Scottish Catholic Observer

BY CATH DOHERTY

We are all painfully aware that the family, as the keystone of our society, is constantly under threat. As the nuclear family, and our society, becomes fragmented, our children increasingly rely on external influences to shape and guide them.

“These days, everybody’s pushing and shoving to get to the front of the queue and if you don’t learn to push and shove with the best of them, you’ll be left behind.”

These look like the words of somebody who is trying to define the society in which we find ourselves today… somebody who is critical of that society. The words, in fact, came from a mother who was lamenting the fact that her little daughter was showing signs of being shy by nature. She saw nothing wrong in telling me that she was trying to make her child pushier, to rid her of her shyness. Depressing? I thought so. But it demonstrated, perhaps, one of the reasons why we have to admit that we live in an increasingly selfish society. Selfish transmuting to cruel, when you pause to consider such ‘nasties’ as cyber bullying.

But if we fear that the pendulum has swung to its lowest point, perhaps we should be encouraged by a news item which appeared a couple of weeks ago… the inclusion of ‘character building’ as a subject in a school curriculum. The subject is defined as ‘a mixture of compassion, endurance, responsibility, integrity and how to overcome limitations.’ A good start I think you’ll agree. In fact it pretty well sums up a large part of the ethos of our Catholic schools, and reaffirms not only their Faith value but their value to society as a whole. The school which has promoted the teaching of moral values and giving this a subject heading of ‘well-being’ is Wellington College, a prominent English independent school. Dr Anthony Seldon, the master of Wellington College, has recently spoken publicly about the benefits of teaching well-being in his school for the last five years. Exam results among senior pupils, for instance, have improved dramatically. While good exam results are desirable, instilling moral values into pupils and seeing young people of good character emerge at the end of their education takes precedence on the list of benefits accruing.

It is reported that Dr Seldon also holds the view that an understanding, empathetic nature is of great value to those seeking success. Ah… there is that word again… SUCCESS.

Is Dr Seldon using it as bait for acceptance of this new subject by parents who are paying for in their view, the best possible education or their offspring? Are they, then, of the same frame of mind as the mother I spoke of at the beginning of the piece?

There’s a real ‘before’ and ‘after’ feel to this initiative, which would suggest that perhaps Dr Seldon’s pupils were lacking in certain qualities of character before their ‘well-being’ classes began. Qualities, it might be said, which we would take for granted as part of a good upbringing and Catholic formation/education. All of us bear the imprint of our upbringing. In past generations, parents did not hand the responsibility of development of their children’s characters to schools or indeed to anyone outside the immediate family, instead influences on children were exerted most strongly by parents, then grandparents and members of the extended family. There was truth in the saying then that ‘the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.’

Now, socio-economic pressures dictate that parental influences on children can be weakened from an early stage in their lives. Leisure time is often neatly divided into units such as ‘me’ time, ‘downtime,’ and, if there’s any left over, ‘quality’ time. Activities for parents and children very often eat into that ‘quality’ time by sending both groups off in opposite directions. We are all painfully aware that the family, as the keystone of our society, is constantly under threat. Society is becoming fragmented. Modern technology in terms of outside influences has become the biggest menace of all to the young.

That metaphorical queue where all the pushing and shoving takes place is lengthening at an alarming rate. Against this backdrop, it has to be said that Dr Seldon’s educational initiative has come at just the right time. Those improved exam results can perhaps be treated as a bonus, alongside the reminder of the importance of morality in the formation of good character, of the benefits to society of altruism. The initiative reminds us, too, of the real values of our Catholics schools, where ‘well-being’ is part of the ethos and is designed to permeate the entire educational process. And going by inspectors’ reports, league tables and the like, that educational process is proving notably successful not only in exams results, but right across the board.

PIC: PAUL McSHERRY