Teaching Morality

* I’m astounded! I read William Kilpatrick’s Column Right, “Turning Out Moral Illiterates” (July 20), very carefully three times to see if I could find any mention of the influence of parents or family or home or even the general values of community or society as factors in the development of “moral illiterates.” Alas, I could find no such references--not even one!

Instead, he dumps all of the moral shortcomings of today’s young people onto the shoulders of public education, blasting schools and teachers for their “failed” approach to values education.

Kilpatrick, presumably, is a follower of the conservative, “family values” philosophy that constantly whines about how the “feel-good” public schools are ruining children’s lives by usurping the role of the home and the family in helping kids learn the difference between right and wrong. One would think, then, that he would believe that parents ought to take more responsibility for giving their children morally literate values to carry with them throughout their lives.

But Kilpatrick apparently sees no connection between the parental guidance--or lack of it--that goes into a child’s formative years at home and what kind of a teen-age or adult person comes out the other end. What hypocrisy!

SHEL ERLICH

Santa Monica

* Regarding Kilpatrick’s comments, I take strong exception to your inclusion of the article under the heading Column Right. I have never in my 23 year voting career cast my ballot for a Republican and thus could hardly be considered a conservative. The problem of amorality in today’s society faces all people regardless of political persuasion. The average citizen in Southern California now lives in fear not only for her own safety but especially for that of her children.

The majority is being held hostage by the morally illiterate few, and the sooner we make the issue apolitical, the sooner we can deal with the problem, including, if need be, character education in schools.

KRISTINE HARDEMAN

Fullerton