Headline "Why dont we teach children morality?"

[GabbyLoggon]

Todays Daily Mail

I thought we did teach our children morality.

There may be differences of opinion on
what is moral.

also how much influence parents and teachers can have with particular age groups.

"Gabby"

GrimmaTheNome - fairly silly post, wasn't it?

DM readers have their own views on what is right and wrong, as do you.

What makes yours correct and theirs wrong?

Your 'tolerance' doesn't seem to extend to them, does it?

It would be fantastic to teach our children morality in the way that, for example, French schools teach children about morality as part of a broader grounding in philosophy, i.e. effectively ethics. Don't quite think this is what the DM is driving at though...

Although the laws we have reflect society's norms and values- for instance, it's not because it's illegal that we don't go around killing one another; it's illegal because we deem it to be wrong.

I agree with much of what you are saying, pascoe; but I think to separate state, law and morality is problematic.

cestlavie - as a philosophy graduate, I completely agree with you!

I think the 'purer' the ethics, the better - the more you enter into 'applied' ethics, you get more opportunity for teachers to indoctrinate their pupils.

It was in response to a fairly silly headline.

You seem to have read an awful lot into a very short post!

I also think philosophy should be taught in schools- having taught it myself for a short time, it was incredibly effective in allowing children to form, rationalise and debate their own moral standpoints.

me too Tether. I like philosophy "Gabby"

The Citizenship my yr 7 is doing appears to have quite a lot of morality about it. I don't remember anything like it when I was a t school. The RE now is also broader and more thoughtful than back then (IME).

Philosophy and ethics would be good though.

we do
they are nobs

~gabby~

I would prefer pupils be given the 'tools' to help them make their own choices about right and wrong...rather than having the views of some teacher forced upon them.

ah no
all teachers force morality on kids
the same morality

adn actively discourage independent thought

#sigh

Hoorah! We find ourselves agreeing with the DM, even if only in letter rather than sentiment...

I would prefer pupils be given the 'tools' to help them make their own choices about right and wrong...rather than having the views of some teacher forced upon them.

Definitely!
As with religion, so with morality in general.

icod

why is "gabby" always in speech marks?

Its just his style. He likes signing himself off, but as its not his actual name he quotes it.

I think the 'good old days' nostalgia of people living 'decent' lives is all bollocks tbh.
-What morals were you teaching your child when you beat the shit out your wife and she stayed because she was expected to?
-What about shunning those of different colours or religions? Would we still like to pass that one?
-What about knowing your place and being happy with it, never showing any ambition to better yourself?

I wouldn't want to go back 50yrs. People were no less nasty or promiscuous; No less cruel. It was all just far less public than it is now esp in an age of instant media. The 50s were not all Darling Buds of May.

Our household morals are petty much, kindness, respect and tolerance. I feel far better placed to encourage that now than I would have been 50yrs ago.