A mother and her lover brutally abused their own flesh and blood; many individuals, rejected in love, resorted to harming or even killing their loved ones; domestic violence escalated to the point of children killing their parents, wives killing husbands, or siblings causing harm to each other.
1. Many have pointed to the decline in societal morality as a cause.
This requires thorough investigation through objective, scientific methods, such as analyzing the number of incidents within a specific time frame, in a particular location, or within a certain population ratio. However, it can be observed that social factors play a significant role. This is the downside of the market mechanism, reflecting a consumer-oriented society that emphasizes individualism, selfishness, and a “self-love” mentality, leading people to neglect the interests of others. People are willing to attack others if they feel their rights are infringed upon, even resorting to violence to gain benefits, regardless of legality or morality. This is influenced by cultural products that promote violence or instill violent tendencies, especially among youth exposed to an abundance of violent-themed movies, encouraging the belief that “strength prevails over weakness.” To reduce violence and crime, solutions must address these sources.
2. However, there is another root cause that is less noticed.
This is the role of education. In reality, the significance of the school in teaching ethics, cultural behavior, and humanity to individuals is not fully appreciated. It has been criticized for not being suitable and persuasive. Clearly, the current generation of young and middle-aged individuals, who dominate the perpetrators of violence and crimes, lacks proper moral education. If the current generation of young and middle-aged individuals continues to lack appropriate moral education, there may be new generations falling into more severe patterns of violence, especially considering the experiences of the preceding generation.
Looking from this perspective, it becomes evident that moral education, shaping individuals into responsible and cultured beings, is crucial. A child taught to appreciate their own and others' property is less likely to engage in destructive actions, stealing others' belongings. A student taught to behave appropriately with teachers and adults is less likely to engage in violent behavior, even when feeling frustrated. If individuals are taught to be considerate to friends and others, sharing difficulties with everyone, they are less likely to become selfish or engage in undisciplined and disorderly behavior. Building a moral and cultural foundation in each individual through education is essential.
3. The current state of education in schools and families, how well has it been implemented, and how practical is its significance?
This question is not only directed at the education sector but at society as a whole. Nevertheless, schools, being responsible for shaping individuals, must take the lead in teaching ethics and humanity. When visiting the Nguyen Ai Quoc Central Party School, Uncle Ho wrote: “Learn to work, learn to be human, learn to be cadres.” However, in today's schools, learning to be human (especially for children and those not yet fully mature) must take precedence over other purposes. Students should not just accumulate knowledge or skills but also learn how to be proper human beings, displaying cultural behavior, respecting themselves and others. Teachers, standing at the podium, must truly embody the requirements of being a proper human before lecturing others.