Earlier this year the chairman of the Independent Schools Association, Richard Walden, said that “too many amoral children” were being turned out by State schools. His view was based on a belief that teachers are so focused on results that they have no time to teach children basic values.
Whilst head teachers of State schools didn’t agree with him one has to wonder what is going on within the state education system when a ‘Traffic Light Tool’ produced by Brook (a sexual health service) has been sent to all schools as official guidance to teachers.
I have to admit to being rendered speechless when I read that teachers should consider that it’s normal for 13 year olds to be having sex, not least because it is actually illegal in the UK. However it seems that Nick Clegg among other ministers has endorsed the online resource. The detail of this guidance can be seen in the graphic below.
Moral virtues are necessary to live harmoniously in society
Most teachers, educational thinkers, child behavioural therapists, family coaches and parents believe that at the moment children are born they are helpless and require adults to care for and guide them up to the end of their teens and sometimes longer. Children need to be taught how to live harmoniously in society since it is not a trait they are born with. Schools throughout history have been charged with developing intellectual abilities of children as well as moral virtues which include:
- Honesty
- Responsibility
- Respect for others
If it is a fact that teachers in state schools don’t have the time to teach moral virtues then somehow we have to make sure that our children have a moral compass and I don’t think that this can be achieved with the Brook online ‘Traffic Light Tool’. It seems that I am not alone in my thinking as will be seen on this link
Are parents too busy to teach their children moral virtues?
Many years ago when husbands went out to work and wives stayed home to take care of the children, mothers often provided the necessary moral compass but nowadays things are very different. Both parents often work and have limited time to spend with their children. The time that is spent tends to be interrupted with the rush in getting home, cooking a meal, ensuring the children have done their homework and getting them ready for bed; by which time the parents are exhausted.
So what can we do to ensure that our children know the difference between right and wrong and grow into responsible, well rounded adults? One way is to ask precisely what the school is doing in terms of moral education, what your children are being taught and how it is being delivered.
Invest in Etiquette Classes for Children
Another way is to invest in Etiquette Classes for children that include social skills and acceptable standards of behaviour. Since Etiquette Classes are taught exclusively and not as part of a curriculum your child will learn outside of the school environment and naturally develop that all important moral compass, as he or she progresses through each module.
Amoral children create stress, worry and problems not only for themselves but also for everyone they come into contact with. Etiquette Classes are an excellent investment in your child’s future. For more information don’t hesitate to contact me either by telephone or completing our online form.
Your Family Coach
