Monday 10 November 2014

Moral Development - Get it at Home or in School?

Hello world, how is everything going? I feel very uncomfortable because the weather here is terribly hot, worse; power supply has been as good as absent in the past few weeks. It is so frustrating. I would have thought that with the elections coming soon, there'll be an effort, even just for show, to improve the electricity/power distribution in the country. Unfortunately, the reverse is the case. I'm so upset, I'm going off point. Forgive me, please. I want to talk about something very different. Today, while in a cab, I was listening to the radio and there was a mention about schools being the place to infuse good morals in children and then a co-passenger objected saying that parents expecting the schools to do their work is just nonsense. Well, what do you think?


I'll tell you what I think. I think that both the home and the school should be places where children gain knowledge of good and bad and where good morals should be built in children. I do believe that the primary place for learning good morals is the home but I also believe that in this day and time, it is very difficult for a child to turn out good with only the training they receive at home. Let me try to explain. The children spend hours daily, many days a week in school and see their parents only when they get home, some don't get to see them till late at night. The parents hardly have the time to sit their children down and talk to them, many parents believe that children should just know some things, (stupid thinking I must say). Some children are kept in school for the entire school session and only return home for the holidays. They practically live most of their lives in school, How do you expect them to believe that something they've been doing (which is bad) all through their stay in school and getting away with, is bad just because a parent says so? 

In school, children mix up with different kids of various backgrounds and upbringing. It is very easy to be influenced in school. Even adults get influenced when mixed up with the wrong kind. The school may not be the ones with the primary responsibility of morally developing the kids. However, it is their duty to ensure that the kids portray good moral characters while under their care at least. Parents can do all they can and still get their kids influenced negatively in school, are they expected to keep changing schools or start home schooling? Any good school should have the kids' best interests at heart. They are to educate them, train them, discipline them and help develop them to become excellent people in the society. 

I actually believe that everyone should see it as a social responsibility to correct whatever wrong they see in children as it happens. You can see a child violently hitting another child, you can stop that child and tell him it is wrong. You may not be able to punish the child because you are not the parent and don't have the right to do so, but do what you can. I remember when growing up, our neighbors (parents) could call you and talk to you, some could punish you along with their children for doing wrong while others could simply report you to your parents. I believe this was done because they cared. It is for the good of the society. I have said many times that our society today, is as a result of the training the adults and leaders received while growing up. There are many influences in the world but if the people see that bad behavior has real consequences, I do believe that immorality, corruption and all other evil vices will be curbed on a major level. Of course there will still be die hard evil doers but I believe the majority of people will do what is right. Humans generally like themselves, if the consequence for a wrong deed is hard enough, and is carried out to the letter, more people will behave themselves and if these people who behave themselves are placed in different power positions, they will ensure that everyone does right too and I'll have light in my house, okay okay, off the point again.

In summary, I believe that everywhere should be a place for good moral development in children. The home with the primary responsibility, the school coming closely behind and all of us are to follow. Parents should learn to talk to their kids, tell them to tell you about their day. You may hear something their friend did which they think is cool but which is utterly wrong. We should learn to be our brothers' keepers. If you don't, you or yours may be a victim of one who grew with no moral values. Let's all help make our world a better place starting with us doing what's right.

That's my two cents, please share yours at the comment section. Lots of love, as always.

2 comments:

  1. My dear,i must commend u.good job u are doing here.It's actually every one's job to train up our kids.It's important today for groups like FCS,NIFES,etc to be established in our schools,especially in this age of students staying in school all through the session.That's why during graduation,a student is said to have been found worthy in character and in learning.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks very much. I totally agree. I'm thankful for such groups, they help to keep the kids in check.

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