What does research say about ethics, morals and values?
At the end of my last entry (Education in PR Needs Intervention ASAP, Part I) I said that the major problem and the blame for the poor public education system in Puerto Rico (and the US) is the lack of ethics, morals and values. What is the meaning ethics, morals and values? If you were to look at a thesaurus you would find that these words are synonyms to each other. Does that mean that they have the same definition? The way I see it is that they are a family, each related to one other, each having different functions.
Dictionary.com defines ethics as the rules of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of human actions or a particular group, culture, etc.: medical ethics; Christian ethics. Basically, a whole bunch a rules a group of people thought were reasonable expectations for humans to abide by.
Dictionary.com defines ethics as the rules of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of human actions or a particular group, culture, etc.: medical ethics; Christian ethics. Basically, a whole bunch a rules a group of people thought were reasonable expectations for humans to abide by.
Ethics is the study of what constitutes a moral life; an ethics is a summary, systematic statement of what is necessary to live a moral life (Starratt, 2004). Now, I don't want to underestimate my readers but if you are anything like me you need to read this over and over to gain some kind of comprehension (nobody said being a scholar was easy). Let me try to explain. Ethics is the study of what makes up a moral life; an ethics is a way to tell you what you need to do to live a moral life. The people who say what is and is not ethical are called Ethicists.
As Starratt (2004) explains,
Ethicists attempt to bring intelligibility to and draw out the intrinsic logic of what constitutes a moral life-and, of course, what constitutes its opposites-and why.
Now, its not like there is a Facebook group to join called, "Ethicists: we know how to live, yo." These groups have been around forever. Take Christians, for example, the ethicists in this group were those who wrote the Bible, and other Christian leaders who have been an example and had an impact on society.
Dictionary.com defines morals as principles or habits with respect to right or wrong conduct. In other words, the way you choose to live your life.
Starratt (2004) states:
"Morality is the living, the acting out of ethical beliefs and commitments."
I'm going somewhere with all this I promise...
Ethics.org defines values as core beliefs that guide and motivate attitudes and actions. In other words values are principals one believes are the way to live, act or behave.
According with everything that has previously been mentioned, ethics are the rules, morals are the way you follow those rules and values are your thoughts towards ethics and morals. The thing about philosophy is that it can totally be subjective. One group of people may believe it to be this way and the other that way.
In chapter 3 of Starratt's book Building an Ethical School, he discusses The Foundational Qualities of an Ethical Person. I would like to quote just one sentence from this chapter. This sentence I believe gets to the bottom of what I am trying to get to.
"I believe that the truly ethical person acts as an autonomous agent, acts within the supports and constraints of relationships, and acts in ways that transcend immediate self-interest."
When Starratt mentions autonomous agent, he means a person that is independent enough to know what is the correct way to behave in certain situations with other people. He also describes this ethical person as one who is constantly trying to achieve excellence, (not a conformist) and who's goal go beyond his/her personal agenda.
When I say that society lacks ethics, morals and values I mean, we've joined that popular Ethicists group who say, "just live your life". We follow trends of a society that don't care what is right or wrong just as long as it benefits thy self. Basically, we only care about ourselves and that close group that surrounds us. We are trying to survive at any means possible.
Puerto Rico! Stop being so selfish and proud! (Most Puerto Ricans are reading this and giving the computer screen the evil eye but I can say it because I know what I'm talking about). How bad are things that commercials have been created and aired on TV asking our society, "Que nos pasa Puerto Rico?" (What is going on with us, PR?) If you don't believe me, watch them for yourself. This campaign was aired on local TV and had several advertisements around the island questioning our lack of ethics, morals and values. Towards the end of the commercial it states, "Puerto Rico can improve, each day there are more of us recovering our values."
Easy as that, huh? If only it were that easy, right? Well my job is to make you reflect on our current situation and maybe encourage you to go the extra mile. I'm not perfect, far from it. Of course there are moments (lots of them) when I'm not the most ethical or moral person, but I am conscious of what I do and I do strive (believe it or not) to be an ethical person. I'm sure many of you do too.
Recommendations from The Scholarly Mommy
Now that I have discussed intrinsic ways to improve education (and society) in Puerto Rico (& US), I will discuss extrinsic ways to improve education in Puerto Rico which can also be applied to the US.
Government
Dear Government of Puerto Rico,
Please stop being so selfish. Get off your high horse and serve your country, the reason you went into politics in the first place (hopefully). Stop encouraging the people of Puerto Rico to criticize people of different political parties, rather be an example and work together to make a plan to obtain positive results for our country.
People that work in the government, do you hate your job? Let me tell you how to improve it. Make this your goal: to help each person that you come in contact during the day. Did someone come into your office with an issue? Don't let them leave until you have figured out a way to help them. You may not get a monetary reward but the feeling you will have inside will be very satisfying.
Dead serious,
The Scholarly Mommy
People
Government
Dear Government of Puerto Rico,
Please stop being so selfish. Get off your high horse and serve your country, the reason you went into politics in the first place (hopefully). Stop encouraging the people of Puerto Rico to criticize people of different political parties, rather be an example and work together to make a plan to obtain positive results for our country.
People that work in the government, do you hate your job? Let me tell you how to improve it. Make this your goal: to help each person that you come in contact during the day. Did someone come into your office with an issue? Don't let them leave until you have figured out a way to help them. You may not get a monetary reward but the feeling you will have inside will be very satisfying.
Dead serious,
The Scholarly Mommy
People
Dear Boricuas,
In the words of John Lennon, "All you need is love." Love thy neighbor as you love yourself. Let's put ourselves in other peoples shoes, lets have sympathy towards others and become selfless.
Boricuas, I realize that the government that we have dealt with the past several years have not been easy to deal with. Take the secretary of Education for example, he came in and stepped in a pile (nose high) of poop. He was just placed in his position a year ago or so. I'm not trying to defend him but I want you to realize that reform takes time. Don't trash talk him when he starts implementing changes, cause really most of these procedures are necessary in order for schools to improve.
Do you know what you can do instead? You can contact the legislature. Bombard them with letters, emails and phone calls.
In the words of John Lennon, "All you need is love." Love thy neighbor as you love yourself. Let's put ourselves in other peoples shoes, lets have sympathy towards others and become selfless.
Boricuas, I realize that the government that we have dealt with the past several years have not been easy to deal with. Take the secretary of Education for example, he came in and stepped in a pile (nose high) of poop. He was just placed in his position a year ago or so. I'm not trying to defend him but I want you to realize that reform takes time. Don't trash talk him when he starts implementing changes, cause really most of these procedures are necessary in order for schools to improve.
Do you know what you can do instead? You can contact the legislature. Bombard them with letters, emails and phone calls.
- Request for schools to provide substitutes when teachers are absent. This will not only help student's education but will keep them safe in school, where they belong. Also, the government would be creating more jobs.
- Request for schools to offer transportation for those students who have difficulty making it to school, and maybe it can become a service offered to all students in public school. Guess what, this would create more jobs too.
Do you think there is no money? Well, a press release from the US Department of Education, dated August 10, 2011, has allotted $153.6 million to the Department of Education in Puerto Rico for the lowest achieving schools.
I do like the recommendation that the senator of the PPD, Cirilo Tirado suggested. He proposed a civil union: a representative group of educators, professors, parents and other professionals to develop a plan with short term goals as well as long term goals that will promote a positive change for the public education of Puerto Rico (El Nuevo Día, July 28, 2011).
Do it people! Get off your behind. You want to see a change, be the change.
De cora (corazón),
The Scholarly Mommy
Parents
Queridos Padres,
1. Give your child a healthy breakfast to start the day right.
2. Try not to argue with them about past occurrences first thing in the morning so that can have a clear head during class.
3. When your child gets home check their backpack, ask if they have homework, ask them how their day was.
4. Help your child complete their homework, if you can't do it, find some who can.
5. Attend your child's parent/teacher conferences. Ask how your child has been doing. If your child's teacher doesn't do that, call the school and schedule an appointment with him or her.
6. When your child comes home saying they got in trouble or the teacher yelled at them, ask your child about 10 times for the real story. For fear of getting in trouble your child might bend the truth the first time, but by the 10th time of asking, you may get 75% of what really happened.
7. Please follow step 6 before going into school to yell at a teacher.
8. Never argue with a teacher in front of your child, be respectful so that your child learns to be respectful of teachers.
9. Please be aware that your child is not the only student in the classroom, there are probably (at least) 20 more that a teacher has to think about.
10. Finally, try to volunteer at your child's school/classroom. You will know what your child is up to and at the same time help the school.
Sincerely,
The Scholarly Mommy
Teachers/Administrators
Do it people! Get off your behind. You want to see a change, be the change.
De cora (corazón),
The Scholarly Mommy
Parents
Queridos Padres,
1. Give your child a healthy breakfast to start the day right.
2. Try not to argue with them about past occurrences first thing in the morning so that can have a clear head during class.
3. When your child gets home check their backpack, ask if they have homework, ask them how their day was.
4. Help your child complete their homework, if you can't do it, find some who can.
5. Attend your child's parent/teacher conferences. Ask how your child has been doing. If your child's teacher doesn't do that, call the school and schedule an appointment with him or her.
6. When your child comes home saying they got in trouble or the teacher yelled at them, ask your child about 10 times for the real story. For fear of getting in trouble your child might bend the truth the first time, but by the 10th time of asking, you may get 75% of what really happened.
7. Please follow step 6 before going into school to yell at a teacher.
8. Never argue with a teacher in front of your child, be respectful so that your child learns to be respectful of teachers.
9. Please be aware that your child is not the only student in the classroom, there are probably (at least) 20 more that a teacher has to think about.
10. Finally, try to volunteer at your child's school/classroom. You will know what your child is up to and at the same time help the school.
Sincerely,
The Scholarly Mommy
Teachers/Administrators
Dear Teachers & Principals,
Let's face it. You did not become a teacher or a principal for the money. Most of you thought that you can help children learn. You definitely do not get the praise and salary you deserve, but you do it regardless.
A few suggestions...
Although the majority of the population is Puerto Rican, you serve a diverse community, be prepared for such. Everyone learns differently, plan accordingly. Teachers make plans yet be open to facilitate learning. Principals, supervise your teachers but don't dictate every step they must take through out the day.
Ultimately ask, What is in best interest of the student?
A professional article written by Stefkovich & O'Brien (2004) provide a model for explaining the best interests of the student. This model suggests the three Rs: Rights, Responsibility and Respect.
-Rights include: A student's natural rights, universal rights and rights guaranteed by law.
-Responsibility: A student's duty to exercise these rights responsibly.
-Respect: Treating all students with respect and expecting students to respect one another.
Just know, that when you ask: "What is in best interest of the student?", you are talking about ethical implications that need to be considered. I will be happy to assist you with further information on this topic. Just contact me.
Teachers, principals I'm sorry I left you as the last section. I promise I will have several topics focusing on you in the future. But, I must conclude soon, before I lose reader's interest.
Respectfully yours,
The Scholarly Mommy
Conclusion
Let's face it. You did not become a teacher or a principal for the money. Most of you thought that you can help children learn. You definitely do not get the praise and salary you deserve, but you do it regardless.
A few suggestions...
Although the majority of the population is Puerto Rican, you serve a diverse community, be prepared for such. Everyone learns differently, plan accordingly. Teachers make plans yet be open to facilitate learning. Principals, supervise your teachers but don't dictate every step they must take through out the day.
Ultimately ask, What is in best interest of the student?
A professional article written by Stefkovich & O'Brien (2004) provide a model for explaining the best interests of the student. This model suggests the three Rs: Rights, Responsibility and Respect.
-Rights include: A student's natural rights, universal rights and rights guaranteed by law.
-Responsibility: A student's duty to exercise these rights responsibly.
-Respect: Treating all students with respect and expecting students to respect one another.
Just know, that when you ask: "What is in best interest of the student?", you are talking about ethical implications that need to be considered. I will be happy to assist you with further information on this topic. Just contact me.
Teachers, principals I'm sorry I left you as the last section. I promise I will have several topics focusing on you in the future. But, I must conclude soon, before I lose reader's interest.
Respectfully yours,
The Scholarly Mommy
Conclusion
Finally, right? Well, I'm not about to summarize all I said because I don't like repeating myself. Just know that I talked about improving an education system looking at each individual intrinsically and extrinsically. If I have led you to reflect on the current status of the education in Puerto Rico or your own country and how to change it, I'm accomplishing my goals with this blog. Yet, my job here is still not done.
Thanks for reading! I would love to hear your comments, feel free to post them or email me: thescholarlymommy@gmail.com.
So I skimmed through this, and what I read I liked. I will devote more time to this once(hopefully) I find my dog.
ReplyDeleteBut, what I read I wholly agree with. I really like step 6. non-judmental, consistent inquisition into what REALLY happened.
Number 1 is probably as important as any, as well as packing a healthy, nutritious lunch.
Hello, Scholarly Mommy!
ReplyDeleteFew things I would like to share on this discussion that is of up most need. Y lo dire en español. Hace algunos dias, el Secretario de Educacion admitio que tiene a sus hijos en escuela privada por que "quiere la mejor educacion para sus hijos"....
http://www.vocero.com/puerto-rico-es/secretario-de-de-insiste-que-sus-hijos-seguiran-en-escuela-privada
Ha recibido muchas criticas, por la idea solapada de que la educacion privada es mejor que la publica. No tengo problemas en que tenga sus hijos donde el quiera, pero que el "quiere la mejor educacion para sus hijos" implica que la escuela publica no lo es.. Yo no quiero glorificar ni una ni la otra, pero si la persona que dirije ese departamento no confia en su propio producto, hay un problema serio. Yo he sido producto netamente de escuela publica y agradezco mucho de lo que se, por ella.
La idea que traes de una responsabilidad repartida entre todos los factores que afectan la educacion de nuestros niños (gobierno, padres maestros), es muy buena. Pero hay que admitir que hay acciones politicas que afectan la educacion directamente, como es el querer eliminar libros del curriculo que representan nuestra esencia latinoamericana, por la OPINION de que "tienen contenido obseno".
Me gusta mucho la idea de definir de manera directa palabras como valores, moral y etica. Pero hay un aspecto muy importante dentro de esto que es la TOLERANCIA. Como mencionaste, la biblia tiene sus propias reglas dentro de ella, pero para las personas que tienen visiones distintas, la mejor manera de poder llevar un mensaje de integracion, sin juzgarnos, es atravez de la tolerancia y el respeto a la diversidad. Que no todos pensamos iguales, "and that's OK".....
Like I read the other day in an ad.....
"Are they listening to each other, or just waiting for they're turn to talk?"
On most of the controversial subjects, they are just waiting....we gotta change this...
Beso
Es cierto lo que dices, hay muchas escuelas publicas como la tuya que son de excelente calidad.
ReplyDeleteAgain, no estoy defendiendo al Secretario, pero me pongo en su lugar. Primero el solo lleva 1 año o menos en ese puesto y estoy segura que el sabe que las cosas no están muy buenas, pero por su trabajo no le vendría bien decir que no están en buenas condiciones. Segundo pienso en el bienestar y la seguridad de sus hijos. Los hijos de el lo mas probable tendrían muchos confrontas con los maestros q no están de acuerdo con su padre y con los estudiantes que no entienden pero son envidiosos.
Lo de la tolerancia estoy totalmente de acuerdo contigo. Voy a escribir mucho sobre ese tema, ya que puedo decir q me especializo en la educación multicultural.
Lo del grupo de ética cristiana fue ejemplo, estoy consiente de que hay varios grupos que no son religioso q aportan a la ética de una sociedad, tales como Aristoteles, John Dewey, entre otros.
Gracias por los comments y gracias por leer, Zu! Me encanta tener estos tipos de conversaciones :)