Teach values and wisdom rather than more stuff

"The reason we have so many tasteless things in our society is that we don't teach taste, and the reason we confuse moralism with ethics is that no one taught us the difference." ­— Thomas Moore

Thomas Moore blogs about education in his latest entry for The Huffington Post, "Redefining Education: Cultivating the Soul". He considers what is left out of education that needs our attention:

"There are many items we assume can't be taught that will simply fade away if we don't teach them: manners, civility, good language, mature love, good art, self-awareness and reflection, intelligent reading, responsible travel, care of one's home and belongings, a sense of the beautiful, intelligent spirituality and empathy for our fellow citizens on the planet. This is a small part of a much longer list.

Who should teach these things ­— parents or teachers? Obviously, both. And not only parents and teachers, but brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, neighbors and friends, managers and CEOs, mayors and senators, movie stars and janitors. As members of society, each of us has a role to play in teaching the values and wisdom we've somehow acquired."

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