80 Virtues in Educating Children

Author: Yang Hui
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-29
Features: From a general perspective, when it comes to the growth of their children, parents place importance on moral education, all hoping their children will be good and moral individuals. However, there are also a few parents who believe that moral issues can be addressed gradually, as long as there are no major problems, and that focusing on studies is more practical and beneficial. Let’s consider this: a child who doesn’t understand how to be a good person can have clear academic aspirations? A child without perseverance can study diligently? A child without good habits can study on time? A child without filial piety can be self-reliant and strong, causing less trouble for their parents? This makes it clear that a child’s moral character will determine the direction of their future. Good moral character is the driving force for self-discipline and progress, as well as an important guarantee for academic success.
Some parents also believe that the more knowledge a child acquires, the better their moral character will become. This is also a misunderstanding. While knowledge can enhance moral awareness, morality requires practice. It must involve emotional cultivation, willpower training, and behavioral discipline, otherwise there will be a disconnect between knowledge and action—words without deeds. The prevalence of non-moral phenomena in our higher education institutions is enough to illustrate this point. Therefore, the focus of family and school education should be on moral education, not just on academics. We must recognize the dialectical relationship between moral and intellectual education, allowing children to learn how to be good people while also pursuing success.
As the saying goes, "Morality is caught, not taught." Through years of educational practice, we have found that using vivid images and typical examples to instill moral education in children can help them resonate with the towering figures and shining deeds of revolutionary martyrs and modern heroes, gaining inspiration and improvement. This is a feasible and effective approach to moral education. Experience tells us that a good book can shape a person’s soul, change their character, elevate their emotions, guide them to be positive and upwardly mobile, and motivate them to pursue truth, goodness, and beauty. Good books are the lighthouse that guides people on their journey, the milestone for progress, and the weapon for battle.
For this reason, we have written this book, 80 Virtues for Educating Children, specifically for parents and teachers. The entire book is structured around virtues, primarily using storytelling, and collects 80 widely circulated stories from ancient and modern times about moral education. The book is divided into five parts: Moral Sentiments, Character, Temperament, Conduct, and Mindset. Overall, the book is clear in structure, with simple and natural language, making it suitable for general reading by children and adolescents.
Children and adolescents are the future and hope of our nation, shouldering the responsibility of reviving China. They should read more and read good books. They should not only read science and technology books to gain knowledge but also read moral, literary, and artistic books that can beautify their souls, refine their character, and cultivate their fine qualities. Only in this way can they continuously be nurtured to become a new generation of idealistic, moral, cultured, and disciplined individuals.
Similarly, for parents and teachers who may face confusion or uncertainty in their daily education of children, this book will also serve as a positive and beneficial supplementary tool.