Who's Teaching Ethics These Days?

Ahhhhh, Sunday morning.  I'm sitting here with my coffee, reading blogs and scanning the news.  In the background the TV is on Primetime:  What Would You Do?  Of course, my visual learning style takes over and I start watching the show.  The show sets up scenarios where someone is treated inhumanly or is in trouble and watches the public as they wander by............more than not, people do wander by instead of stopping. 

And then the light bulb goes off.  Who is talking to children about these things?  Who is talking to them about ethics and morals?

At our school we have character words of the month.  We do Words of Wisdom over the intercom.  We have a Code of Conduct.  But is that enough?

I don't think it is.  These things superficially cover character and helps to shape children's character.  However, these traditions do not allow children to discuss ideas, discuss how to act, and think about ethical situations.  We need to make sure that children can experience ethics and morals.

These days parents are working many hours per week.  Many families do not raise children in the church.  If ethics are not being discussed in the home, is it not our duty to make sure that children learn about ethics at school?

Let's add one more thing to our already busy day.  As we plan authentic experiences for our children, we must incorporate ethics and morals. 

"A man without ethics is a wild beast loosed upon this world."

-Albert Camus