According to Rayess, a successful applied educational program should concentrate on two main categories of values and principles: individual traits and public civic life. The former entails qualities like honesty, dependability, and loyalty, whereas the latter calls for deeds like protecting public property, being kind to children, and abiding by the law. Rayess argues that without cultivating and putting both groups of principles into practice, there can be real deficiencies in constructing a civilized society.
In his book "Shortcut for a Better Life", the writer Ziad Rayess mentions: Religions certainly hold a great number of values and principles, but cultivating and activating these values and principles in any society clearly requires a strategy for practice, experience, and tools for real-life application, as part of a general system operating on all levels of society.
Building a civilized society starts from childhood. This foundation must not be limited to rote memorization and academic materials. Rather, it should include real-life practice in all aspects of life as part of a true applied educational program for all phases of instruction.
Two main groups of values and principles should be embedded in the program:
The first group:
pertains to inculcating personal characteristics like honesty, trustworthiness, bravery, a proactive attitude, loyalty, generosity, etc. It also deals with the relationship between the individual and their religion and worship practices.
The second group:
includes applications and practices of collective work and public civic life. It also deals with the coexistence and common good that such practices entail, through which critical concepts can be inculcated in children.
Some of the most important premises of coexistence are: preserving public property and being good neighbors, manners, respecting others, especially elders, showing affection to children, helping the needy and infirm, and respecting the laws that regulate public life, like traffic laws, etc.
In addition, we must instruct the new generation to make sure to use public transportation and facilities properly and respect the boundaries of personal freedom when they infringe on the freedom of others. We must also teach them about accepting the other, loving their country, citizenship, the sanctity of freedom, etc.
For those interested in public affairs, especially in the education field, it’s important to look for applied methods and the tools they require, while drawing on the expertise that comes from others’ successes. This approach will inculcate, cultivate, and apply these concepts. Education should not be limited to purely academic topics, even if those contain guidance and ideological ideas.
I think that despite its importance, focusing on personal worship without working on cultivating and applying the principles in the second group pertaining to public affairs will create real deficiencies. It can hinder construction of a civilized society in a country with a diversity of races, religions, and affiliations, while increasing resentment and squandering everyone’s efforts. It also endlessly increases conflict and war.
On the other hand, I think that the theoretical topics of values, principles, and morals, etc. have become something that’s discussed among everyone, young and old, since the rise of social media. There is increased impetus behind sharing this rhetoric and these values, along with stories that encourage people to follow these values and morals, etc.
Unfortunately, however, we do not see this concern reflected in society in real life. We don’t see the people who post about it all day long. So we must look again and look for new methods, using a long-term strategy that aims to build a new generation. They will be the future we need to rebuild this civilization.
In the end, it must be stressed how important it is to study previous successful experiences in this key field and apply the real-life data we have. That way, we can benefit from the technological developments that have become an important element, integrated into the social structure we live in.
Conclusion:
We must concentrate on practical approaches and tools while drawing on the wisdom of others' successes if we are to raise a generation capable of constructing a civilized society. Education should not be limited to academic topics but should also include practical experience and real-life application of values and principles. As Rayess suggests, we must focus on cultivating personal qualities and public civic life to instill critical concepts in children. We must also employ a long-term strategy that aims to build a new generation, placing strong emphasis on the importance of studying previous successful experiences and applying real-life data. With these efforts, we can benefit from the technological developments that have become an integral part of our social structure, ensuring the success of our civilization for generations to come.
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