primary (school) socialisation
 

Do schools have a duty to teach morals, or should it be down to parents/guardians?

quote:
Our youngsters are too often exposed to double standards – where bad behaviour and violence are publicly condemned but endlessly available as entertainment. As a result, schools are too often asked to make up for much wider failings within families and communities. Too often, children grow up without the family, cultural and community values they need to thrive."

Article:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/ed...-7584103.html#

Parents should teach their kids about the way the world is, school teaches the vital skills required to go ahead and be part of the world. Usually though school shapes how a child becomes

Morals and values should be part of a childs' make up prior to commencing primary school.

School is the place where they learn how to use those guidelines in the real world.

Of course parents need to teach their kids about morals, but I'd say there should be more of a focus on doing the same in schools, in order to make up for those parents who simply do not adhere to their duties as parents. Far too often kids go through schools with no morals and no values instilled in them at home, the same happens at school, and then they leave and I can only assume become either criminals, or just complete *******s.

Rather than teach RE, schools should have a lesson in ethics and morals, as stupid and as difficult as that they be or sound, it seems much more important to me.

Thing is they are not, in many schools kids are coming into full time education not toilet trained or able to correctly use a knife and fork.

Many moons ago they did, we were taught PSD (personal and social development) in high school (from 13+)
I strongly believe sociology should be taught from yr7+ too.

...well actually morals and ethics are taught in some schools...philosophy, dilemmas and problem solving...not just as a single lesson..but right across the curriculum...so really it's up to the schools to introduce this.
Tbh...I think the article is cr*p personally...of course parents play a large part at that age...as does the school...working together.a team..sounds naff but it can't work any other way.

Isn't it about parents and the schools working together? After all, a child spends five days a week with teachers who stand in loco parentis for the time the child is there. Just as schools can't be held responsible for inadequate parenting, neither can parents be held responsible for inadequate education. Therefore, it is a mutual task for parents and schools to instil moral values, discipline and social behaviour, but it can only work well when parents and schools are on the same page.

..that's exactly how it is Angus...good post

Which schools teach those subjects...Inner city state schools?
I agree that the schools do have a duty to reaffirm those values, high schools however may feel they are fighting a losing battle with regard to media influences.
And due to pressure to excel in exams to secure funding, do you think this takes precidence over the need to instil morals?

..you know what actually...I cba to talk about schools..I'm at one everyday of the week and that's enough...this thread is not for me

Reasoning of perfection as ever Angus, excellent post as Ammi added, this is how it should be done.

I agree 100%
Schools are not being supported by parents though in some areas, and the government are putting far too much pressure on schools to not only be educators but as a childs means of seconary socialisation teach a moral code too.
However they do not give schools the time or the funding to support this, heads are becoming the fall guys for a system that is not working.

the problem is that kids are having kids

Its not fair to say that, its not just the children of young parents who are affected.

i can say that if i want too,

Are you trying to suggest that a kid should be taught morals at the age of 4-5? :crazy:

I didn't say you couldn't say it.

Are you saying a 4-5yr old cannot understand the concept of right and wrong?
:crazy:

Morals is down to the individual, they either have them or they don't.

true,you said it was not fair to say that,but thats not my problem,
morals start at home,and in school you learn how to share,

I dont agree there, we have to be taught what is and is not acceptable in the society and culture we are born in to.
I do see where you are coming from though, the nature/nurture debate about inherant morals has been argued for years.

some people can be taught to be more moral people, but others are just born bad imo

You may have a point, there are those who believe the first 3 years of life are critical to social development. Past this point and its difficult to say if they will ever be capable of making correct choices in given situations.

It depends upon what kind of morals your talking about too, I mean not to open up pandora's box or anything but most people would agree that murder is wrong, but the same people are probably in favour of abortion