Editorial
Sense of values on decline
Let's put our heads together to stem it
Former advisor Syed Manzoor-e-Elahi while addressing a reunion of St Xavier's College (Calcutta) Alumni Association, Bangladesh Chapter expressed his concern over the gradual decline of values in society. Good schooling he said was the key factor to imbibe good values among the young.
Nothing could be truer. Schools today take little time to teach students about the values that create a truly enlightened person. The emphasis is on getting the best grades at any cost and then working one's way up the social ladder. Money is now the measurement of a person's worth and virtues such as honesty, kindness, simplicity and having respect for others have become out-dated notions.
Of course we must admit that a good value system is not something that can only be taught in school. Within the home children must grow up watching their parents or guardians displaying such values in their daily lives. If parents teach their children that it is alright to be dishonest or discourteous; if they display a constant craving for material gain, it will be hard for just schools to do the job. Charity, they say, begins at home; to this we must add all the other values that makes an individual a good human being.
Sadly our political leaders have not been much help in this area. With a culture of rampant corruption in administration and governance, besides a few exceptions, it is hard to find role models for our children to emulate. Good, humane values have to seep through all levels of society. It is high time the grownups of this society woke up from their slumber and became better human beings. Otherwise we will be creating a selfish, intolerant and uncivilised society for the future.
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