Teachers in the Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State have urged parents to instil moral virtues in their children as a foundation for building an effective and decent society.
Some of the teachers made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday.
They stressed that while teachers have the responsibility of imparting knowledge, there is a limit to what they can teach a child.
According to them, parents have a greater duty to ensure that children imbibe basic morals, especially domestic values.
The teachers noted that in terms of behaviour and principles of right and wrong, teachers might come and go, but the child remains in the care of parents until adulthood.
A teacher at Lyngra Montessori Schools and mother of three, Mrs. Blessing Onuh, said, “The future of any nation largely depends on the kind of children it raises.”
Quoting the popular saying, “Children are the leaders of tomorrow,” Onuh questioned what the future holds when those expected to lead are not properly guided or prepared for responsibility.
She emphasised that a strong family foundation remains the most effective way to positively shape the Nigerian child.
*“The first point of contact in any society is the family. The family has a very important role to play in the life of a child.
“The child is first received in the family before he or she gets to the larger society, and as such, good moral virtues should be introduced to the child in his or her early years, and the parents should be deliberate about it.
“Parents should have enough time with their children, especially in their formative years, because if this stage of their life is well handled, they tend to grow into good citizens with morals,”* she said.
According to Onuh, if the formative years of children are not properly guided, they may develop a myopic mindset, making it difficult for them to process and filter societal influences.
“So for them, anything goes, whereby they are easily swept away. And funny enough, what sweeps them away is usually what forms some of the bad vices we see in society today,” she added.
Mrs. Alice Gabriel, a teacher at Junior Secondary School, Nyanya, Abuja, also admonished parents to take a more active role in raising their children.
She implored parents to provide guidance and support for proper growth and development, while creating a nurturing environment.
“Parents should strive to create a stable and loving home where children can thrive.
“Parents should be role models by modelling good behaviour and values for their children to emulate.
“Moral values include teaching children integrity, dignity, and hard work; for example, how to save, doing house chores, and even engaging them in learning skills during holidays.
“Parents should encourage children to develop good character traits, such as empathy, kindness, and responsibility, through open and honest conversations about the difference between right and wrong,” she said.
Similarly, Mr. Joshua Ozomata, Principal of Victory Kiddies International Schools, New Karu, called on parents to always create time to strengthen family bonds.
According to him, bonding allows parents to discover the strengths and weaknesses of their children and to apply discipline, caution, guidance, and encouragement where necessary.
He said, “Encourage children to participate in decision-making processes that affect their lives.”
On her part, Mrs. Felicia Ajah, a retired teacher and supervisor, urged parents to use holiday periods to spend quality time with their children to observe them closely.
Ajah also advised parents to travel with their children to different locations if possible, saying it enhances exposure, knowledge, and experience.
*“Travelling to another location with your child is very good and also an adventure.
“Such children get to learn new things, meet relatives, make new friends, and experience behavioural change.
“Of course, as parents, your duty is to guide them to the right path because they will definitely grow to live on their own and make decisions by themselves,”* she said.
Quoting the Holy Book, she added: “Spare the rod, spoil the child.” Ajah admonished parents to always discipline their children in love when they misbehave, rather than overlooking them.
She said, “Every behaviour of a child, whether good or bad, will also reflect in society because they are the product of the society.”
Ajah urged parents to be more proactive and take full responsibility for their children’s upbringing, cautioning them against relegating the task solely to caregivers or teachers if a decent society is to be achieved.
NAN
