How can we raise children who make ethical choices?

As a mother and an educator, I find that one of the most inescapable questions of our time is “How can we raise children who make ethical choices?”

This is an uncomfortable and painful question for several reasons. First of all, it is a question that is riddled with guilt, because what we are really asking is whether we can raise children who can do a better job than we did and who can repair the mistakes made by our generation. While we spent our youth using plastic bag upon plastic bag without a care, while we bought dozens of outfits without worrying about the amount of pesticide and water it takes to grow enough cotton for a simple pair of jeans, while we enjoyed all sorts of meat without thinking about cancer / the environment / animal welfare, our children no longer have this luxury. With the Internet, the happy carelessness we enjoyed for so long no longer exists: today, children are constantly exposed to alarming news about the destruction of the environment and the suffering of others - even if those others live thousands of miles away.

This hyper-awareness can cause anxiety in children and even teenagers. Just like us, they can feel powerless when they consider the immensity of some of the problems we face. Information can sometimes seem like a poisoned chalice: once a child knows that most plastic ends up in the ocean or that most chocolate is produced in unethical ways that involve child slavery*, their innocence is lost and no one can take the information away. As parents and teachers, we can be very tempted to solve the problem by over-protecting children and sheltering them from upsetting news.

I firmly believe, however, that we must resist this temptation. Children have a right to know what impact their actions have, especially when they are impacting their own future and environment. Just like we often tell children that their beloved sweets and cakes are bad for their teeth and their health, it is our collective duty to tell them how their everyday choices impact the earth and other people. Children may worry about the world around them, but it is our job to turn this worry into a positive force for change that will make them feel empowered.

As a parent, it has been difficult to see my own children get deeply upset about plastic in the ocean or the plight of animals farmed in intensive conditions. However, their small ethical actions - such as refusing to use plastic bags and straws or choosing the collect money for charity instead of receiving birthday presents - have also been a source of immense pride.

Similarly, as an educator, I am proud to be part of a school that is encouraging children to make ethical choices. On December the 6th, when we host our first Sustainability Day, I will not worry about sending children an uncomfortable message about the state of our environment; instead, I will take great satisfaction in knowing that our students are taking hundreds of little steps towards making the world a better place.

*https://www.raconteur.net/business-innovation/child-labour-cocoa-production

Nancy Le Nezet, Director of Studies