Should morality be included in the curriculum of America's public high schools (See Details)?

Question

If we as a society were to agree that morality, or a criteria for making moral decisions is to be taught in America's public high schools,

whose morality or criteria do we teach?

Are we as a society able to agree on which morality and criteria to make moral decisions would be included in this class?

Answer 1

Shouldn't that be taught at home? It's unfortunate that it doesn't always happen, but that doesn't mean our education system should be picking up the slack.

Answer 2

Tricky question. Morality is always a balancing act, depending of course on what mores you are discussing. Most people would agree that Murder is immoral, although killing may not be ie: self defence. Morals such as these can and should be taught. The danger is the concept of immorality as it pertains to a persons identity. The Christian Powers in the U.S. don't see morality as simply a societal construct, they see it as a tool, or more to the point, a weapon on which wage war against those whom they declare to be immoral. It is one thing to say the ten commandments are a moral compass, which I believe they are, however it is quite another to cherry pick other parts of the Bible, Torah or Koran to suit biases which are not entirely legitimate to arguing morality. One man's morality is another man's bane. As you ask, which one do we choose, which are discarded and which are left to such interpretation that no one can agree. Tricky indeed.

Answer 3

To a point. The main source of this should be the parents.

We should teach the ones that the vast majority agree on, and teach an ethics frame work that enables you to make moral decisions. There are plenty of philosophical methods that could be taught that wouldn't offend anyone's religion or lack of it.

Answer 4

Love, Truth, Harmony, Unity...this is the basis of all moral code.

From when a child starts school (high school is too late), this should be fostered and adults should show by example.

But then there is all the counter 'programming'...the government - it is ok to hate and kill out enemies, society - there are those on top and those that are not and he who has the most wins, religion - only we are correct and the rest of the world is separate from us; etc, etc, etc.

~ Eric Putkonen

Answer 5

You sort of answered your own question. I agree that morality should be taught in schools, but who's morality do we teach. I personally want the morals of the Bible taught, but because we live in a place where "Religion" is not allowed in schools we can't choose certain moral beliefs either. All we can express is to obey the laws.

Answer 6

Moral is relative, it would cause a lot of fighting among the people, especially those that cannot agree on morality, i mean christians cant even agree on things that matter to them, so what makes you think morality will be any different?

Answer 7

I think the topic of what morality is and where it comes from should be taught. But specific rights and wrongs are not an academic pursuit and should not be taught in school, but rather at home.

Answer 8

I am currently raising an 11 year old who was taught lap dancing and sexual fondling in her home and it would be so much easier for me if the school was teaching good Christian morals but, alas, I do not think all parents would agree on what those morals even are, let alone how to teach them. God says in the Bible that we should instruct our children about God's word "when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up. And you must tie them as a sign upon your hand and they must serve as a frontlet band between your eyes and you must write them upon the doorposts of your house and on your gates." In other words, as parents, God says it is our responsibility to teach them constantly--it should not be done in school.

Answer 9

Morality has been taken out of the classroom for a couple generations now.

See: fact vs. values distinction

Answer 10

How can we teach morality AND teach that we are accidents of nature? We'd have to teach that there is in fact a moral standard before can teach children to follow it.