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15 May 2014

Do state school pupils really lack a ‘moral compass’?

State schools are turning out “amoral” children who don’t have a “moral compass” says a leading independent school head. Is he right? Here’s what Channel 4 News readers had to say about it.

The chair of the Independent Schools Associations (ISA) pulled no punches in his address to the organisation’s annual conference on Thursday.

Comparing state schools with the independent sector, he said that the former were too overwhelmed with hitting targets to teach children values and skills outside of the academic realm.

“Schools are turning out too many amoral children because teachers cannot find the time to teach the difference between right and wrong,” said Richard Walden, who is also headteacher at Castle House School in Shropshire.

“Too many staff are overwhelmed by the pressure to achieve results,” he added: “It seems that the only results that matter are those which have created added value in terms of raising a pupil’s statistical level from one stage to the next, and parents are increasingly buying in to this notion.

“This focus on league tables and attainment levels distracts teachers and effectively disables them from providing children with a more rounded and enriching education – one that will give them the moral compass they need for life.”

‘State schools breed a very nice feeling of acceptance’

While few state school teachers could deny the extent of their workload, the comments sparked controversy among parents and teachers alike.

Richard Swingler, a Year 4 teacher who has worked at several schools in and around Manchester, told Channel 4 News that pupils starting at state and independent schools often aren’t starting out at a level playing field, in terms of knowing the difference between right and wrong, and other factors.

But he said that the inclusive nature of state schools means they are more diverse – and that the children are more culturally aware as a result, which can develop their morals.

If your children aren’t well rounded and don’t know about their rights and other children’s rights, that school isn’t doing its job Richard Swingler

“If you compare state schools as a whole, with independent schools, they’re not selective, so there is more diversity. They breed a very nice feeling of acceptance. Whereas you might say that independent schools have the potential to breed a certain feeling of arrogance,” he said.

“State schools are underfunded, oversubscribed with children, resources aren’t available – but for me, if your children aren’t well rounded and don’t know about their rights and other children’s rights, that school isn’t doing its job.”

While some schools base their moral framework around religious values, others opt in to schemes like Unicef’s rights respecting schools award, which embeds the UN’s convention on the rights of a child through school policies.

But Mr Walden implied that it was the extra-curricular facilities that develop character: “The very nature of our schools, with their respect for discipline and academic seriousness, sport and culture, citizenship and community, service, environmental awareness, spiritual life and personal responsibility, sends out into the world young people with emotional intelligence, developed moral understanding and a willingness to make a contribution to society.”

What you told us – from Facebook:

Vickie Knox: I walked out of an open day at a a top public school because of the compulsory cadets teaching ‘handling weapons and guns’ – ha! and to think i was worried my boy might get involved with weapons an innercity comp!

Phil Buttle: Hold on. Parents should be teaching morals before and whilst kids are at school. Oh forgot parents breed kids and it is teachers jobs to bring them up. Stop blaming teachers. PARENTS have to be PARENTS

Marcus Ward-Davies: When in doubt, blame the schools. because these kids get no influence from anywhere else, it’s all the schools. so when your house gets burgled, or you are attacked in the street, get down the local school and give them hell

Melanie Webster: Parents should be doing their job, teachers should support that teaching, constancy and reward are ways we can teach children how to be decent citizens

Ross Powell: If a child has no moral compass by the time it gets to school then clearly the problem is at home. Although under modern conditions undoubtedly morality in the classic sense (do no harm) is really relevant.

David Burrin: It’s not the schools alone – it’s the whole of society. And it’s not just now – we were all educated in the Sixties with information, not necessarily the right way to make our way through life.

Amanda Betts: Parents arnt bringing up their kids childminders and teachers are what did you think was gona happen

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