Part of a Large Society

Many respondents cited the need to prepare students to be part of the larger society as a justification for teaching values in the schools.  In order to be members of society, children need to be socialized in its values.  That socialization happens for many children in school.  The idea of creating successful citizens seemed especially attractive to my respondents.

"School is a part of preparation for life in society and these are the kind of values that help us live peacefully and successfully."

"Teachers have a wonderful opportunity to not only help students becomes successful academically, but successful as citizens as well."

"Schools in the U.S. are preparatory tools for building, shaping, and encouraging better citizens.  Schools can act as a catalyst or an enforcer of things that are being taught at home, church, and community events."

"If the conversation is healthy, informative, and thought-provoking/encouraging, than each student will have the opportunity to create their own understanding of their values and ultimately become better citizens in the process."

"I believe that a major part of our responsibilty as teachers is to prepare our students to be successful in society."

"Curriculum development across the board should include an emphasis on what it means to be human, to live in society, and get along with each other. Schools are microcosms of society—I agree with the whole 'Everything I Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten' idea.  Schools function better if the students learn how to behave as good school citizens, and students transition better into functioning members of society  because of what they’ve learned in school."

While I agree that one of the functions of education is to prepare our children to be citizens, I think that we must remember that we are preparing them for a different kind of citizenship than we were 50 years ago.  Global citizenship is not just a buzzword anymore, it is a reality that we as teachers and fellow members of society need to apply importance to.  We are now preparing our children to become not only citizens of the society or societies they grew up in, but also possible citizens of the world.  Education in my mind has never been more important than it is now, especially if it is fulfilling the capacity that my respondents cited, teaching values in order to create good citizens.

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