In a magazine advertisement for an edition of the Bible, a lead-in thought was accented: NOTICE: Prolonged Use May Result in Maturity, Wisdom and Character. The words ring true, but may invite oversimplification, perhaps even distracting in some contexts. A purpose of education ought to be related to thoughts and words in context. The person who can mentally separate alfalfa from roses, and understanding that both plants have value in particular contexts, and may be troublesome in unrelated or fragmented contexts is well ahead in the ephemeral conflict between ignorance and knowledge, between the ideal and the objectionable. Context does not feed roses to cattle and alfalfa to a bride.
We ought to begin, as responsible persons, with a rather clear idea of what we want from this or that factor: thing, self, thought, or institution. Relative to this last, what is desired from families, governments, businesses, schools, or churches? Our purpose in these Pages is to relate to these, and more, because the presupposition here is that everyone is tied to evaluation (judgment) about values. Evasion of values is a value, even if distorted. Values are inescapable. Values are basic to life, objectives, thought, morals – and all life. Inevitably morality is tied to some value system. Legality is tied to law. Legal, also suggests that whatever is not officially spoken against is legal, except for the spirit of the law. To follow the legal guidelines tends toward the good of equality and order, if the law is evenly applied. For the most liberally minded person, freedom is generally understood as permission to live the individual life in any way the person wishes to live it, as long as no one else is harmed in the processes of individual conduct. That generality is attractive taken alone from context. Some values of legality and morality are solitary.
Recent to this writing, a lurid and tragic story emerged of a long-time coach at a leading State University, who, during several years, sexually abused a number of boys and young men. The events are current, but contributions to the university have already dropped, the athletic program is being reformed, and steps are being taken in the State’s renewed oversight. The affair has affected the respect of the nation for the president of the institution, for the coaches with decades of service, even to the meaning of athletics in higher education. The story might be extended, but a point is made. The point is that, with increasing emphasis, many theorists have argued that values have ancillary meaning with higher education, and we are denied an important factor in life development where that negative point holds as policy. Part of the problem has been reduction of interest in personal education of students, and objectives. Values are often tossed off as something religion or law might want to accent. Science is taken as nearly enough for life.
What has grown out of this near nihilism? Professionals are being turned out who may follow white collar crime. Some doctors fail their patients, some business persons are found cheating, some elected officials are taking bribes – so the story goes. Without morality and values we have muddled ethics. Newspapers today printed photos of the former governor of Illinois sentenced to fourteen years in prison for his conduct that included the sale of an appointment to the Senate of the United States. Why is there so much wrongdoing? There will always be some in the society as we know it, but not in the unacceptable volume of the present practice. It is claimed that values are no longer the concern of public education. But values relate to all matters in life. Without adequate values the family disappoints. Without values there is breakdown all along the line in society. I am grateful, that in Christ and Christian education there were values that formed me, my family, my choices in career, and all that involved me, not only with others, but with myself. Righteousness is God’s value orientation. Law and parenting cannot do it all. There must be something done inside every youngster and fortified as the years accumulate that builds an inner system of values and morality carrying the individual along even in the absence of laws, rules and enforcements. Registering at a University I was informed there were no conduct rules for persons at the institution. The city and police would decide conduct. That’s not adequate for life order. The Christian is not bereft of an available moral guide that provides values benefitting the individual and society. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020