Teaching the Virtues

Have you ever wondered whether virtues can be taught and how to do so? David Hein’s book Teaching the Virtues is a good place to start. Hein defines essential virtues, such as faith, love, honor, and gratitude, and explains how to help students acquire them. He believes virtues are necessary for happiness, writing: “The virtues are what enable human beings to achieve their good ends….” (24)

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Hein begins by focusing on schools and learning communities. To improve, schools need to self-assess, learn from better schools, and determine if their students are becoming more virtuous. Schools cannot rely solely on passive learning methods; they must find ways to help students actively acquire virtues.

Next, Hein turns to writing. He believes it’s an active method for students to develop virtue. He argues that to become a good writer, one must build virtue. It requires diligence and patience. (Hein shares the writing advice he gives to college students (e.g., importance of rewriting.)

Honor is the topic of the next chapter. He describes two types of honor: the type motivated by personal glory and the type that comes from self-denial. While a student at the University of Virginia, he was struck by the meaning and significance of the honor code. He shares how it helped him develop integrity.

Descriptions of the theological and natural virtues, beginning with faith, are the core of the book. According to Hein, one’s values influence one’s decisions and behaviors. For example, one who values the God of the Bible tends to respect human dignity. On the other hand, a person who values personal autonomy over all would tend to regard personal desire and will.)

To see virtue in concrete human experience, Hein encourages the study of biographies. The book features short character sketches of George Washington, Hannah More, and Booker T. Washington. He underlines ways one might use them to discuss virtue.

In closing, Hein, a Christian, believes in the importance of piety—enjoying God and gratitude for His work (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-5; John 3:16). Hein points out that many people demonstrate virtues like courage in the service of evil. The truth and piety orient virtue toward what is good.

Teaching the Virtues sharpens the reader’s understanding of virtues and methods for helping students acquire them. For continued study, Hein shares additional resources.