Imparting ethical values in schools by the teachers is absolutely essential in order to see that the children develop good character.Lack of moral values in the societies is the primary reason for the conflicts we see the world over.Though morality is first learnt from parents, schools can certainly play a synergistic role in this as children have a high opinion of their teachers.Modern day education prepares children only for some careers and in the process attention to ethics is given a go bye.We all must realise that "education is not just career guidance but building conscience!"

Oh hell, I'll join the love-in: good idea, CJ and even better one Bronwyn. Teach kids to think, not just regurgitate whatever drivel they're told.

I'd go further and get rid of the stupidly restrictive rules designed to make it easier for teachers to supervise playtime while stopping kids from doing what they've always done, including learning to negotiate their way out of conflicts.

I wonder how much of the current rash of violence in young men and women is down to them never learning alternative means of resolving issues and perhaps, never learning how ugly violence is as a young child? If a kid grows up thinking the worst thing a bully can do is call them names, what preparation do they have for dealing with the inevitable aggressive behaviour when they're older?

We (yes, me too, although I work hard not to) do too much to wrap our kids in cotton wool. Some lessons can only be truly learnt the hard way.

Ethics--whose ethics?
Balderdash!

When it comes to life skills I’m rooting for Game Theory and perhaps a period or two of Tae Kwon Do.

I would say an ethics class is a no brainer. I would go further and suggest that if we must have religious classes, they should be comparative religion; where teachers of all religions take turns espousing their particular cause to the same class, and allowing students to choose freely between them -or reject them, as the case may be.

Thanks people - clearly the NSW proposal is a good one. However, I think that Bronwyn's suggestion is better: a basic introductory philosophy course that incorporated ethics would fill an existing hole in the curriculum.

I'd even go as far as some others have suggested and advocate the ditching of 'scripture' and 'religious instruction' altogether from public schools, and replacing them with a subject of the kind that Bronwyn suggests, which could of course cover elements of comparative religion.

Children whose parents want them to receive religious education can always send them to religious schools, provide it themselves, or send them to Sunday School or whatever.

Steven - if kids who opt out of Scripture or R.E. classes were given the option of playing sport instead I wouldn't be so concerned. However, that's certainly not the case at my daughter's Qld State school. Also, I think an introductory philosophy unit would be much more beneficial to a child's overall education than more sport - which features pretty prominently in primary school education anyway.

Balls to religious classes, and also balls to ethics classes. Take a look at this piece on corporate ethics.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26077827-25192,00.html

"Underlying these curriculum decisions is a simple proposition: business people behave better if they study more ethics.... All the moral reflection and inquiry that is presumably part and parcel of being a professional ethicist had no observable effect on actual behaviour."

I see no reason why this doesn't apply to ethics on the broader scale.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - if we really want a valuable subject being taught in the curricululm, go for critical reasoning classes. They'll provide a much more concrete basis for decision making.

Some of responded that it's merely categorizing different logical flaws into their respective groups, but I respectfully suggest that these people have no real understanding of what critical reasoning represents. It enhances our ability to cut through propaganda and would be the best possible antidote to manipulation I can think of.

If you really want to give students both a head-start and some kind of decision-making framework, go for critical reasoning. Leave the ethics to parents.