LETTERS: All parties – parents, educators, government and society – have a responsibility in shaping the conduct of the young, especially students.
World figure Mahatma Gandhi once said: “A human being is not known only by knowledge, not only by the physical body, not only by emotions. Only when these three aspects of knowledge, body and emotions are united in the right way, does a person become a human being.”
The true method of education is to develop these three elements. Today, many educational institutions educate students with the sole aim of making their schools top in terms of graduation rates, causing students to experience stress.
Although it is the duty of the teacher to educate the students, the teaching method should be simple and interesting. In addition, to promote moral values, schools should start a justice class once a week.
Educational institutions should also organise educational tours and take students to historical places to instill our art, culture, and traditions to refine their minds.
Since students do not have the mindset to analyse much during their school years, some will behave like certain characters in movies and might even get involved in undesirable activities.
They will also be exposed to immoral activities such as drug addiction and involvement in criminal activities.
One way to prevent students from such a negative environment is to periodically invite psychologists to schools and provide psychological counselling.
Moreover, because both parents work, they are unable to fully give their children love or discipline.
Therefore, parents should be spending more time with their children as a duty and take on the task of disciplining them as a penance.
Each of us has the responsibility to teach our youth towards a balanced moral code of life. Let us realise this and take action now.
N V SUBBAROW
Senior Education Officer
Consumers Association of Penang
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
