Most parents do not address the issue of moral development of their children in any special way either from not knowing what to do, or because they think they don’t have the time. In most cases at best, an environment based on traditional beliefs and practices is created within the household with the hope that children will 'catch' the appropriate values by themselves. But this does not happen all the time! How else do we explain our rapidly falling moral standards? Our society has seen sustained decline in its moral, ethical and cultural standards and values over the years. The problem is not so much the corruption, permissiveness and immorality that seem to abound all around. The greater problem is that we seem to be okay with them, and not inclined to do much about them. Not within the realm of education anyway! The onus is on schools to do something really effective in this area. Unfortunately, in most cases, the approach by most schools towards moral and value education has at best been a mechanical one without the seriousness and thoughtful consideration that it deserves. Isn’t it time for our schools to now take a new and hard look at the manner in which they currently address this indispensable area of education? The present crisis of increasing immorality presents schools with a great opportunity. But will they take it? Are they up to the challenge?

1. Payam Shoghi
http://payamshoghi.com/

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Corruption
Consumerism and materialism
Conflicts and violence based on gender, class,
caste, religion, regional ism, language, etc.
Fall in cultural and traditional values
Breakdown of family ties
Increasing permissiveness
Disease and addiction
Environmental degradation

3.  Political?
 Economic?
 Social?
or
 Moral?

4. Erosion of religious and moral values
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Unbridled materialism
Individualism and the pursuit of pleasure
Pervasive spirit of competition

5. An Education that stimulates all aspects
of human existence:
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Material – capabilities for
physical, academic, material and vocational
progress.
Human – new vision and keen intellect.
Moral – new heart that beats with the impulse
of strong moral and spiritual values.

6. Common problems that render moral
education programs mostly ineffective:
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Disagreement on a common set of values
A content-based approach
Disregard for related pedagogies
Untrained teachers
Not a priority with parents
Not a priority with most teachers and schools

7. Content
Need to. . .
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Carefully select appropriate content
Carefully identifying related pedagogies

8. Methodology
 An integrated approach-direct moral
education classes along with a ‘whole
school approach’
 A comprehensive approach-everybody in
a school is a moral education teacher
 Student-Centric Approach and
Cooperative Learning
 Service as a tool for moral development

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Parents and the family
Teachers and the school
the onus is on teachers and schools to help
future generations imbibe appropriate values in
a systematic and structured manner

10. Teachers:
 Give due importance to moral education
 Support structured programs
 Integrate values in what they teach
 Become role models; set high examples.
Schools:
 Train Teachers
 Structure well-conceived approaches
 Assess and evaluate for effectiveness.

11. Individual Transformation:
 Moral purpose in life
 Freedom from prejudices of all kinds
 Inner discipline
 Rectitude of conduct
Social Transformation
 Contributing to the betterment of society

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Current situation in society , and
Changes in educational policies
offer our schools with unique opportunities
for assuming leadership in offering
effective moral education to younger
members of our society.

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Moral Education related content
Age-specific pedagogical approaches
Student-Centric Learning
Cooperative Learning and Games
Training of teachers
Contact:
Payam Shoghi
pshoghi@gmail.com
http://payamshoghi.com/