.2 Multiple Value Systems

There is a lot of disagreement on social values because we live in a multicultural society. However, we still have the responsibility to teach values. Most values, about two thirds, we hold in common. The other third we don't, and this is where problems arise.

Teachers teach values, and the first step to handling our role as teachers in a society of fluctuating values, is to understand the difference between our values and the values of the society. It is important to realize that it is a very different thing for me to say "I don't share that value" than it is to say "I don't appreciate that value." And it is
different again to say "I don't like that value and I don't like letting you have the right to that value."

Personally, I respect people's rights to have different values. However, the fact that I respect your right to have different values doesn't mean I respect all values. Societies are made of collections of different values, and often single societies contain conflicting value systems. Members of societies with conflicting values therefore have to constantly practice tolerance.

Every individual has their own personal values, which are often different from the values in society. There are values in the society that go beyond your values, values you don't share, but values that your society still accepts. There is never entire consensus on every value held in a society. However, there is often consensus on values that society collectively rejects. Society draws a line at one point, and values beyond that line are considered no-no's: they are taboo.

In American society human sacrifice is not allowed, and neither is cannibalism. I mention these as extreme examples of rejected values, but there are also less bizarre practices, ones that people privately hold even though they aren't publicly permitted. This is exemplified as bigotry. Many people in the US have bigoted attitudes, but they are not permitted to demonstrate them because our society has collectively accepted the values that they are bigoted against.

Things are still not that cut and dried, however. In times of social upheaval like today, society keeps adjusting it's lines. Often, what was overlooked a few years ago is suddenly politically incorrect and insensitive today. It is the constant changing of these lines, the never ending adjustment of acceptable values, and the conflict between opposing values that complicate our jobs as teachers.

	Is there ever a complete consensus on values held in a society? How does this apply to taboo values?	Answer Here
	Mr. Roberts teaches seventh-grade English in a middle school that is noted around town as the "rough" school. These 12-year-olds do not know to do any different from the violence that they see at home, in the news, and on the television in movies and TV shows that they are exposed to in their everyday lives. How can Mr. Roberts go against all of these negative influences that his students are facing in order to help make their quality of life as well as academic career brighter?	Answer Here