23. The speaker asserts that schools should teach only academic skills, and not ethical
or social values. I agree with the speaker insofar as instruction on certain moral issues is
best left to parents and churches. However, in my view it is in the best interests of a
democratic society for schools to teach at least the values necessary to preserve freedom
and a democratic way of life, and perhaps ever) additional values that enrich and nurture
a society and its members.
We all have in interest in preserving our freedom and democratic way of life- At
the very least, then, schools should provide instruction in the ethical and social values
required for our democracy to survive―particularly the values of respect and tolerance.
Respect for individual persons is a basic ethical value that requires us to acknowledge
the fundamental equality of all people, a tenet of a democratic society. Tolerance of
differences among individuals and their viewpoints is required to actualize many of our
basic constitutional rights―including life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, and freedom of
speech and religion.
While respect and tolerance are the minimal values that schools should teach, the
list should ideally go further―to include caring, compassion, and willingness to help
one another. A democracy might survive without these values, but it would not thrive.
Respect and tolerance without compassion, it seems to me, breed a cool aloofness that
undermines our humanity, and leaves those in the worst position to suffer more and
suffer alone―an unhealthy state for any society.
Admittedly, schools should avoid advocating particular viewpoints on
controversial moral issues such as abortion or capital punishment. Instruction on issues
with clear spiritual or religious implications is best left to parents and churches. Even so,
schools should teach students how to approach these kinds of issues―by helping
students to recognize their complexity and to clarify competing points of view. In doing
so, schools can help breed citizens who approach controversy in the rational and
responsible ways characteristic of a healthy democracy.
In sum, schools should by all means refrain from indoctrinating our young people
with particular viewpoint on controversial questions of morality. However, it is in a
democratic societys interest for schools to inculcate the democratic values of respect
and tolerance, and perhaps even additional values that humanize and enrich a society.