It seems that these days children have very little respect for their elders, their peers, and the public in general. Is “respect” something that can be taught in schools?
I don’t know but it would be nice to have it on the curriculum. Teaching children to behave and in a better way should be on the forefront of any curriculum I think. Asian schools do that a lot. I can’t speak for the other Asian countries but I can speak for Singapore having experienced it firsthand.
One source says that it is done through Character and Citizenship Education (CCE). “It is a dedicated curriculum that anchors respect as a core value alongside responsibility, resilience, and care. Lessons are woven into daily school life, flag-raising ceremonies, social studies, and community projects from primary school through pre-university levels.”
Students are taught moral values, and social norms through real-life scenarios and guided reflections. Children do show a lot of respect back in Singapore. They are also taught filial piety as well. It is also integrated into the curriculum and is taken very seriously. What is filial piety? It means “showing deep respect, obedience, honor, and care toward one’s parents, older family members, and ancestors. It is not only taught in schools but practiced religiously throughout Singapore.
To answer your question, I would say, let’s bring “respect” and “filial piety” into the curriculum and let’s see what changes they bring about in society as a whole. Nothing to lose right? It can only get better.
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