The Importance of Social Responsibility
ASCD, an organization that supports teaching, learning, and leadership in the field of education, has fascinating article about ‘Social Responsibility’. In a nutshell, the belief is that we must first educate our children’s hearts, developing compassion, courage, strength of character, goodness, and an inherent sense of rightness, before we can successfully teach their minds. Yes, reading and math and science are important, but Charles C. Haynes brings to the forefront the question of what kind of kids, and later adults, are performing math and science. Think about the funny question that you hear every now and then in movies and TV shows: Will you use your power for good or evil?
That question is at the core of the character education argument. Kids may know stuff, but how will they use their knowledge? Will they be service oriented? Will they have a global perspective? Will they have compassion for others? Will they know the difference between right and wrong, and which way does their moral compass swing?
“Students of conscience who dare to stand up for justice and freedom have always been our best hope for changing what is wrong and unjust in our society and in societies around the world.” That is true of everyone. Standing up for what you believe and for what is right is our civic and moral responsibility. And our children can and should be empowered to be catalysts for change.
Read the article about education’s highest aim–“to create moral and civic habits of the heart”–among America’s youth. It’s imperative that we all embrace this philosophy as the central thread of our educational fabric.
