Where do children learn ethics and morality these days?

PSHE lessons in Secondary school.

Ilovecheese

Well it's not young people who started the wars that are taking place at the moment. Mainly two elderly men who probably call themselves Christians.

Cue the song by Billy Joel, "We didn't start the Fire"
...it was always burning since the world was turning....

CarrotTop
"I knew when I started this that I wouldn't be able to produce a satisfactory answer. There are so many elements to look at, starting with a bunch of agreed definitions, that this thread stands a good chance of lasting until Trump marries Putin and we all live happily ever after..."

THANKS FOR THAT! I LAUGHED OUT LOUD!

Sago
"I will add I do not believe that Church attendance = morality."

I agree with you 100%

There is an interesting discussion going on at the moment about the use of screens in schools, rather than books. Hopefully children get most guidance from their family, but I think stories can also be a way of imparting values.

How strange this question is asked just as Jeffrey Donaldson is sentenced to 15 years for sexually abusing 2 very young girls

Well it's not young people who started the wars that are taking place at the moment. Mainly two elderly men who probably call themselves Christians.

Goodness, what a big question! I'll try for an answer - it won't be the answer, of course, because we aren't all clones of one another who share exactly the same views on the definitions of "morality" and "ethics". Cover me, Tex, I'm goin' in.....

I'd say that children learn ethics and morals from the same places we and all the generations before us did (and still do): parents, other family members, peers, religion, education, propaganda, politics, news media and society in general. Add to that the individual conclusions they draw from what happens to them personally, and you get a bunch of very diverse human beings. (Then you have to investigate each one's life personally to get any kind of insight into exactly what they have learned - and why.)

Today's children (what a huge categorisation!) seem in many ways to be very different from the children we were, but they're also different from one another - there has never been a benchmark child against whom every other child can be measured. Don't forget that we were a diverse bunch, too - we didn't (and still don't) agree on what is good, acceptable, moral and ethical.

What's different now is that the world has changed (as it always has done and will continue to do) and worldwide instant media reportage means that each individual's horizons are much wider than they used to be (hello, World Wide Web) so children now have almost all there is to see right in front of their eyes, sometimes even as it's happening (hello, mobile phones with cameras).

I knew when I started this that I wouldn't be able to produce a satisfactory answer. There are so many elements to look at, starting with a bunch of agreed definitions, that this thread stands a good chance of lasting until Trump marries Putin and we all live happily ever after...

I would hope predominantly from parents, grandparents, Aunts and Uncles.

I had dreadful parents but fortunately a good Aunt and Uncle who helped me enormously.

I was educated by nuns who were vicious in the main, the Catholic Church back in the 60’s and 70’s was not a great place, I do attend mass but not as regularly as when I was a child.

I believe our 3 children have high morals, the boys had a Jesuit education and have benefitted massively, they had such love and respect for their masters, they had a big influence on them.
They also had to spend time with the Arrupe program volunteering with those less fortunate, it was humbling.

Our daughter attends Church occasionally with our grandchildren, our eldest son is a regular churchgoer and the youngest will come with us if he’s back in the UK.

I will add I do not believe that Church attendance = morality.

My youngest GD's still in secondary schools have PD's, (Personal Development) lessons and Citizenship.
They seem quite informal lessons with the teacher talking about a topical issue or dealing with situations they may face when growing up followed by the class having an open discussion about it.

The world is a mess, but young people do mind about this and talk about it.
That's right. Young people today are more aware, and value global inclusivity and social justice. They are concerned about mental health too. These are all steps forward however that learning has been acquired.

That's reassuring Luckygirl13

I am not concerned about the dropping church attendance and it's relevance or otherwise to learning ethics and morality, but am very aware that schools especially primary, do concentrate on values in education. Our local primary has a value of the week and this is reflected in the activities throughout the school. And the secondaries I have dealings with also emphasise morality and ethics.
And my GC receive a good moral example from all the family and these topics are under discussion between us all.
I was very proud of my teenage grandson after a lecture where there had been implied racism ... he turned to the black student beside him and acknowledged how he must have felt. Good lad.

I do not think all is lost. The world is a mess, but young people do mind about this and talk about it.

Don't forget that we watched several serious conflicts when we were young and attitudes that were immoral ... we never failed to recognise this.

I think there has undoubtedly been a change in the way children these days learn ethics and morality, but not in a bad way. For one, there's far less didacticism now, and far more discussion. They can open up more and ask questions.
Making mistakes is also more acceptable, so they learn from the variety of experiences on offer.
I think they still value trust and honesty above all else, those are timeless qualities nearly everyone appreciates.

Cossy

From their parents, their relatives, their peers, possibly their teachers.

I came from a C of E family, but church attendances were strictly limited to weddings, christenings and funerals.

I didn’t marry in church and my children were not christened.

However, myself and my husband consider ourselves to have strong moral compasses, ethics and taught our children from a very young age right from wrong.

None of our five children practise any formal religion, but we consider them to be fine, upstanding, moral decent people.

I agree with this!

It has always been, should have always been, should always be the parents from whom children primarily learn ethics and morals. The church has always been hypocritical and set a poor example in nearly all ways except what they verbally espoused to congregations. Always. Political leaders have always been poor examples. Always.

One could argue that the worst possible examples from whom to learn ethics and morals are those individuals and institutions of all religions and political leanings who say one thing and do the opposite. So it is up to parents to understand the responsibility to their children is much greater than providing the basic human necessities. If we each teach our own the impact of their behaviour on themselves and wider society, we can get somewhere. Unfortunately, many parents have always looked outward for this guidance for their children, placing so-called authority figures on pedestals.

That's what I'm worried about!

A lot depends on the families they’re brought up in. Look at the parents to see how the kids will turn out.

I suppose Rainbows, Brownies, Cubs, Scouts and Girl Guides helps too. Duke of Edinburgh awards and various volunteer activities.
I was just worrying about some of the attitudes and things I've heard children say. Maybe violent computer games aren't good for them.

From their parents, their relatives, their peers, possibly their teachers.

I came from a C of E family, but church attendances were strictly limited to weddings, christenings and funerals.

I didn’t marry in church and my children were not christened.

However, myself and my husband consider ourselves to have strong moral compasses, ethics and taught our children from a very young age right from wrong.

None of our five children practise any formal religion, but we consider them to be fine, upstanding, moral decent people.

Sport trainers, scout and other similar organisation leaders, family members, their peers.