Character Ed

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Recommended: Genealogy of Morality

Is America in moral decline? Morality is wide-ranging and complicated to measure, mainly because moral standards are set differently for every individual. Most Americans agree, as a whole, we are much more tolerant of behavior than we were a generation ago. Circumstances, objects, and use of slang that we are exposed to today do not appear to trouble the majority of us; these would have caused much despair to my parents, as they were growing up. For example, sex on television is accepted by today’s public as typical, but until the 1980s one could scarcely say the word “sex” on television without being condemned. Yes, America is currently in a rapid decline of moral values.

More specifically, teenage and single women having children today is at an all-time high in America. In 1960 less than one out of ten births was to single mothers. By the year 2007, that number had rocketed to 40 percent of all births. Among women under twenty years of age, 70 percent of all births are to single mothers. Unfortunately, a considerable body of evidence indicates that children born out of wedlock are more likely to suffer a variety of ills. Out-of-wedlock birth seems to increase a child's propensity for ill health, for poverty, for criminal activity, for being a school dropout, for being a welfare recipient, and for being a single parent him/herself (Stonebaker). In short, out-of-wedlock births often create overflow costs for both society, and for the children themselves. As a nation are we giving an incentive and or an excuse for these actions?

Also, violence is everywhere we turn. Family shooting loved ones, gangs killing for nonsense, school age children bullying to the point of victims committin...

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...t positive effects lingered: students had higher self-esteem, participated more in extracurricular activities and were less likely to use drugs and alcohol. Similar results were found in South Dakota after Character Counts was implemented. Crime decreased by 31% to 56% between 1998 and 2000. Suspensions dropped 28% (Battistich).

Above all, our great nation is in need of revival to stall the moral decay, which is shown through lifestyles, drug use, teenage pregnancy, divorce, violence, and lazy behaviors. Our children are our future, and demand a need of character education in today’s schools. There is no need to make this a religious matter, just a matter of knowing right and wrong, and the consequences that follow all decisions. Let’s all hope and work for a future of positive attitudes, strong work ethics, solidarity, peace, and happiness; it can happen!

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