Moral Self-Cultivation & Emulation

Summary of Sanderse (2024)

Background & Existing Knowledge

Emulation is a well-established concept in education. However, its specific application to the moral self-cultivation of adolescents and its implications for the practice of moral education are areas that require deeper consideration.

New Insights from This Study

✔ This article discusses how adolescents can engage in moral self-cultivation through the process of emulation.

✔ The research highlights that "modelling" in moral education is more complex than simple imitation and requires an active and reflective process by the learner.

✔ It provides insights into how educators can effectively use exemplars to support the moral development of adolescents.

Practical Applications: How Educators Can Use This Research

Course Design

📌 Integrate the study of moral exemplars and role models into the curriculum.

📌 Design projects or assignments where students reflect on how they can emulate specific moral qualities in their own lives.
Evaluation Tools

📌 Develop rubrics to assess students' ability to critically analyze and reflect on the moral character of others.

📌 Use self-reflection journals or portfolios to track students' progress in their personal moral self-cultivation.

Instructional Support

📌 Train educators to move beyond "show and tell" and guide students in the deeper process of emulation and moral reflection.

📌 Provide teachers with resources on a diverse range of moral exemplars from various cultural backgrounds.

Conclusion

This article offers valuable implications for how moral education can be approached, advocating for a more nuanced and intentional use of emulation as a tool for adolescents' moral self-cultivation.

Key Words

Moral education, Emulation, Adolescents, Character, Role models

Reference

Sanderse, W. (2024). Adolescents' moral self-cultivation through emulation: Implications for modelling in moral education. Journal of Moral Education, 53(1), 139–156. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057240.2023.2236314

Suggested Citation

Ross, E. M., & Malar, D. B. J. (2025). Moral Self-Cultivation & Emulation. Excellent Educator, 2(17), 2.