Nel NoddingsNel Noddings

Care Theory Care Theory

Who She IsWho She IsNel Noddings is an educational theorist Nel Noddings is an educational theorist who is most well known for her thinking on who is most well known for her thinking on the ethics of care. the ethics of care.

Noddings is considered a progressive Noddings is considered a progressive educator based on her feminist and social educator based on her feminist and social constructivist viewpoints constructivist viewpoints

Born in 1929Born in 1929 Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Montclair Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Montclair State College, New Jersey; State College, New Jersey; Master’s degree in Mathematics from Rutgers Master’s degree in Mathematics from Rutgers University, New Jersey;University, New Jersey;Doctorate in Educational Philosophy from Stanford Doctorate in Educational Philosophy from Stanford University.University. (Smith) (Smith)1949-1972 – Elementary and high school teacher 1949-1972 – Elementary and high school teacher and administrator in New Jersey Public Schoolsand administrator in New Jersey Public SchoolsRaised 10 children and considers herself “incurably Raised 10 children and considers herself “incurably domestic” (O’Toole)domestic” (O’Toole)

““We should want more from our We should want more from our educational efforts than adequate educational efforts than adequate academic achievement, and we academic achievement, and we

will not achieve even that meager will not achieve even that meager success unless our children success unless our children

believe that they themselves are believe that they themselves are cared for and learn to care for cared for and learn to care for

others.”            others.”                 

-- Nel Noddings

The Ethics of CareThe Ethics of CareNoddings believes that “Authentic human liberation and social justice can only Noddings believes that “Authentic human liberation and social justice can only be achieved by caring people in caring communities” (Bergman, 2004)be achieved by caring people in caring communities” (Bergman, 2004)She sees education as being central to the cultivation of caring in society. She sees education as being central to the cultivation of caring in society. (Smith, 2004)(Smith, 2004)Therefore, caring should be taught in schools.Therefore, caring should be taught in schools.

““As we build an ethic on caring and as we examine As we build an ethic on caring and as we examine education under its guidance, we shall see that the education under its guidance, we shall see that the greatest obligation of educators, inside and outside formal greatest obligation of educators, inside and outside formal schooling, is to nuture the ethical ideals of those with schooling, is to nuture the ethical ideals of those with whom they come in contact.” Nel Noddings (Bergman)whom they come in contact.” Nel Noddings (Bergman)

                                                                                          

What is Caring?What is Caring?

The need to be cared for is a human universal (Bergman, 2004)The need to be cared for is a human universal (Bergman, 2004)

Noddings says that in a caring situation we will notice that we are Noddings says that in a caring situation we will notice that we are attentive in a special way and that receptive attention is an attentive in a special way and that receptive attention is an essential characteristic of a caring encounter. essential characteristic of a caring encounter.

A caring encounter has 3 elements, according to Noddings:A caring encounter has 3 elements, according to Noddings:1. 1. AA cares for cares for BB – that is – that is AA’s consciousness is ’s consciousness is

characterized by engrossment and motivational displacement characterized by engrossment and motivational displacement 2. 2. AA performs some act in accordance with (1) performs some act in accordance with (1)

3. 3. BB recognizes that recognizes that AA cares for cares for BB(Smith, 2004)(Smith, 2004)

Why Noddings says Why Noddings says Caring is so ImportantCaring is so Important

““Caring parents and teachers provide the Caring parents and teachers provide the conditions in which it is possible and conditions in which it is possible and attractive for children to respond as carers to attractive for children to respond as carers to others. We show them how to care. Children others. We show them how to care. Children educated in this way gradually build an educated in this way gradually build an ethical ideal, a dependable caring self. A ethical ideal, a dependable caring self. A society composed of people capable of society composed of people capable of caring – people who habitually draw in a caring – people who habitually draw in a well-established ideal -will move toward well-established ideal -will move toward social policies consonant with an ethical social policies consonant with an ethical care” (Bergmen, 2004)care” (Bergmen, 2004)

Caring For vs. Caring AboutCaring For vs. Caring About

Caring for is when one cares directly for another.Caring for is when one cares directly for another.

Caring-about is more general. We “care-about” what happens to the poor in Caring-about is more general. We “care-about” what happens to the poor in other countries, so we donate money to the cause. other countries, so we donate money to the cause.

Noddings states that Noddings states that “learning first what it means to be cared for, then “learning first what it means to be cared for, then to care for intimate others, and finally to care about those we cannot to care for intimate others, and finally to care about those we cannot care for directly”.care for directly”. Once we achieve this was can start building a more ideal Once we achieve this was can start building a more ideal republic. (Smith, 2004)republic. (Smith, 2004)

In order to care-about issues in our society, we must first learn what it is like In order to care-about issues in our society, we must first learn what it is like to be cared-for then we learn to care-for others and finally to care about to be cared-for then we learn to care-for others and finally to care about others.others.(Smith, 2004)(Smith, 2004)

Noddings RecommendationsNoddings Recommendations

Noddings believes that first we need to state that our main aim of Noddings believes that first we need to state that our main aim of education is to produce competent, caring peopleeducation is to produce competent, caring people

Take care of affiliative needs -keep students and teachers together Take care of affiliative needs -keep students and teachers together more than one yearmore than one year

Relax the impulse to control – give teachers, students, and parents Relax the impulse to control – give teachers, students, and parents more room to experiment, then learn from this.more room to experiment, then learn from this.

Provide excellent, enriching programs for all children – college and Provide excellent, enriching programs for all children – college and non-college boundnon-college bound

Give part of everyday to themes of careGive part of everyday to themes of care

Teach By Example!!Teach By Example!!

Modeling~ this is showing through your own behavior what it means to care. It is demonstrated in our relations with our students.Dialogue~ engaging in conversation about caring and exploring all the different ways it can be manifested. As we care about others the feedback we get from the recipients of our care help us to evaluate our own attempts to care. Practice~ Nel Noddings (1998: 191) argues that the experiences in which we immerse ourselves tend to produce a ‘mentality’. ‘If we want to produce people who will care for another, then it makes sense to give students practice in caring and reflection on that practice’.  Confirmation~ Confirmation is affirming and encouraging the best in others. Confirmation involves trust and continuity. One must know the person they are confirming and the person my see the confirmer as credible and trustworthy.

Nel Noddings poses five questions to encourage educators to think about curriculum in new ways.

1. How is caring an essential part of teaching?2. Why is it important to teach children to care?3. How can caring be incorporated into the

curriculum?4. Are some subject areas better suited than

others for teaching themes of caring?5. What might a curriculum that included

themes of caring look like and how would itbe implemented?

? ? ? ? ?

BibliographyBibliography

Bergman, R. (2004). Caring for the ethical ideal: Nel Noddings on Moral Bergman, R. (2004). Caring for the ethical ideal: Nel Noddings on Moral Education. Education. Journal of Moral EducationJournal of Moral Education, , 3333(2), 149-161.(2), 149-161.Smith, M. K. (2004). Smith, M. K. (2004). Nel Noddings, the ethics of care and education.Nel Noddings, the ethics of care and education. Retrieved Jan. 10, 2005, from Retrieved Jan. 10, 2005, from http://www.infed.org/thinkers/noddings.htmhttp://www.infed.org/thinkers/noddings.htm..Noddings, N. (1997). Noddings, N. (1997). A morally defensible mission for schools in the 21st A morally defensible mission for schools in the 21st century.century. Retrieved Jan. 10, 2005, from Retrieved Jan. 10, 2005, from http://edweb.sdsu.edu/people/Dkitchen/TE652/noddings.htmhttp://edweb.sdsu.edu/people/Dkitchen/TE652/noddings.htmNoddings, Nel (1999) 'Two concepts of caring', Noddings, Nel (1999) 'Two concepts of caring', Philosophy of EducationPhilosophy of Education. . Retrieved January 10, 2005, from Retrieved January 10, 2005, from http://www.ed.uiuc.edu/EPS/PES-yearbook/1999/noddings.asphttp://www.ed.uiuc.edu/EPS/PES-yearbook/1999/noddings.asp. . O'Toole, K. (1998) 'Noddings: To know what matters to you, observe your O'Toole, K. (1998) 'Noddings: To know what matters to you, observe your actions', actions', fxStanford Online Report, fxStanford Online Report, February 4, 1998. February 4, 1998. http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/1998/february4/noddings.htmlhttp://news-service.stanford.edu/news/1998/february4/noddings.html