn about is the discipline and rules in a group.Young children at this level tend to be egocentric in their social perspective taking. They are unable to think and reason from other’s perspective. They think that what they see and feel is what all the others see and feel.One main reason for young children to obey rules and regulation at this level is to avoid punishment, especially physical punishment.

Rules Dacomitinib and regulations are usually set by adults (e.g., parents or teachers). For older children, the compliance to social norms, propriety, and common practices is based on instrumental purpose and equal exchange. For example, keeping a promise is a kind of propriety or a norm in a society. But one would think that it is right not to keep a promise to a person who has not kept a promise to him or her in the past. If anyone does not comply with the norm, people at this stage would think that it is right to revenge or retaliate.Children must learn to discipline themselves and to have respect for and comply with group rules at this level. Durkheim [4] has proposed that there are three important elements of morality: discipline, group affiliation, and autonomy. The discipline element is the major concern of this developmental stage, while the other two elements are focused at the next stage.3.2.