TYROLEAN daily newspaper: editorials from the 6. March 2019 from Serdar Sahin – ethics lessons for all in need

Innsbruck (OTS) – The moral philosophy, should not only those who attend, do not participate enough in the Religion,
but all of the students. The best from the first stage. There are a number of good reasons.
Long was talking about it – now it should be soon. Ethics lessons will be starting the school year 2020/21 first of all, to the AHS upper level and Polytechnic schools, and a year later, also in the vocational schools and vocational middle and higher schools. In the long term, the ÖVP-Ministers of education Heinz Fassmann, wants to extend the moral philosophical subject at all school levels. For this he deserves credit. But there’s a catch.
The professional ethics should not be only for those students compulsory to attend the religious instruction. But above all, students in the Religious teaching should be trained in ethics. Several good reasons for this, an ethics specialist in addition to the religion classes compulsory for all pupils. In religion class, students are largely confined in their own Religion““. An ethics class might provide a view beyond the horizon – important that would be, because, in the meantime, over 700,000 people live in the country, professing the Islamic Faith. Conversely, Muslim children and young people would be taught the values of the Christian-Jewish culture. It is assumed that this issue comes up in the Islamic religious lessons.
Also could be an early fight against radicalisation tendencies. Proven to take extreme attitudes with increasing information and education degrees. Therefore, the expert level from the first to the school is necessary – and not at some point. With the beginning of the school year 2020/21.
An ethics class is so much more than just another specialist. Of course, it is true, if Fassmann says that it needs in a pluralistic society, in which the role of the Church is decreasing, a common ethical understanding. Nevertheless, it is not only about to deal with those „“ who care for Religion. It’s a peaceful Coexistence, which could be anchored with the teaching of ethics, at least in the Foundation – so in the minds of the children and young people. An ethical professional would not be tested only experimentally in a few schools, but years of mandatory and nationwide has been introduced, we wouldn’t be having some of the discussions today.

Tiroler Tageszeitung
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