Moral education for the present day

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(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-09-29 08:18

Recently three Chinese teachers from Zhejiang province proved several parts of well-known stories extolling moral virtues in primary school textbooks to be fabricated. That doesn't mean the subject of Moral Education should be abolished as many said. On the contrary the subject should be introduced to more modern ideas, says an article in China Youth Daily. Excerpts:

We've been told since we were in primary school that Edison used mirrors as a reflector to save his mother when she was undergoing surgery for acute appendicitis. Yet facts proved that appendicitis surgery hadn't been invented at Edison's time. Other stories, too, including many in Twenty-Four Examples of Filial Piety, are false.

Similarly, in Western countries, too, fabricated stories are used as education materials. For example, George Washington didn't actually cut down his father's cherry tree and then confess to the act.

The fake stuff makes for cynicism when it comes to Moral Education, and has triggered huge public indignation. Some point to the necessity of Moral Education while others are of the opinion that Chinese classes should teach nothing but language and literature.

Some of the moral standards cited in Chinese textbooks are outdated, which means they don't fit in with the modern social order. On the one hand, the talk about goodness of human nature appears hollow in the face of dark aspects of conduct and character being revealed constantly. On the other hand, one-sided moral labels such as filial piety, thrift, humility and obedience are increasingly isolating "good people" from competitive markets.

Liberty, human rights, honesty and courage -- these are what Moral Education should be about in the present day.

(China Daily 09/29/2009 page9)