Teach Character Values

The Straits Times ran this article on 26 May 2009:

Teach character values
By Derrick Ho

THE apparent lack of civility and gracious behaviour during the recent Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) saga is a clear indication that Singapore is still lagging behind in graciousness, said MP Lim Biow Chuan (Maine Parade GRC) on Tuesday.

He urged schools to teach basic character values to students all the way till university level.

'The only point which I wish to make is that if the reports are accurate, then civility and gracious behaviour during the Aware extraordinary general meeting was clearly missing. While I accept that emotions were highly charged.... I would submit that this cannot be the level of behaviour which we should promote as acceptable,' he said of the 'raucous behaviour' during the EGM.

Citing other examples, Mr Lim said graciousness among Singaporeans seems to 'be an elusive target which is moving further and further away'.

Unruly road behaviour and the need to still rely on campaigns to encourage commuters to give up seats to the elderly, and shoppers to return their trolleys, were some instances Mr Lim raised in his speech during the debate on the President's address.

He said regardless of Singapore's economic situation, 'well-mannered, courteous and considerate' fellow citizens will make life more pleasant'.

Mr Lim said if Singapore is serious about wanting to promote a more civil society, parents must play a part in inculcating values themselves and not 'sub-contract' it to their domestic helper or rely solely on teachers.

Raising a similar point, Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Senior Parilamentary Secretatary for Education and Home Affairs, urged the government and society not to lose sight of its principles and 'fundamentals' during tough times and ensure that children continue to attend school and focus on their studies.'

He noted that a good number of youths drop out of school because they can get by, working at McDonald's for $4 per hour by leaving school immediately rather than wait 12 long years of education to earn a trade certificate.

Acknowledging that dual income families may not be able to spend more time with their children, Mr Lim urged the Ministry of Education to consider teaching basic character values through the entire school curriculum from primary school level all the way to university.

'We should make character education an integral part of the education system and not just another non-examinable subject. We must evaluate out school principals and administrators not on how many students that they can produce with outstanding academic results but how well they mould their students.'

Mr Lim also asked the government to take the lead in nurturing graciousness by showing more compassion to the poor. Citing an example, he said many HDB tenants were asked to pay a higher rental when their family income goes up, regardless of the number of family members the tenant has to support.

'When it comes to dealing with the poorer segment of our society, we take quite a tough approach with these tenants,' Mr Lim said. 'We have failed to come across as being compassionate and mindful of their difficulties... Can we not afford these people a greater sense of compassion by the government? Can we not give our residents more encouragement when they try to better their lives to earn a higher income?'