Character Education Wanted!

Trinidad Guardian April 02, 2015: “Cops start probe at Cunupia school.” Promiscuity and sexual misconduct are reportedly on the rise.

We want better education!

Within the article, the head of the NPTA (National Parents and Teachers’ Association), Zena Ramatali, while reporting concern over the incident, is also reported to have indicated the need for, among other things, sex education in the school curriculum, parenting education, training for teachers and programmes in school to help children make proper choices regarding sexual activity.

We truly endorse the call in particular for parental education as it is especially timely. The education of children in an age-appropriate and holistic manner along with teacher training can also assist them in understanding and living their dignity and personal worth as human beings.

Parental Education – Primary and Age Appropriate

While the development of children is a complex process, it is generally accepted that the family is the primary place where they learn behaviours. If education in the school is to succeed it must be accompanied to a large extent by hearing and seeing the same message at home. We are talking here of the messages of virtue and self-mastery in all matters and not just sexual ones. Do all parents have these virtues or even see the need for them? Can they impart these virtues in an age appropriate way to protect the innocence of their younger children? In my personal experience, I do wish that we (my wife and I) had learned a few things when our 3 children were younger. Thankfully, within the Archdiocese there are now a few programmes in place for this, primarily Common Sense Parenting and Parenting and Family Life put on by the Archdiocesan Family Life Commission (AFLC) and co-sponsored by one of our local banks. It is usually put on within schools and not just Catholic ones either. Other times within which our church community can reach parents, occur during their children’s preparation for Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation in parishes and schools.

Education in Schools – Holistic not Mechanistic

We human beings do not act from simply a physical level, but we are an integration of our physical, psychological (emotions, feelings and passions) and spiritual (intellect, will and use of our freedom of choice) and so education must address all these three levels. Education for sexuality must be done in this context and include education in virtues and ethics. We believe this should serve to draw out their personality, identity and their self-mastery in all areas and not just in their sexuality. Teacher training to administer such education is, of course, required to help the teacher to understand the 3 levels and how they are developed during the child’s maturing.

Unfortunately the type of "Sex Education" seen today is flawed. We are not seeing an improvement in behaviours and the situation seems to be getting worse as seen from the reported episode, where even the police were brought in. Young people are receiving sex instruction, rather than any type of education for character development. Isn't this like pouring gasoline to out a fire?

Our Archdiocese has a number of programmes in place for such Holistic Education. There are Abstinence Clubs in schools where discussions on virtue take place. There is the Values and Virtues Programme at late Primary School level. There is the “Alive to the World” programme that is now being piloted in a few schools. The AFLC assists in running a programme called “Is Love Forever” in schools. Some parishes have also put on “Theology of the Body for Teens” as a post Confirmation course.

Conclusion

The family is the primary source of education in any society, and the Church recognizes that at this point in history our families need assistance. Therefore programmes to support parents and educate children and train teachers are all necessary now, given the scale of the problem as seen in our newspaper reports and on social media. These programmes must be holistic, age-appropriate and based on virtues and ethics in order to be truly educational.

#Sexeducation #Catholic #CatholicChurch #CatholicVoices #Faith