The Missing Ingredient in Education

The missing ingredient in education is something that has developed since the government took prayer of the schoolhouse. There has been a decline in the academic achievements of our students since prayer has been removed from school. Moral fiber heretofore has played an important role in childhood development. This generation of children probably has had less exposure to spiritual and moral teachings than past generations. We definitely know they have been exposed to television and movies more than past generations. These modes of entertainment has desensitized our children and made some unacceptable behavior seem "normal." The shame of cheating on tests is no longer a shameful thing to do. Television has made it seem like the "smart" thing to do. There are more school dropouts. There is more school violence, children bringing guns to school to kill fellow students. Perhaps, the most alarming thing that has happened recently is the story about third grade students planning to kill their teacher. Where would children in the third grade get an idea about killing their teacher?

The story ran in The Florida Times-Union on Tuesday April 1, 2008. The headlines on the front page of the paper read as follows:
Children suspected in plot to kill teacher
Third-graders: Police questioned a group of 8- and 9-year-olds at an elementary school in Waycross.
Weapons a broken steak knife, handcuffs, duct tape and a paperweight were seized.

Teresa Stepzinski of The Times-Union wrote the story.
The story took place in Waycross, Ga., it apparently was precipitated by the teacher scolding one of the students for standing on a chair on Monday. The teacher is a veteran educator of students with learning disabilities in a contained classroom setting. Teachers and parents at the school said the teacher taught students with a range of learning disabilities, including attention deficit disorder, delayed development and hyperactivity.

What can we conclude from this alarming story? This story seems to imply that educating our children has moved to another level of desperation. We need to do something quickly. It is true these children had special needs, but they did learn how to do something totally reprehensible. They seem to be learning something but it certainly cannot be called positive learning. This is a frightening scenario and everyone should be alarmed that such a thing could happen in a school setting.

What about Manners

Are we allowing television to educate our children? Are they learning to kill before they learn their alphabet? Who is responsible for what they are exposed to on television, if not the parents and guardians? Are they being taught that discipline is a good thing, at home? Manners are not just for "nerds" and being kind to everyone you meet is something that should be instilled in all children. It is a basic and fundamental and a prerequisite to formal learning. If the teacher does not have order, he/she cannot teach. She should not be afraid to ask for and expect compliance to directions. Anti-social behavior does not produce the environment where learning can take place. Do we really want the police department interacting with third graders with criminal intent on their brains? Education needs the moral reinforcement of prayer and a standard of behavior that speaks more graciousness of the authority of the teacher, and respect for fellow students.

Copyright 2008-No. 92 143rd year-6 sections-44pages

Learn more about this author, Ann Nurse.
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