The moral dilemma in our schools

Below is a quote from a book by Leo Buscaglia written by a school principal who had been a prisoner of war in a German concentration camp:

“I am a survivor of a concentration camp. My eyes saw what no person should witness. Gas chambers built by learned engineers. Children poisoned by educated physicians. Infants killed by trained nurses. Women and babies shot and killed by high school and college graduates. So I’m suspicious of education. My request is: help your students to be human. Your efforts must never produce learned monsters, skilled psychopaths, or educated Eichmanns.

Reading and writing and spelling and history and arithmetic are only important if they serve to make our students human.”

The core problem facing our schools today is a moral one. All other problems derive from it. Hence all attempts at school reform are unlikely to succeed unless character education is put at the top of the agenda. We teach English, math, history, science, but fail miserably in teaching individuals how to be human beings. Teaching facts is an automatic chore, but working with children to learn is an art.

The qualities that make up good character are learned, not instinctive traits. Children have to be taught love, honesty, truth, responsibility, respect, self-discipline, courage, justice, pride, loyalty, civic duty. We must also teach high self-esteem. In all their studies, character education must come first.

Parents and schools working together are the main engines of social change. Both set the tone of society in ways no other influences can. In the home, the child learns the basic moral values and then practices them in the school. Schools basically are social institutions. It is here that the child gets to practice and sharpen his traits for developing good character among his peers. The school must offer the proper environment.

Sadly, too often the school is left to do this all important function by itself. It is expected to teach the basic virtues when parents fail to do this. Because parents are the first educators, it is time that schools change the thrust of their educational efforts towards parents. Schools must begin a definite drive towards the home to awaken parents to the need of their assistance in educating their child both in academics and in character. Schools must reach out in continuing campaigns to show parents the exact role that is expected of them. For example, parents must realize that values, attitudes, and basic school readiness are the things parents should prioritize in the learning process of their children.

For many parents, involvement in the PTA means acting as volunteers for fund raising, and school functions. Though important, t