More than 50 Horry County fifth-graders have been chosen to participate in the fourth Summer Ethics Academy for Jackson Family Junior Scholars, sponsored by Coastal Carolina University's Jackson Family Center for Ethics and Values. The camp seeks to foster students' moral development and sense of moral responsibility.

Two, five-day sessions of camps are scheduled, one July 14 to 18 for Conway and Socastee schools and July 21 to 25 for Carolina Forest, Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach schools. Renée Smith and Julinna Oxley, both assistant professors of philosophy at Coastal, are co-directing the Summer Ethics Academy.

Camp activities include discussions and games involving the use of moral principles, the resolution of ethical dilemmas, and sessions on topics such as lying, violence, bullying and the Golden Rule. There is also time for recreational activities, and the students will make a final presentation on the essential features of moral decision-making and moral responsibility.

Elementary schools that are represented at the July 16 to 19 camp include Conway, Forestbrook, Homewood, Kingston, Myrtle Beach, Socastee, North Myrtle Beach, Pee Dee, Lakewood, South Conway and Palmetto Bays. Schools at the second camp include Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach Intermediate, Seaside, Carolina Forest, Ocean Bay and Waccamaw elementary schools.

The students were chosen by their teachers and principals based on the following criteria: advancement to the sixth grade; well-developed social and communication skills; the potential to serve as a role model to their peers; and an interest in attending the summer academy. The camp will be co-instructed by Coastal students. Each of the CCU student assistants has completed course work in ethics, and many of them are Jackson Scholars completing a program of study in ethics. The Jackson scholars attend two years of ethical leadership studies, complete an ethics-based internship, assist during the Summer Ethics Academy and prepare an annual report for the Jackson Family.

The Jackson Family Center for Ethics and Values was founded by Nelson and Mary Emily Platt Jackson to cultivate and promote the importance of personal and professional integrity. In addition to sponsoring the Summer Ethics Academy each year, the center sponsors scholarships and visiting scholars and holds public discussion forums on ethical issues.

For more information, contact Smith at 349-2083 or rsmith@coastal.edu or the Jackson Family Center for Ethics and Values at 349-4149 (jacksoncenter@coastal.edu). The center's Web page can be found at www.coastal.edu/jacksoncenter.