Recognizing the importance of character, virtue, and ethics in education, the Saint Mary’s teaching rubric embraces character and virtue education that is rooted in the liberal arts and practical studies, integrating theory and real-world contexts, cultural responsiveness, and community engagement.
The horizontal component of the teaching rubric includes the Lasallian District of Eastern North America virtue integration principles for young adults (see, judge, act) as well as a Neo-Aristotelian Model of Moral Development from the Jubilee Center for Character and Virtues (perception, knowledge/understanding, reasoning, and acts/practice of virtue). The “Building Blocks of Character,” as articulated by the Jubilee Centre, illustrates how the components of intellectual, moral, civic virtues, and performance strengths foster practical wisdom needed for flourishing individuals and society (Journal of Character Education, 2014).
The vertical column of the teaching rubric includes congruent virtues, principles, and indicators of the presence of heart, mind, and soul including the twelve virtues of a good teacher as listed by Saint John Baptist de La Salle and the cardinal virtues of prudence, temperance, courage, and justice.
Saint Mary’s mission is to empower learners to ethical lives of service and leadership. The teaching rubric is a pedagogical tool to assist in planning courses, measuring outcomes, and stimulating conversation across academic disciplines.
Individual faculty members as well as academic departments have adapted the teaching rubric to focus on certain core virtues in a course of study. Ultimately, aggregate data can be compiled for examination of the student experience to ensure meaningfulness, intentionality, and positive impact.
