Morality and the school : a step in the right direction

For the past 12 years Ontario educators have been trying to separate moral and religious education. Arguing the public school system should be reflecting a multicultural society, educators contend they can no longer teach students that moral values spring from one religious base. Moreover, they believe trying to teach students actions are 'right' or 'wrong' simply because God deems it so doesn't work anymore. For these reasons Ontario public school curriculum guidelines now describe religious education as a "study about religions" and teaching students right from wrong is embodied in a 'self-discovery' program called moral and values education. Public reaction to the attempted separation of moral and religious education has been mixed. While some applaud the idea others are firmly opposed, arguing the two subjects are synonymous and should be taught that way. Further, the critics assert educators are playing dangerous mind games with students and, even worse, are teaching them to believe in the philosophy of narcissim. Today the debate over moral education has reached an important crossroad: Can all religious faiths be satisfied in one teaching approach? Or, as religion enjoys a rebirth in the eighties, are we heading back to a school system splintered by religious doctrine?