Respect Ethics, Be Happy Together

Forming ethical individual character and experiencing feelings of happiness is not only the school's responsibility.

KOMPAS/P RADITYA MAHENDRA YASA

Children walk along the rice field dikes as part of the education method at the nature school in Kalirejo Village, Ungaran, Semarang Regency, Central Java, on Thursday (2/5/2019). Nature school has become one of the alternative educational institutions that are increasingly being developed.

This article was inspired by Ignatius Haryanto's article "Back to Basics" (Kompas, 6/5/2024) and Y Priyono Pasti "School Happy” (Kompas, 8/5/2024). Even though the material is different, the two articles convey the same message, inviting readers to reflect critically and enter the depths of the essence of life, namely the activities and environmental influences that shape an individual's basic attitudes.

If we are honest, we are actually selfish, but disguised by the myth of being a nation that values empathy, tolerance, generosity, and religiosity. In fact, many fundamental events are considered trivial, such as the lack of queuing culture, snatching from one another, borrowing without returning, gossiping, lying, breaking traffic rules, parking, and littering.

The attitude reflects the true nature of the perpetrator. If it becomes a habit, it can develop into a general norm, such as data falsification, criminal conspiracy, criminal acts, extortion, sycophancy, ignorance, corruption, nepotism, and a host of other negative behaviors.

In schools, there are many students who are unhappy with learning activities due to personal issues or the behavior of classmates and teachers that hurt their feelings. Various forms of bullying occur in school environments, which should be a safe place for students under the protection of school caregivers.

When I was at school, the government implemented the 1975, 1984 curriculum (How Students Learn Actively). When my children were at school, the curriculum was different, namely implementing the 1994 curriculum, 2004 (Competency Based), 2006 (Education Unit Level Curriculum), 2013, and now the Independent Curriculum. I don't know where the problem is, every time we change the curriculum and change the minister of education it doesn't seem to improve the academic quality and ethics of the students.

According to an education observer, to this day there are three major sins in the world of education, namely sexual violence, bullying, and intolerance. These three issues should not occur in school environments.

Certainly, the formation of an individual's ethical character and experience of happiness is not only the responsibility of schools, but also families and society, including mass media and social media. Therefore, the involvement of all parties that can realize a better life together, respect ethics, and be happy together is necessary.

Yes Sugimo

Melatiwangi, Cilengkrang, Bandung