Teaching the Virtues – Review

Have you ever wondered whether virtues can be taught and, if so, 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 this is 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. This is an active method for students to develop virtue. To be a great writer, he argues, one must exercise virtue. Writing well requires effort, patience, and selflessness. (Hein shares the writing advice he gives to his college students, like the 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 based on 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, what we put our faith in reflects what we value most. What we value most affects our decisions and behaviors. For example, if one valued the God of the Bible, one would respect human dignity. If one valued personal autonomy over all, one’s desires, good or bad, would trump everything else.)

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

In closing, Hein, a Christian, believes in the importance of piety—gratitude to God for His perfect character and work (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-5; John 3:16). This matters profoundly for the development of virtue. Hein points out that many people demonstrate virtues like courage for evil ends, but the truth orients virtue toward good and happy ends.

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