It's important to improve moral education from the viewpoint of what is necessary to foster children's social morality.
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Prime Minister Ｓｈｉｎｚｏ Ａｂｅ. The government’s panel on revitalizing the nation’s education system has decided to call on the government to make morals a regular subject in schools. (Yomiuri Shimbun)
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15 Comments
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7
sillygirl
It would be nice if those in power in Japan set a good example of moral behavior but as it stands that is certainly not true.
1
volland
That is really good one..... Abe about teaching morality.
-1
ChibaChick
Yeah, I have a feeling Abes idea of what constitutes "social morality" is somewhat different to other peoples.
Morals already IS a regular subject in schools, at least the first two years.
1
Probie
This? From a guy who refuses to accept that comfort women existed?
-1
semperfi
Values Education has long been an inetgral part of the academic package in most education systems in developed countries. . . .......................Certainly it is imperative to include it in the education curriculum here, if we want kids to help shape a humane society.
2
dcog9065
I can't help but think that the "social morality" that he talks about is the sort of entrenched morals he and his generation have hardwired into their brains, and not necessarily progressive social morality that would be more applicable to today's world.
1
illsayit
beyond the 10 commandments what is there that isnt dictatorial in nature?
0
Frungy
I'd rather see "critical thinking" as a course. Teaching "morals" is fine for very little children, but by the time children reach their teens they're questioning everything, and if they haven't been taught how to think through the issues, consider the consequences, consider the position of others, and realise that those morals are there for a very good reason then they'll mindlessly rebell against those "morals" they were taught.
No moral education. Teach people how to think and 99% of the time they'll make the right decision, not because someone is telling them to do it, but because they realise that it is in their own best interests and the best interests of those that they care about. The remaining 1% of the time, when they do the wrong thing, they'll be doing so knowing the full consequences of their actions, and any punishment they receive will be well deserved.
0
GW
OK abe, then time for you to go back to school & hit the books because you got plenty to learn.
-2
tmarie
Interesting. I always thought moral education was a parent's job. Mind you, not like most parents nor society actually have the morals to pass along to the youth of today based on the cheating rates, the bullying, power harassment, sexual harassment, corruption... What exactly DOES Abe think needs to be taught? Standing up, singing Kimigayo and denying all the horrible things Japan has done in its past? Yes, some fine moral education there...
-1
tmarie
Frungy, while I agree with you, it will never happen. If Japan taught folks to think for themselves, the government wouldn't be able to get away with what they do!
1
mountainpear
They'd better start with the teachers...
2
Steve Christian
Morals. What people don't ever seem to realize is that there are lots of conflicting morals and no standard set.
I am going to guess that the politicians are going to favor the morals that make people puppets for authority.
For example, some people say Robin Hood was an immoral thief. Others say he was highly moral, because the rich started it by first stealing from the poor with a corrupt and immoral system. Do you think the morals chosen by the government will declare that there is a point where it must be realized that some laws and rules are being perverted or made by the corrupt to serve the corrupt and that at that point the people have a moral right to stand up against the corrupt?
And I have to wonder how this morals class will pan out between politicians who tend to have too few, and teachers who tend to have too many. I envision less of a balanced set in the compromise, and more of a garbled incoherent mess of moral rules that impart no thought or direction. In fact, I think Japan is already mired in such a system where the people obey the law and police and politicians without question and Japan is becoming a directionless, thoughtless and boring place because of it. And the police and politicians are only getting more corrupt.
0
Fadamor
The Taliban is all about teaching "social morality" as well. I wonder if that's where PM Abe is getting his advice from?
0
Safeer Ahmad
Fortunately for countries like Japan, 'progressive form of morality' has been implemented and tried in (specially) America. They are crying over their losses. Their society has become, and is rushing towards oblivion, like many other societies who have acquired the same creed.
Until Man evolves into something other than what he is now - a human - the morals will remain what Confucius, Jesus, Moses, Muhammad and others from The Creator taught. Nations have always progressed by following these guides, and fallen when they sought to change what they had been taught.
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