Discipline, Morality, Responsible Citizenship.

The author discusses the need for a more disciplined society through more disciplined education. Discipline and moral values in education are the keys to responsible citizenship, which is disappearing in the United States today. Without abandoning compassion and special attention to minorities, a nationwide commitment to high standards and academic vigor is needed on all levels of education. Studies point out the declining standards in education and the emphasis on students' rights to the exclusion of students' responsibilities. Many of the discipline problems in schools today are probably a response to student boredom caused by permissiveness and a lack of challenge. Although the teaching of values and moral development in schools has many opponents, the current permissiveness and neutrality on values in education have not had many positive results. The educational system should assume more responsibility for teaching the values and virtues of the American way of life. Only education can break the pattern of civic withdrawal in the United States today and, together with media outside the formal school structure such as television, instill in young Americans the values that lead to responsible citizenship. (Author/MK)