Moral education: do we need it at schools?

In the light of recent news on social networks and online newspapers, I am still thinking on why we do not have a moral education at school. When we see someone who do not respect others, many of us tend to  abuse their parents for such upbringing. But when it becomes widespread and ubiquitous, particularly, when 45-years old businessmen beats the tar out of 24-years old boy, vice-versa when a young boy beats the 89-years old veteran of the World War II , when the neglect and greed of constructional company lead to the collapse of bridge and death of the person, unconsciously start to think about the level of morality of society. Does it mean that people lose their values and fundamental human principles? 

First of all, let us what is the morality? Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy describes morality as  the "code of conduct that is put forward by a society", while Cambridge Dictionaries Online defines it as "a set of personal or social standards for good or bad behavior and character" or "the quality of being right, honest or acceptable". 

Certainly, each society has its own moral codes, but fundamental ones are same for all of them. Even so, why we do not teach students to be morally educated at schools? It is well-known, that during the school years people form their own beliefs and values, and only right direction of their circle of contacts can help them to construct their life in a way of uprightness and goodness. 

Nowadays, moral education is often called character formation education, which, in turn have several approaches (StateUniversity.com). StateUniversity.com site states that one of the approaches of character education is the infusion approach. This approach is used as a central tool in schooling. Besides teaching subjects, schools should construct their culture of morality.  

"To create a healthy learning environment, students need to develop the virtues of responsibility and respect for others. They must eliminate habits of laziness and sloppiness and acquire habits of self-control and diligence. The infusion approach is based on the view that the good habits that contribute to the formation of character in turn contribute directly to the academic goals of schooling". 

Language is used as an essential instrument in the character formation. For example, such words, like "responsibility, respect, honesty, and perseverance" should become working lexicon of school personnel. 

StateUniversity.com describes also service learning approach, where community in which person live acts as a model of code of conduct. Teachers and parents through personal habits  in problem-solving, respecting elders, supporting others, making friends and relation to people can show example of morality and civilize their followers. 

Generally to say, in fast changing world, due to the informational overload, children mostly imitate behaviors that are not always good. It is not only parents', but also educators' responsibility to show them what is white and what is black. As a matter of fact, we are creating moral values not only today's but also future of nation. 

References:

Online, C. D. (n.d.). English definiton of "morality". Retrieved from Cambridge Dictionaries Online : http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/morality

Philosophy, S. E. (n.d.). The Definition of Morality. Retrieved from Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/morality-definition/

StateUniversity.com. (n.d.). Moral Education - A Brief History of Moral Education, The Return of Character Education, Current Approaches to Moral Education. Retrieved from StateUniversity.com: http://education.stateuniversity.com/pages/2246/Moral-Education.html