Teach moral values says expert

Voegelin · Oct 16, 2006

Gulf Daily News
By SOMAN BABY
Tuesday 17th October 2006

CHARACTER-building is dangerously neglected in today's education system, says a visiting Indian scientist and value education specialist . Education should include attitudes and values, since decisions must be value-based, said Dr George Samuel, a specialist in nuclear medicine and currently director of the Value Education Centre, based in Tiruvalla, Kerala.

"The knowledge of science and technology is on the increase day by day," he told the GDN. "The sad thing is that our character is not catching up with the technology . . .

http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=159064&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=29211

Ave Maria · Oct 17, 2006

Building character is one thing but building moral values is another. Schools should not be in the business of building moral values but should be in the business of building character. There is a difference in the two. Moral values are different among people in the United States.

Voegelin · Oct 17, 2006

HolyMary said:
Building character is one thing but building moral values is another. Schools should not be in the business of building moral values but should be in the business of building character. There is a difference in the two. Moral values are different among people in the United States.

That is the one over-riding moral lesson taught in American schools--morality is relative.

Aside from the fact morals, of a negative sort (both in the sense of what is taught and what is deemed unsuitable to be taught), are being taught in schools now, how is it possible to build character without morality? Or does this come back to relativism? Character is seeing there is no objective truth?

For over a century and a half, objective morality was taught in American schools. The current amoral (some would say immoral) agenda is an anomaly.

But to return to the OP. Pretty inspiring story isn't it? This professor lost so much but retained his faith. Some would have become embittered and withdrawn But he is out there helping others.

woman.at.the.well · Oct 17, 2006

Why is it the educational system's job to teach character OR morals? Shouldn't that be that parent's job?

Voegelin · Oct 17, 2006

Impossible to teach without conveying a moral message. What books are selected? Will Thomas Paine or John Adams, Julia Ward Howe or Betty Friedan be emphasized? Howard Zinn's history textbook is drenched in a collectivist secular message. The two million plus members of the NEA have agreed upon a moral vision they wish to and do impose in classrooms.

The question is not if but whose morals will be reflected in our schools.

woman.at.the.well · Oct 20, 2006

I've yet to see anyone's morals being taught to the students at our school. The NEA (as far as I can tell), in our school district -- not only doesn't have much of a say so in what goes on in the classroom but isn't very "popular" if you get my drift.

I understand where you are headed with this but what I find REALLY ironic is that schools first came about to teach children about God, the bible, ect. Now we can't even say "God" in schools or Jesus (God forbid) for sure! Now that is troubling.

Christian parents have a crucial role in raising their children. Part of that crucial role is to raise children who not only KNOW who God is but take part in Godly values, morals, AND ethics. If we, as Christian parents are doing our job right and setting good examples (not SAYING one thing and doing another) - then our children will know when bad material (e.g. books, ect) come their way . . . won't they! Maybe not in the younger years, but eventually they will understand and make the right decision.

tierajade · Oct 20, 2006

Woman.at.the.well - you are ABSOLUTELY right! Morals AND character should be taught BY THE PARENTS!!!

soblessed53 · Oct 20, 2006

I think the problem is no "stay-at-home" moms and these children are not being taught ANYTHING period,they are raising themselves!They watch what they want on filthy,unblocked cable,they read what they want,in essence today's parents are so busy chasing materialism,they could care-less about raising their kids that most didn't plan for anyway! They were irresponsible themselves with birth control,and planning their future,and they are still irresponsible.Their kids will be even worse.

Stinker · Oct 21, 2006

80% of parents are not both working to have more possessions. They are both working to keep a roof over their family.

This is the result of letting the greedy bell ringers of the Stock Exchange have their way with our (now their) politicians.

soblessed53 · Oct 22, 2006

Stinker said:
80% of parents are not both working to have more possessions. They are both working to keep a roof over their family.

This is the result of letting the greedy bell ringers of the Stock Exchange have their way with our (now their) politicians.

As a wife who was NEVER employed, and mother of a daughter who is a stay-at-home-mom, both of us homeowners, I say this is 100% MALARKY! All the working wives, I know are NOT working because they must, but because they want more, or fancier STUFF,and because they do not want to stay home with their children!

BTW schools teach the exact opposite of moral character,they teach absolute moral ambiguity,that there is no right or wrong,therefore no blame,and similar hogwash!

Voegelin · Oct 22, 2006

woman.at.the.well said:
I've yet to see anyone's morals being taught to the students at our school. The NEA (as far as I can tell), in our school district -- not only doesn't have much of a say so in what goes on in the classroom but isn't very "popular" if you get my drift.

I understand where you are headed with this but what I find REALLY ironic is that schools first came about to teach children about God, the bible, ect. Now we can't even say "God" in schools or Jesus (God forbid) for sure! Now that is troubling.

Sure is. Goes back to my point above. Moral lessons are not always commands or injunctions. They can be exclusions. What isn't mentioned sends a moral message. It is a profound moral statement to declare that God and the Bible not be allowed in public schools.

It says, OK, you can have your religion, you can believe in God, but religion is not of upmost importance and has no place in an institution in which nearly every person in America will spend 180 days a year for twelve years.

The NEA doesn't have to preach its full agenda in classrooms. It can promote its ideology by exclusion. The NEA resolutions make it very clear that the union wants faith out of education. And it, along with NEA allies such as PFAW and the ACLU, has done exactly that.

Ringo84 · Oct 22, 2006

The problem with that is the fact that no one has ever said that prayer and Bible can't be in public schools.
Ringo

tierajade · Oct 24, 2006

soblessed53 said:
As a wife who was NEVER employed, and mother of a daughter who is a stay-at-home-mom, both of us homeowners, I say this is 100% MALARKY! All the working wives, I know are NOT working because they must, but because they want more, or fancier STUFF,and because they do not want to stay home with their children!

BTW schools teach the exact opposite of moral character,they teach absolute moral ambiguity,that there is no right or wrong,therefore no blame,and similar hogwash!

My husband and I are godparents but have no children of our own yet. So, I'm asking this in advance:

soblessed53 - HOW do you do it? My hubby makes $16/hour and if I stayed home that would be $11/hour less coming in each month. We make ends meet now but with only a hundred or so cushion - if I stopped working (when we have kids and their added expense), how exactly would we make bills?

woman.at.the.well · Oct 25, 2006

Voegelin said:
Sure is. Goes back to my point above. Moral lessons are not always commands or injunctions. They can be exclusions. What isn't mentioned sends a moral message. It is a profound moral statement to declare that God and the Bible not be allowed in public schools.

It says, OK, you can have your religion, you can believe in God, but religion is not of upmost importance and has no place in an institution in which nearly every person in America will spend 180 days a year for twelve years.

The NEA doesn't have to preach its full agenda in classrooms. It can promote its ideology by exclusion. The NEA resolutions make it very clear that the union wants faith out of education. And it, along with NEA allies such as PFAW and the ACLU, has done exactly that.

In the good ole U.S. of A. we DO have educational choices. So, my suggestion would be as a public school employee)to get more Christian schools accessible where our Christian values can be learned. OR . . . one can always homeschool . I really wish Bush's voucher idea would have gone somewhere.

Stinker · Oct 26, 2006

I would like to know at least what the first 20 moral values that this scientist thinks should be taught to students.

Christianty triumphs in the moral values arena because of the accountability teaching. That even if you know that you could get away with something because no human will be able to find out, God will always know.

Like C.S. Lewis said in his book Mere Christianty teaching someone to be moral without God (abiding by just society's rules) would be like teaching them the game of Football alone. Not why the game is being played.

Teaching someone to always do the morally right things (without God) might work till the person gets tired of seeing others 'get ahead' by constantly doing the morally wrong things.

marke · Nov 6, 2006

Stinker said:
80% of parents are not both working to have more possessions. They are both working to keep a roof over their family.

This is the result of letting the greedy bell ringers of the Stock Exchange have their way with our (now their) politicians.

Family values, right. How come it is the democrates who are fighting to save programs that help the poor.

If the republicans even gave a thought to the plight of the poor, they would have raised the minimum wage years ago. Instead they write into law that Medicare can't negotiate with drug companies for better prices and insure credit card and oil companies can squeeze Americans without oversight. These are Christians? We're told you will know them by their fruit and their fruit is poison.

God Bless.

Maynard Keenan · Nov 6, 2006

Stinker said:
I would like to know at least what the first 20 moral values that this scientist thinks should be taught to students.

Christianty triumphs in the moral values arena because of the accountability teaching. That even if you know that you could get away with something because no human will be able to find out, God will always know.

Like C.S. Lewis said in his book Mere Christianty teaching someone to be moral without God (abiding by just society's rules) would be like teaching them the game of Football alone. Not why the game is being played.

Teaching someone to always do the morally right things (without God) might work till the person gets tired of seeing others 'get ahead' by constantly doing the morally wrong things.

It is a shallow and childish morality that can not stand without the promise of reward or the threat of punishment.

christianmomma · Nov 6, 2006

That is why my daughter will be taught at home. I believe it IS my job to teach her not only the basics, but morals and values as well.

christianmomma · Nov 6, 2006

tierajade said:
My husband and I are godparents but have no children of our own yet. So, I'm asking this in advance:

soblessed53 - HOW do you do it? My hubby makes $16/hour and if I stayed home that would be $11/hour less coming in each month. We make ends meet now but with only a hundred or so cushion - if I stopped working (when we have kids and their added expense), how exactly would we make bills?

my DH makes $17 an hour, I don't work and we have one child. It is possible

Sennaria · Nov 6, 2006

marke said:
Family values, right. How come it is the democrates who are fighting to save programs that help the poor.

If the republicans even gave a thought to the plight of the poor, they would have raised the minimum wage years ago. Instead they write into law that Medicare can't negotiate with drug companies for better prices and insure credit card and oil companies can squeeze Americans without oversight. These are Christians? We're told you will know them by their fruit and their fruit is poison.

God Bless.

Who ever said it was the governments job to help the poor? Is that not our job as Christians?? Is it not up to us and our churches to help the poor? Why do people anymore look to the government for the help that they should be looking up to God and his people for? (And yeah, I know this has been building for decades and decades and up to centuries).

As for the increase in the minimum wage? I'm a small business owner, ask most of us, and if that got increased, we wouldn't be able to hire as many people, thus more people would be without work at all! And as my business is new, don't even think I'm rich, my employees make more money than I do right now. I treat them very very fair!

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