Moral values of generation Z students in general education schools of Lithuania and Latvia

ENIn the beginning of the 21st century there has been an increased interest in the generation theory created by W. Strauss and N. Howe, which has served as an impetus for new research on contemporary children and learners. Teachers have also understood that usual methods cannot be used teaching today’s children and that they have to look for new ones. The answers to the most urgent problems of concern to teachers have been found in the generation theory by the abovementioned authors. The bigger interest in the analysed problem in Lithuania is evidenced by the extent and volume of research. The research on the issue in question has been scarce in Latvia, therefore the authors of the article have come up with the idea to carry out a pilot study in that country. The main goal of the study was to identify the moral values characteristic of generation Z learners in Lithuania and Latvia. The research on moral values in Lithuania was conducted in the period from 2014 to 2015 and the situation was investigated in Latvia in 2016. The sample of the research in Lithuania embraced 374 students and 39 teachers, whereas that in Latvia equalled 114 school learners. The interviews with social pedagogues, a special education teacher and a psychologist were also carried out. The data acquired during the research revealed the moral values, which are considered to be significant and the extent to which school students are able to justify the significance of the indicated values. Key words: general education school, generation Z, manifestations of values, moral values. [From the publication]