FAQs

What do the ratings mean?

For each ethical component, there are a maximum of 5 stars and 5 zeroes. Each component is assessed by 10 questions about positive ethics and 10 questions about negative ethics. The scores on these questions are averaged across raters to create the final number of stars and minuses. Some stories have no positives and therefore get no stars. Some stories have no negatives and there get no zeroes.

Who are the raters?

The raters for this demonstration site were adult community volunteers who were trained to use RECS.

How are the ratings done?

As raters answer the questions, they think about the main characters in the story and about the overall thrust of the story. If characters change morally, they rate them on how characters were at the end of the story. Because RECS rates the stories for what they can teach children, raters try not to make assumptions about thoughts or actions that were not explicitly in the story, paying attention to what characters say and do.

How was the set of RECS books selected?

For the demonstration website, we had raters judge Caldecott Award-winning books and K-8 books from the Indiana reading list, a K-12 supplemental reading list that teachers use for materials beyond the curriculum.

How should I use the RECS rating?

Use it as a guideline for selecting books that you think will help your child/student (or yourself if you are a child) develop more in the ethical skills for which the book gets a high rating.

Why do some award-winning books get low ratings?

RECS rates the visibility of the four ethical components in the story. Some award winning books are not about social relationships and so don’t have much for RECS to rate.

What is the future of RECS?

We are using this demonstration website to garner interest for funding that would support the use of RECS for K-8 books and for G and PG movies, and for disseminating information about using RECS at home and at school.

How can I support RECS?

If you would like more information about the possibilities for supporting RECS, please contact us. We would be happy to meet with you.

What do RECS categories refer to—a glossary:

ETHICAL SENSITIVITY has to do with noticing the needs of others, caring about and listening to them.

ETHICAL JUDGMENT involves following the rules, thinking about doing the right thing and about how others might react to one’s actions.

ETHICAL FOCUS involves trying to be good, fulfilling promises, focusing one’s talents on good goals.

ETHICAL ACTION includes helping others, putting oneself at risk for others, trying to change situations that are unfair.

SELF-ENHANCEMENT means feeling good about who you are, striving for excellence.

PRUDENCE means self-focused , taking care of your own needs.

MORALITY means getting along with others, sharing the benefits and burdens of living cooperatively.

A SERIES OF EVENTS means there is no tension in the story, just a description of events.

HOW THINGS CAME ABOUT means the story is a descriptive of causes.

An IMAGINATIVE story uses fantasy in some fashion.

The SETTING of the story can be historical, contemporary, or ahistorical.

The GENRE of the story can be comedy, fantasy, cartoon/comic, mystery/suspense, action/adventure, horror/ghost story, satire, drama, tragedy, mythology/folktale, romance.

The CULTURAL HERITAGE of the story can be unknown, European, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, African, Middle Eastern, Caribbean, African American, Native American, North American, Australian or other.

MORAL REASONING can focus on one or more of the following (or none): Self-concern to avoid punishment or for personal gain, concern for relationships and for pleasing others and maintaining trust, concern for societal laws and order and duty, concern for fair process and keeping agreements.

If there is SPIRITUALITY OR RELIGION, it can be general monotheism, polytheism, magical thinking, Judeo-Christian, Islamic, eastern religion, nature or New Age religion, or other. Attitude toward religion or spirituality can be respectful, disrespectful, or ‘can’t say.’

If there are STEREOTYPES in the story, they can be male sex roles, female sex roles, age differences, social class, sexual orientation, ability, culture/ethnicity/nationality, outsider or other.

If there is VIOLENCE (physical)in the story it can be categorized as one scene briefly/ One scene, graphic and extensive/ More than one scene, but superficial/ More than one scene, extensive and graphic/ Lots of scenes, but superficial/ Lots of scenes, extensive and graphic.

VIOLENCE can be Strongly Graphic/ Moderately Graphic/ Graphic/ Not Graphic/ Left to the imagination. VIOLENCE can be presented as Humorous/Positive/Negative. VIOLENCE can be rewarded Always/Sometimes/Never.

HARM (psychological violence) to other living things can be Strongly Graphic/ Moderately Graphic/ Graphic/ Not Graphic/ Left to the imagination. HARM can be One scene, briefly/ One scene, graphic and extensive/ More than one scene, but superficial/ More than one scene, extensive and graphic/ Lots of scenes, but superficial/ Lots of scenes, extensive and graphic. HARM can be presented as humorous always, sometimes or never.

If there is CRUELTY in the story, it can be Strongly Graphic/ Moderately Graphic/ Graphic/ Not Graphic/ Left to the imagination. CRUELTY can be One scene, briefly/ One scene, graphic and extensive/ More than one scene, but superficial/ More than one scene, extensive and graphic/ Lots of scenes, but superficial/ Lots of scenes, extensive and graphic. CRUELTY can be presented as humorous always, sometimes or never.

If there is RUDENESS in the story, it can be Strongly Graphic/ Moderately Graphic/ Graphic/ Not Graphic/ Left to the imagination. RUDENESS can be One scene, briefly/ One scene, graphic and extensive/ More than one scene, but superficial/ More than one scene, extensive and graphic/ Lots of scenes, but superficial/ Lots of scenes, extensive and graphic. RUDENESS can be presented as humorous always, sometimes or never.

If there is SEXUAL CONTENT in the story, it can be Strongly Graphic/ Moderately Graphic/ Graphic/ Not Graphic/ Left to the imagination. SEXUAL CONTENT can be One scene, briefly/ One scene, graphic and extensive/ More than one scene, but superficial/ More than one scene, extensive and graphic/ Lots of scenes, but superficial/ Lots of scenes, extensive and graphic.

SEXUAL CONTENT can be presented as humorous always, sometimes or never. SEXUAL CONTENT can presented in a positive (e.g., committed relationship of love) or negative context.

If there is STRONG LANGUAGE in the story it can be Religious swearing / Scatological swearing /Sexual swearing / Derogatory and racial slurs. STRONG LANGUAGE in the story occurs in One scene, briefly/ One scene, graphic and extensive/ More than one scene, but superficial/ More than one scene, extensive and graphic/ Lots of scenes, but superficial/ Lots of scenes, extensive and graphic.

If there is IRONY in the story it can be appropriate or not and can (not) enhance the main point of the story.

VIRTUES

Relational virtues (require another person): courtesy, cooperation, generosity, graciousness, friendship, helpfulness, including others/inclusion, respect, love, forgiveness, altruism, compassion, humility, [thoughtfulness]

Self-constructive virtues (primarily have to do with the self, but also apply to other people): Self-discipline, hard work, strength, self confidence, courage, self control, prudence, persistence, frugalness, moderation

Civic virtues, community virtues, order virtues: social responsibility, ecological- care for the earth, tolerance, obedience, honest, trustworthy, citizenship, duty, loyalty

Higher order virtues/future-oriented virtues/strengths: wisdom, creativity, gratitude, reflection, fairness, optimism, hope, patience, faith, planning

VICES

Relational vices: unkindness, intolerance, excluding others/exclusion, arrogance, blame, bragging, cruelty, hatred, contempt, impatience, slander, grudges, thoughtlessness

Self primacy/immaturity vices: foolishness, undisciplined, reckless, impulsivity intemperate, cowardice, weakness, greed, ruthless, envy, jealousy, selfish, vanity, sloth, anger, wrath, obstinance

Civic vices: disloyalty, untrustworthiness, dishonesty, disobedience

Higher order vices: cynicism, not thinking of consequences, ecocide, unreflectiveness