MRAVNÁ VÝCHOVA V ŠKOLÁCH NA SLOVENSKU A V ZAHRANI ČÍ

Wider social context
Which variables are “involved” and probably act against development of morality of children and
youth
Social events and above all their global, European or national application offer only minimum stories
of great careers that would clearly have their roots in moral attitudes and behaviour. There too many
negative examples. This “mediated” world seems perverted. For many of us the correction through
reality (real relationships) is inevitable that “truth and love” have a chance to compete with “lie and
hatred”. In the Czech environment this well-known statement of the ex-president V. Havel has become
ironic and the advocates of the statement are called “truth-loves”. The problem is not the label itself
but the possible danger of generalization which could be imprinted in the conscience of the society. It
could imply that truthfulness, kindness and politeness are demonstrations of naivety and weakness,
which have nothing in common with the modern performance-oriented era.
Presenting of economic variables as positively preferred, distinctly superior and almost the only
criteria for satisfaction - this view of the world obviously encourages extreme preference of the
consumerism in life. The above stated is even more valid in the period of the so-called crisis and real
crisis. After all, one of the common features of the life-disgusted, negativist young killers, who
intended to come to terms with society by killing their schoolmates and teachers, was a fair, aboveaverage
material status of their family backgrounds.
Another notable variable is the inner liberalisation of family during the former two decades. This has
brought a number of positive aspects (more open communication between parents and children, less
stress imposed on children concerning their performance etc.). On the other hand, the framework of
clear rules in which children used to find their way in the world in general as well as in terms of good
and evil has been loosened. Children of modern families decide freely on daily routines (when it is
time to eat, sleep, how to spend their leisure time etc.). Frameworks, stereotypes and rules are not only
used to organize but also to provide feelings of safety and belonging. Uncertainty is the opposite.
Feelings of uncertainty lead, not only children, to outer and inner aggression. A lot of parents equal
satisfaction of their children´s material needs to the “completion” of their parental role. Ironically, the
number of hopeless parents who are not able to deal with their schoolchildren has been increasing.
They ask teachers for help saying “I don´t know what to do with him/her”. It seems that the traditional
“old” way of upbringing is not possible anymore and we do not know any “new” way of being fathers
and mothers...
In general, there has been a distinct decline in the so-called intergenerational correction by public
opinion. The increasing anonymity of the society leads to the fact that adults do not feel responsible
for any other than “their own” children. In accordance with the understanding of the freedom of the
individual we even have no right to interfere in someone else´s “life”. Annoyance and refusal would
be possible reactions to such interference. Thus, there has been increasing number of parents who take
their children´s side against teachers, especially when teachers tend to adopt more critical or
demanding attitudes.
Modern communication means influence substantially, in a positive as well as negative way, the
lifestyles of all people (and especially of young people). Young people could not experience before
such access to information, mutual communication, public presentation of opinions and attitudes and
overall active way of life. However, even this world of unlimited opportunities makes people feel
uncertain. How to make sense of everything Who and what to believe Even adults find these
questions difficult to answer. And thus we have to say that children and youngsters have never before
been exposed to such amount of temptation and threats as they are nowadays – ranging from pseudooffers
of easy careers of unskilled celebrities to chemical religions that offer effortless experience
short-cuts. Consequences of “life” spent at the computer screen can be fatal. Except for health hazard
for a young organism and gradual loss of face-to-face communication skills, natural “aggression” of
children is released insufficiently. Virtual release of aggression via computer games blurs the
differences between the real and the virtual world and does not provide any real catharsis connected
with physical activity. The door to mutual aggression, bullying and inappropriate cruelty has been thus
opened...
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