Should we do what we are told? Parents today value tolerant, well-mannered, imaginative children — who are not afraid of standing up to authority. Is this always a good idea?
All change! Obedience out. Imagination in
Should we do what we are told? Parents today value tolerant, well-mannered, imaginative children - who are not afraid of standing up to authority. Is this always a good idea?
"We're told we have to do what we're told, but surely sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty," sings Matilda in the recent musical adaptation of Roald Dahl's famous book. The thought of this would, for a long time, have made many parents recoil in horror. Children should, it was said, be seen and not heard.
Now, according to a new survey, obedience is no longer a priority for British parents.
The survey, conducted by the Policy Institute at King's College London, found that the top priorities for parents today are good manners and tolerance, followed by independence, hard work and responsibility. Obedience ranked tenth, down from fifth place in 1990.
The researchers believe the decline in the value placed on obedience reflects the UK's drift towards becoming a more liberalLiberalism is a school of political thought that stresses individual liberty. Liberals believe that society should not try to impose values or behaviours on individuals but should be tolerant of different lifestyles. A leading exponent of liberal thought was the 19th-century English philosopher John Stuart Mill, the author of the classic work On Liberty. and individualisticMore interested in individuals rather than society as a whole. society.
"In the past, obedience was seen as a way of ensuring that children would grow up to be law-abiding citizens," said Dr. Claire Crawford-Young, one of the researchers. "But today, we place more emphasis on children developing their own sense of right and wrong."
The survey also found that British parents are more likely than parents in other countries to value independence and imagination in their children. This is likely due to the changing nature of work, which requires people to be more adaptable and creative.
"In the future, we will need people who can think for themselves and come up with new ideas," said Dr. Crawford-Young. "So it's important that we start teaching our children these skills from a young age."
The decline in the value placed on obedience has been met with mixed reactions. Some people argue that it is a negative development, as it could lead to children becoming more selfish and less respectful of others.
Others argue that it is a positive development, as it allows children to develop their own sense of independence and self-reliance. Meanwhile, some say to embrace these changes, Britain will need changes in its education system too.
Educational theorists such as Paulo FreireA Brazilian philosopher and educator. He advocated critical pedagogy: the idea that teaching should encourage students to think about power structures and inequality. have for a long time argued against the traditional view of education, which sees students as passive recipients of knowledge. He argued that students should be active participants in their own learning, and that they should be encouraged to think for themselves and to challenge authority.
The decline in the value placed on obedience is a reflection of the changing values of our society. We are becoming more individualistic and less willing to conform to traditional authority figures.
This is not necessarily a bad thing. In some ways, it is a sign of progress. We are becoming more open-minded and tolerant of different ways of thinking.
However, there are also some potential downsides to this trend. We also need to be careful, some argue, not to raise children who are so independent that they become disrespectful of authority. There is a balance to be struck between obedience and independence.
<h5 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper" id="question"><strong><strong>Should we do what we are told?</strong></strong></h5>
Yes: There are times when it is important to obey authority, such as when it is necessary to protect ourselves or others from harm. Following instructions can help us to achieve our goals and to work effectively with others.
No: We should not blindly obey authority. We should always think for ourselves and question orders that we believe are wrong. We should not obey orders that violate our rights or our values.
Or... Whether or not we should do what we are told depends on the specific situation. We should weigh the potential benefits and risks of obedience before making a decision. We should also consider the source of the authority.
Liberal - Liberalism is a school of political thought that stresses individual liberty. Liberals believe that society should not try to impose values or behaviours on individuals but should be tolerant of different lifestyles. A leading exponent of liberal thought was the 19th-century English philosopher John Stuart Mill, the author of the classic work On Liberty.
Individualistic - More interested in individuals rather than society as a whole.
Paulo Freire - A Brazilian philosopher and educator. He advocated critical pedagogy: the idea that teaching should encourage students to think about power structures and inequality.
All change! Obedience out. Imagination in

Glossary
Liberal - Liberalism is a school of political thought that stresses individual liberty. Liberals believe that society should not try to impose values or behaviours on individuals but should be tolerant of different lifestyles. A leading exponent of liberal thought was the 19th-century English philosopher John Stuart Mill, the author of the classic work On Liberty.
Individualistic - More interested in individuals rather than society as a whole.
Paulo Freire - A Brazilian philosopher and educator. He advocated critical pedagogy: the idea that teaching should encourage students to think about power structures and inequality.