Why Is Family Our First School?

0 Comments

Why Is Family Our First School
Ans- The family is called our first school because we learn many things and good manners first from our family. Q 2- What is a family? Ans- A group of people who lived together is called a family.
View complete answer

Why is family considered as the first school of love?

The family is the school of love, and parents are the teachers

  • The family has stood for millennia as the center of social, psychological and intellectual, spiritual and moral development of children; the place where children learn the core virtues, principles and values that are necessary if they are to develop and lead happy, healthy and productive lives.
  • Throughout the ages, the world’s great religions – Hinduism, Jainism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, indigenous traditions, and many others – have affirmed the family, and its basis in marriage between a man and a woman.
  • At the same time, we note that sociological and anthropological research reveals consistent evidence of traditional marriage, family and parenting, in virtually all civilizations.

While a variety of alternative visions of the family have been advocated and practiced over many years, few have taken root; these include Plato’s ideas on family, Marx and Engels’ views, and other utopians and idealists. Such efforts to restructure the family have often led to unhappy consequences.

  • While the family is pivotal to the building of healthy, stable and prosperous societies, it is often taken for granted.
  • As a consequence, all the heavy lifting being done by families, and especially parents, becomes invisible to many, and, in the process, the social capital that families create is unappreciated, lost or squandered.

In its wake comes crime, alienation, moral confusion, and a variety of socially unbeneficial behaviors and practices. Lose our families, and society may lose its soul. We live at a time when the family is facing enormous challenges, linked to a wide range of factors, including poverty, divorce, distant, absent or abusive fathers, a grossly over-sexualized and promiscuous popular culture, selfish individualism, and moral relativism.

Even those who strongly advocate for and believe in traditional family values are often disheartened by widespread failures found in many, if not most families. Indeed, fatherless families, divorce, alienated children, and failed relationships often appear to be the “new normal.” And yet, despite the unflattering empirical reality of so many of our families, we also must ponder the alternatives.

But the alternatives aren’t very attractive, and are only likely to make things worse. Therefore, rather than abandoning the family, we must work to strengthen the family, rooting out corruption and recognizing it’s unique value as an irreplaceable social asset.

The well-being of our children depends on our efforts. Research shows that children need committed, attentive, caring parents; ideally two committed partners, a husband and wife, who are ready to work at loving each other and, as importantly, loving their children. Children need to bond with their parents, as a foundation for their own healthy relationships throughout the life cycle.

Children need to experience secure, loving attachment to their parents. Parents, in turn, are called to love and respect each other, and to dedicate themselves to making sure their children know they are loved and affirmed beyond all measure. Good families require good marriages and good parenting skills.

  1. Of course, we recognize that in many respects we all fall short of the ideal.
  2. As fathers and mothers, as husbands and wives, we have often fallen short of our own aspirations.
  3. All around us we see many troubling social trends, including high rates of divorce, low fertility rates, sexual normlessness, infidelity, fatherlessness, and rampant promiscuity.

Can a civilization prosper when its family foundation is crumbling? Can a society that forsakes age-old traditions of marriage, family and parenting thrive, or even survive? It is unlikely. We are living at a time of crisis for liberal, individualistic, democratic societies.

Freedom has often given license to moral relativism. We slide down the slippery slope, while continually reaching out for the hand brake, but to no avail. How long can this continue? Family is the root of society, and the basis for the intergenerational transmission of language, culture, ethnic identity, moral worldview, religion, and our basic virtues and dispositions.

Let us not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Rather let us strengthen marriage and family. Our affirmation is not presented with spite, accusation or moral arrogance. After all, we can all admit that we have fallen short of the ideals we honor. There is too much divorce; too much domestic violence; too much in-group chauvinism, ethnocentrism, and tribalism.

These vices and corruptions of the ideal are not, however, the necessary consequences of traditional marriage and family. Therefore, let us work to strengthen families, to support and mentor married couples, and single-parents as well. Our children need for all of us to be dedicated and loving parents.

Faith-based organizations—-churches, temples, mosques, synagogues—-must lead the way in strengthening marriage, family and parenting. It is an essential part of each of our spiritual traditions and sacred texts.

  1. The family is the school of love and peace.
  2. The Universal Peace Federation and its chapters around the world honor marriage, family and parents, and encourage you to support the annual National Parents Day in the USA, and the United Nations’ Global Day of Parents (June 1), and the International Day of Families (May 25).
  3. This Op-Ed was submitted as part of a Special Section from The Washington Times Advocacy Department.

Click to
View complete answer

What is family the first school of?

It is rightly said that family is the first school of any child. It is home where the child takes his baby steps into the world, where he learns to sit, walk, speak, and much more. Home is where the child’s initial development occurs, long before he becomes old enough to go to school.

  1. Our ancient texts stress the influence of the family, especially the mother, on children’s learning.
  2. It is said for good reasons that Mata prathamo Guru (Mother is the first teacher).
  3. Still, the challenge is not teaching children at home but teaching what.
  4. In today’s hyper-competitive age, much stress is given to scoring high marks.

Parents pressure children from a very young age to score high marks. Still, experts worldwide have been saying that education should not be limited to teaching Maths, Science, English, or any other subject, but should also encompass life skills and character building.

  1. These are essential measures of overall development.
  2. Our message to parents is evident at the schools I am associated with.
  3. Do not pressure your child to score 100% in maths.
  4. Teach the child to budget his expenses, how to transact at shops, the importance of saving, etc.
  5. Things that will be handy to him when he grows up and steps into the world independently.

We also tell parents that they shouldn’t fret if the child does not remember world history. Knowing the family history, especially the medical history, will help him more going ahead. We tell parents not to take these things lightly because the ultimate goal of education is to prepare for the outside world, where plenty of life’s challenges await him.

If a child is not taught how to deal with these challenges, there is no use for formal education in Maths or Science or any other subject. Home is also where a child’s outlook towards life takes birth. Their tender minds can be shaped in the desired way. Besides teaching them the importance of time and money, the other significant teachings at a young age should be restraint and self-discipline or self-control, if we may call it, and being single-mindedness or focused.

These are essential qualities that must be nurtured and inculcated in every child. The focus must be on teaching him to be suitable by imparting moral education. Society and the world need more good people than scholars. Parents must also strive to inculcate discipline about food in the child.

The child must be encouraged to eat the food cooked at home with willingness and on time. Another area that many parents can do more is by changing the child’s outlook towards work. I am stressing about work or activity-oriented education because today’s children are much more pampered than the previous generations.

Parents do not let children do any chores. Making them contribute to even the smallest works at home will hold them in good stead in the long run, and they will not feel out of place outside the comfort of their homes. My sincere advice to parents is to teach the child to work, cultivate positive thinking towards work in the child, and teach him to respect work.

  • Many parents I interact with argue that they have faced a lot of struggles, and they don’t want their children to experience the same.
  • But, what they don’t realise is that dealing with struggles and overcoming them are an essential part of overall development.
  • Still, we are seeing a change in the outlook of many parents.

The difference may be slow, but it is undoubtedly happening. (The author, Hitesh Patel is a well-known business coach, a successful entrepreneur, and an educationist from Surat) (Sponsored Feature)
View complete answer

What do you learn from family?

Why Is Family Our First School The phrase ” family values” conjures an array of reactions in today’s politically charged world. And that’s a shame. Because whether our family values are conservative or liberal, they shouldn’t really change the ideals we hold for raising and educating our children.

Family values have far too long been associated with one’s political agenda, particularly in the United States. In reality, family values have much more to do with how a child learns to thrive in life than whether that child’s parents oppose gay rights or support gun control. Our family values are a reflection of who we are and how we parent.

When we articulate and live those values, our children learn life lessons. They learn to express themselves, solve problems, grow from mistakes, and develop other skills and abilities that lead to fulfilling lives. Parents learn too. Some parents have been led to believe that grades are the most important measure of their child’s learning.

While no one would disagree that academic learning is vital to success in 21 st century careers, parents have the ability to teach children so much more through their family values. The Compass Advantage is a framework that values a particular set of human abilities—curiosity, sociability, resilience, self-awareness, integrity, resourcefulness, creativity, and empathy.

It’s not based on a conservative or liberal agenda. Instead, the framework is based on research that suggests these abilities are core to how youth and adults flourish in life. When young people possess these abilities, they are more likely to succeed in an increasingly complex society.
View complete answer

What is the importance of family and school?

The Importance of Family and School Relationships in Education The family is the fundamental building block upon which all societies are based. It is more than just a living arrangement; it is a powerful force that shapes our identities and forms the first steps in learning to take an active role in our lives and society.

In this way, the child’s education begins at home as they learn to share, cooperate, and express themselves freely through interactions with siblings, parents, and others. That experience also teaches essential life lessons, such as taking responsibility for one’s actions and respecting others’ feelings and perspectives.

In addition, the family provides various important influences for children as they grow and become increasingly involved in their communities. Regarding education, the family and school relationship are of paramount importance. As children transition into formal schooling, their families continue to be influential in providing a safe learning environment telling values that promote academic achievement and offering guidance throughout the educational process.

  1. The teacher then becomes an integral part of this relationship: they must work closely with the family to ensure that communication remains open and effective (which includes being respectful, kind-hearted, and tolerant).
  2. In addition to providing support for the student’s progress in school, teachers should also strive to help parents understand what their child is going through as they traverse the various stages of learning.

This allows all parties – including students – to better understand one another’s perspectives and work together to create an optimal learning environment. We can ensure that children receive the highest quality education by fostering a sense of community between the family, school, and student.

Open dialogue and mutual understanding will only enhance the ability of students to succeed in their academic pursuits. This is why it is vital for teachers to consider the unique dynamics within each student’s home life when preparing lessons or to communicate with parents – working together is precisely what allows everyone involved in a child’s education to make the most of their relationship with one another.

And this creates an invaluable opportunity for young people to grow, flourish, and develop academically and personally during their educational journey. When families and schools come together, all participants benefit. A strong family and school relationship is the first step in providing children with a well-rounded educational experience that prepares them for the diverse challenges of the future.

  1. By acknowledging and strengthening this bond, we can ensure that our children are given every opportunity to succeed inside and outside the classroom, building a foundation that will last a lifetime.
  2. In addition, solid relationships between families and schools provide an invaluable support system to help students grow academically, socially, and emotionally as they embark on adulthood.

As such, teachers need to recognize how vital these connections are to foster meaningful partnerships with parents – thereby creating an environment where everyone involved can thrive. In short, if we want our children to reach their full potential, families, and schools must work together for the greater good.

The family is the smallest unit that reflects the essential qualities of society, and the child learns to share, participate in the community, and be active in life within the family. The attitudes and behaviors of the family directly affect the upbringing of a healthy child. When a child starts school, they enter a whole new world, where the relationship between family and school begins. The teacher is a crucial point in this relationship: it is essential for teachers to communicate openly with families (with sincerity, kindness, and tolerance), understand each other’s perspectives, O

Introduction The family is the smallest unit that reflects the essential qualities of a society. A child’s first experience in socialization occurs within the family, where he learns to share, participate in group activities, and be active in life. Therefore, it is no surprise that research has shown that the attitudes and behaviors of a family directly affect their ability to raise children successfully.

  1. When a child starts school, they enter a whole new world.
  2. This new environment – with its teachers, classmates, and other educational professionals – signals the start of an important relationship between home and school: the parent-teacher relationship.
  3. The family can be defined as a group of people related by blood, marriage, or adoption who live together and cooperate to maintain relationships.
You might be interested:  Why Do We Use Computer In School?

It is the first place a child learns about loyalty, respect, and love for others. The society comprises members of various cultures and backgrounds living together in an organized community.
View complete answer

Why family is the first important?

The Importance of Family Family can exist in many forms and as a single parent, there are some things I know to be important. What lies in the epicenter of that are the people who consider themselves family and the love that they have for one another.

These bonds are important because family helps us get through the most disastrous times and the best times. Family is important because they can offer support and security coupled with unconditional love; they will always look to see and bring out the best in you even if you cannot see it for yourself.

Family is important because they will, for the most part, be the only ones who can really understand you and bring you back to that place of peace. Family is also very crucial to guide you down the path of morality when it comes to outside influences such as dealing with drugs, alcohol, peer pressure, bullying, or someone saying negative things to you.

Your family might not be able to shield you from everything, but they will be able to assist you through the hard times and give you the tools you need to diffuse or avoid the situation. Family will provide you with a home if you do not have one and they will point you in the right direction so that you can get back on your feet.

Family will tell you what you do not want to hear, but they do it out of love to help you grow. Another reason family is so important is because they can teach us to know our family history, which can shape our persona into something positive and give us a sense of direction.

Marcus Garvey once said, “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots.” Why am I stressing the importance of family? It is because there are some people who are not blessed with two parents and those that are blessed with two parents might not be close to their parents and are closer to their aunts, uncles, or grandparents.

That being said, for the last 6 years, single-parent families have held a steady rate of 35% of total households in the United States. In 2016, that percentage totaled out to approximately 24 million kids living with single parents in the United States, which is more than the population of Florida.

According to the Kid’s Data Center, in 2016, 32% of single parents were living in poverty compared to 7% of two-parent family homes. There is a clear understanding that growing up in destitute can present academic obstacles, reduced access to safe communities, quality enrichment activities, and can cause a heightened risk of physical, behavioral, and emotional issues.

That is why I speak so emphatically on the significance of family. when family comes together, they can make the impossible become possible, and give hope to those that they love so dearly and give them a fighting chance in this life. Parents, both married and single, and elders must hold each other accountable because our children are worth it.
View complete answer

Why is the first family called the first?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (Redirected from First Family ) First family is an unofficial title for the family of a republic ‘s head of state, A first family usually consists of: the head of state, the first spouse and their children.
View complete answer

Is family the oldest institution?

As discussed above, the family is the oldest and most fundamental of human institutions, consisting of at least a man and a woman who are generally expected to produce children.
View complete answer

What does family first mean?

Preventive services. and support to. strengthen the family. and help children.
View complete answer

What is the first child of the family called?

A firstborn (also known as an eldest child or sometimes firstling) is the first child born to in the birth order of a couple through childbirth.
View complete answer

What a child learns from family?

Socialization – When you bring your child home for the first time, your family will become their social group. Parents are the first teachers for children. What your child learns through the interactions between you and them is what they will carry for the rest of their life in regards to how to treat others.

  • Through this socialization with family, your child will learn how to trust, seek friendships from others, and find comfort with others as well.
  • Generally, we have to learn how to make and sustain relationships.
  • These skills are started and strengthened with the family.
  • Additionally, giving your child the tools for interpersonal development before they learn the skills of technology is vital.

These skills can ultimately help your child avoid some of the common effects of technology on children, Learning how to have face-to-face interactions is critical in a child’s development. Face-to-face interactions require immediate responses, facial expressions, cues, certain tones of voice, and much more that we do not receive through texting or other online message systems.
View complete answer

What are 3 things you learn from your family?

We learn many things from our family like good manners, good habits, respecting elders, love, togetherness, loyalty and discipline.
View complete answer

Why are family values important?

Application – Parents can do a variety of things to pass along their family values to their children. Foremost, they need to be intentional and sensitive (not forcing values on children). They can create meaningful family rituals that help children live out their values.

  • They can also find learning moments in every day opportunities—such as watching television together and discussing what they’re watching.
  • This gives parents the opportunity to address actions and attitudes from the television that conflict with their values.
  • Instead of “cocooning” their child, parents can gradually expose their child to the different situations found in society and help them learn how to respond to conflicting values within the safety of their own home.

There are many beneficial resources for parents and educators that help parents create caring conversations with their children. A few examples include:

Faith Inkubator’s “Faith 5” provides a five step format for families to use each day at mealtimes or whenever works best in their schedule as an opportunity to discuss their values and practice their faith in the home. Find more information at www.faithink.org Fed up with Frenzy by Susan Sachs Lipman provides ideas to slow down and spend time together as a family during everyday activities, games, crafts, celebrating seasons, and much more. The Intentional Family by Dr. William Doherty offers a guide to opening communication between family members through a wide variety of everyday family rituals. What Kids Need to Succeed (Revised and Updated Third Edition) by Peter Benson, Judy Galbraith, and Pamela Espeland uses the research gathered from 89,000 young people in 26 states to create a list of 40 developmental assets. Their research found that young people who have more assets are much less likely to get involved in problem/high-risk behaviors.

In conclusion, values are important for a variety of reasons. Values give families an outlook on life, a way to view the world and their situation as well as an identity. Values can also add to relationships and influence judgments, behaviors, and parenting styles.

Family values serve as the core of what family members do the opinions they have. Instilling family values can also protect children against making hurtful decisions in the future. As Family Life Educators, we can help families learn the role and importance of values, work with them to identify their values and then find ways to embrace and teach those values through everyday rituals and activities.

Faith communities have a wonderful opportunity to help families with this task through their worship, classes, gatherings, and celebrations—as a safe place for families as they travel through the family life cycle.
View complete answer

Why family is important to every child?

Security – Because a child relies on adults to meet their basic needs like clothing, food, shelter, they develop their primary sense of security from their parents, family members and other caregivers. Beyond that, a child also receives their first sense of emotional security from their family members and caregivers.

One of the best ways to make a child feel secure is by setting schedules. When a child knows that they will eat, sleep, bathe or wake at a certain time, they become comfortable and secure in knowing their needs will be met. In a secure home setting, a child will also learn how to be comfortable with who they are and to feel free to express themselves without judgement.

When a parent, family members or caregivers provide a safe, open environment, a child will feel secure and develop in a physically and emotionally healthy manner. By establishing attachment and teaching development skills— in addition to instilling values and a sense of security—a parent or caregiver—along with other family members—can be a child’s most important early teachers and influencers—setting the foundation for a healthy and happy life.
View complete answer

What is the role of the family?

Families provide material and non-material care and support to its members, from children to older persons or those suffering from illness, sheltering them from hardship to the maximum possible extent.
View complete answer

Why is family engagement important in early childhood?

ECD believes that families are children’s first, longest lasting, and most important teachers, advocates, and nurturers and truly radical family engagement can change the landscape of education and early childhood systems. In order to create that change, ECD is committed to working with our partners to develop and support the implementation of radical family engagement across the country.

social-emotional and behavioral development; preparing children for school; seamlessly transitioning them to kindergarten; and supporting academic achievement in elementary school and beyond.

Families are children’s first, longest lasting, and most important teachers, advocates, and nurturers. Positive parenting and strong family engagement is central- not supplemental- to promoting children’s healthy development and wellness. This includes social-emotional and behavioral development; preparing children for school; seamlessly transitioning them to kindergarten; and supporting academic achievement in elementary school and beyond.

  • Families’ engagement in children’s learning at home and in early care and education programs can impact lifelong health, developmental and academic outcomes. The U.S.
  • Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S.
  • Department of Education (ED) released a Guidance Document on Family Engagement from the early years to the early grades.

The guidance document:

Highlights the research that supports effective family engagement in children’s learning, development and wellness; Identifies core principles of effective family engagement practices from HHS’ and ED’s family engagement frameworks; Provides recommendations to states, Local Education Agencies (LEAs), schools and community-based early childhood programs for implementing effective family engagement practices; and Highlights resources for states, LEAs, schools, and early childhood program to build capacity to effectively partner with families.

What is Radical Family Engagement? Radical family engagement must be driven by families, which are a child’s first and best teacher, embraces parents and families as partners in the whole system, and is unique to each community. Radical family engagement has yet to be fully realized or embraced by K-12 and other systems serving children and families.

  • We are at critical moment to bring public and private stakeholders together, with parents at the center, to learn, re-think, shift the current philosophy, and co-create a more meaningful system that is grounded in equity and radical family engagement.
  • In October 2020, ECD hosted a series of conversations with key cross-sector partners to bring new insights for how radical family engagement could change the landscape of education and early childhood systems, starting in the early years.

For more information on the event, see the Radical Family Engagement Event page, For a written summary of the Radical Family Engagement event, see ECD’s Journey Map, Federal Resources Early care and education teachers and providers play a central role in partnering with families on their children’s learning and development.

Compendium of Parenting Interventions : A collection of evidence-based parenting interventions. Intervention Implementation Guide : This guidebook describes the steps and best practices for successfully selecting and implementing a parenting intervention. The purpose of this guidebook is to provide program, state, and network leaders an easy-to-use tool for implementing a parenting intervention. Tracking Progress in Early Care and Education: Program, Staff, and Family Measurement Tools Early care and education staff can use this guide to identify examples of tools that may be used to measure family engagement outcomes and relationships with families. This guide is part of the Measuring What Matters: Using Data to Support Family Progress series.

Head Start Parent, Family, and Community Engagement Framework

The Head Start Parent, Family, and Community Engagement (PFCE) Framework provides programs with a research-based, organizational guide for implementing Head Start Program Performance Standards for parent, family, and community engagement. Childcare.gov Spotlight Parent Resources

Dual Capacity-Building Framework for Family and School Partnerships

The Dual Capacity-Building Framework for Family-School Partnerships is designed to support the development of family engagement strategies, policies, and programs. The Framework was created to be a compass, laying out the goals and conditions necessary to chart a path towards effective family engagement efforts that are linked to student achievement and school improvement.

For more resources on family engagement, please see this resource list,
View complete answer

Why family comes first before friends?

The Family is More Important than Friends This goes down without much argument that family is more important than friendship. The family should come first and friends later. The family and friends will give you the emotional support that you need when you need it.

They are always there for you throughout the ups and down of life. Friends may abandon you when things get tough, but family hardly will run away from you when things are not working out. Take an example of an instance when you have lost a job, or maybe you have poor health. At this time you can’t tend to your needs properly.

It’s during such times when you badly need support. Most of the people that you may have thought are your friends and wouldn’t leave you alone always disappoint you by abandoning you, but family members will see you through your struggles till you rise again.

  1. Another reason why the family should always come first is that they mostly know your deepest secrets and were always with you when you were a young child.
  2. Most friends would and will use what they know to be your shameful past or secrets to hurt you when there is a misunderstanding.
  3. But your family is always concerned about your well-being and will go to any length to make sure that the secrets are guarded at all cost.

As I summarize my argument, it’s evidently clear that while we need friends in our lives, it is paramount to know and acknowledge the crucial role that our family plays throughout our lifetime. The family’s emotional, financial, physical and spiritual support is vital and should not be sidelined.
View complete answer

What are the benefits of having a family?

What are the advantages of having a family ? – Why is family important? Some advantages of having a family are increased happiness and satisfaction. Studies have shown that spending time with family can help reduce stress and anxiety, lead to a healthier lifestyle and lengthen your life.
View complete answer

You might be interested:  What Do You Need To Get Into Vet School?

Is having a family the most important thing?

| Why is family important in our lives | How to build a close-knit family | Our families are one of the most important things in our lives. Researchers have observed that in all the societies they have studied, family plays a crucial role in the success of individuals.
View complete answer

Is the family the first human society?

The Family as the Foundation of Society (address by Cardinal Sean Brady) – Accord, Ireland Address by Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland at the Céifin Conference, Ennis, Co Clare The prospect of a married couple establishing a happy, loving and stable family home in Ireland today has never been greater.

  • Our challenge is to help women and men rediscover the joy of marriage, the life-long fulfilment it can offer, especially those who are reluctant to make a long-term commitment.
  • The priority of the family over society and over the State has to be reaffirmed.
  • The family does not exist for society or the State, but society and the State exist for the family.

Introduction You have asked me to address the theme of ‘The Family as the Foundation of Society’. I am pleased to do so. There are few institutions more important to the future of our society than the family. There are few that have been subject to such rapid and fundamental change in our lifetime.

This morning I would like to explore some of the contours of that change. In particular I would like to set out the basis for the Church’s conviction that marriage, the family and the general good of society are so interdependent that one cannot flourish without the other. I will examine some of the recent trends associated with marriage and the family.

I will argue that legislation and policies that promote commitment in marriage are, in fact, more socially progressive and beneficial to society than those which endorse, simply because they have become more widespread, attitudes and trends which undermine that commitment.

  • I will also comment on the question of a proposed equivalence between cohabitation and marriage as well as same-sex unions and marriage.
  • This as you know has been the subject of considerable public debate in light of the Government’s intention to introduce new legislation in this area.
  • Let me share with you the contents of a letter which may express more adequately than I ever could the link essential link between faith, family and society.

It is offered through the eyes and perhaps with the wisdom of an older generation. It captures something of the scale of change which has occurred in Ireland in recent years, what the title of your conference describes as a ‘revolution’. It was sent to me by a 77 year old Clare woman, now living in Kilkenny, wishing me well for my visit to her native county.

She decided to write to me when she heard that I was going to talk on the family and to suggest a few ideas for my talk. When I am asked to talk, such help is always welcome! She said: “When I grew up we never knew what money looked like, we were never hungry, we had a family life, we always said the Rosary and had time to talk with our neighbours”.

‘Today we have so much money that people have no time for anything, most of all God. There is no word about sin or the Ten Commandments. There is nothing wrong today. What good is money and big houses? Do they bring happiness? All those things only last for a while.

  • This is the only thing that lasts, God.” “Please tell the people about what matters most, their souls, not their bodies.
  • Bring back family life, family prayer and read the Bible”.
  • Marriage and the Word of God I was struck by this last sentence in particular.
  • It bore a remarkable resemblance to something that was said at the recent Synod of Bishops in Rome, the theme of which was: ‘The Word of God in the life of the Church’.

Proposition 20 of the Synod spoke specifically of the link between marriage, family and the Word of God. It said: The Word of God stands at the origins of marriage (Gen 2:24). Jesus himself inserted marriage among the institutions of his Reign (Mt 19:4-8), giving it a sacramental status.

In the sacramental celebration, man and woman pronounce a prophetic word of reciprocal donation of self, they become “one flesh,” a sign of the mystery of the union of Christ and the Church. (Eph 5:32) Through the fidelity and the unity of the life as a family, the spouses are the first announcers of the Word of God to their children.

It’s necessary to sustain them and to help them develop within the family, modes of domestic celebration of the Word such as reading the Bible, and other forms of prayer. Spouses should recall that the Word of God is a precious source of support amid difficulties in conjugal life and in the family.

And this brings me to my first point; the family based on marriage as the foundation of society is a truth revealed by God in the Scriptures: it also one of the most precious human values. We should not be surprised then that when people become less concerned with what God has to say generally, or when the popularity of an idea replaces objective human values as the basis of morality, commitment to marriage as the basis of the family also diminishes.

As the letter I have just read suggests, what we are involved with here is a wider ‘revolution’ about how we approach morality and values generally. So how should we respond to this revolution? How might we invite people to rediscover the importance of the family based on marriage as the basis of society? Changes in Attitudes to Marriage Part of that response, I would suggest, is to acknowledge that some aspects of this so-called ‘revolution’ have been good for marriage and the family.

While the letter I read reflects a concern that we have lost something valuable from the past, I am sure no-one would want to say that everything about marriage and the family in the past was good. We should be glad for example that there is more equality between men and women in marriage and in society generally.

There is a greater awareness that both parents have a mutual responsibility in bringing up children and in sharing domestic tasks. We have learnt so much about the importance of responding to the emotional and practical needs of children, about how to support the development of children in constructive ways.

As I will mention again later, we are also learning just how important a stable family home is to the happiness and long-term well-being of children. All of this is good. In fact, I would go as far as to say that the prospect of a married couple establishing a happy, loving and stable family home in Ireland today has never been greater.

Our challenge is to help women and men rediscover the joy of marriage, the life-long fulfilment it can offer, especially those who are reluctant to make a long-term commitment. And this brings me to my second point. While some aspects of the ‘revolution’ in our approach to marriage and the family have been good, is it possible that something good from the past has been lost? I think this is what my friend from Clare was saying in her letter.

  • I note it was a theme considered in the first Céifin Conference entitled, ‘Are we forgetting something?’ My letter from the woman in Clare suggests that part of what is needed is to help people rediscover the good that comes from faith and prayer.
  • She mentioned the Bible in particular.
  • This coincides with a key proposal of the recent Synod.

In making people more familiar with the Word of God, in an informed and formative way, we can act in support of marriage, the family and the good of society itself. This is because, as it explains in the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, ‘the importance and centrality of the family with regard to the person and society is repeatedly underlined by Sacred Scripture’ (n.209).

The family is presented from the very opening pages of the Word of God as ‘the primary place of humanisation for the person and society and the cradle of life and love’ (n.209) Church Teaching on the Family based on Marriage as the Fundamental Unity of Society The family is also the natural community in which human social nature is experienced.

It makes a unique and irreplaceable contribution to the good of society. The family unit is born from the stable and committed communion of persons which marriage provides. ‘Communion’ has to do with the personal relationship between the ‘I’ and the ‘thou’.

Community’ on the other hand transcends the ‘I’ and ‘thou’ and moves towards a ‘society’, a ‘we’. The family, therefore, as a community of persons, is the first human ‘society’. It is at the very heart of the common good. The common good “is the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfilment more fully and more easily” (Gaudium et Spes, n.26) The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains it in this way: ‘The family is the original cell of social life.

It is the natural society in which husband and wife are called to give themselves in love and in the gift of life. Authority, stability, and a life of relationships within the family constitute the foundations for freedom, security, and fraternity within society.

The family is the community in which, from childhood, one can learn moral values, begin to honour God, and make good use of freedom. Family life is an initiation into life in society.’ (n.2207) The Catechism goes on to say: ‘A man and a woman united in marriage, together with their children, form a family.

This institution is prior to any recognition by public authority, which has an obligation to recognize it. It should be considered the normal reference point by which the different forms of family relationship are to be evaluated’ (n.2202). Marriage and the family therefore are of public interest.

  • They are fundamental to the public good and entitled to special consideration and care from the State.
  • Other relationships whether they are sexual or not, are the result of private interest.
  • They do not have the same fundamental relationship to the good of society and to the bringing up of children as the family based on marriage.

At the heart of this understanding of marriage is a truth taught by Scripture and confirmed by human reason. It is the truth that the ‘Physical difference and complementarity’ of a woman and man are oriented toward the goods of marriage and the flourishing of family life’ (CCC n.2333).

Being a man or woman is not accidental to who we are or to God’s plan for the family and society. It is essential to it. This is why the Church holds that the good of persons and the proper functioning of society are closely connected with the healthy state of marriage and family life. In the words of the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, ‘without families that are strong in their communion and stable in their commitment’ societies grow weak.

This is also why ‘relegating the family to a subordinate or secondary role, excluding it from its rightful position in society, would be to inflict great harm on the authentic growth of society as a whole.’ The Positive State of Marriage in Irish Life Some will argue that this presents an idealised view of marriage and family life.

They will point out that the concept of a nuclear family of father and mother, united by marriage and bringing up children in a stable and loving environment does not capture the reality or the ideal of an increasing number of people. They will point to the existence of an increasingly diverse range of family units in Irish society, to an increase in long term cohabitation, to increasing breakdown in marriage and to the prospect of radically new forms of legally recognised relationship as evidence that the model of family revealed by the Scriptures is increasingly irrelevant.

Yet it is worth asking whether these popular assumptions about the state of marriage as the basis of the family life in Ireland are actually true? The fact is that life-long marriage remains the preferred choice of the vast majority of men and women in Ireland.

Recent research by the Catholic Marriage Care Service, Accord, for example, confirmed that the marriage rate in Ireland has ‘actually increased in the past 10 years – suggesting something of a “revival” in marriage relative to the mid and late 1990’s when the rate fell to historically low levels.’ The survey also found that ‘Marriage is a sufficiently rewarding experience such that 9 out of 10 would recommend it to others’.

In contrast to the view that the traditional family unit revealed in the Word of God is no longer relevant, the report concluded that ‘the traditional family arrangement of children being raised by both their natural parents is the one preferred by almost all married couples in our survey.’ This is a far cry from any sense of crisis in the family based on marriage sometimes portrayed in public debate.

While some 12% of couples in Ireland chose long term cohabitation instead of marriage, the family based on marriage is still the fundamental unit of our society by a substantial margin. It continues to play an essential part in the well-being and stability of Irish life. In the words of the Accord report: in Ireland ‘healthy, happy marriages make for strong family life; and strong families contribute to the economy and demand little in return from the taxpayer.

In other words, “family capital” is at the core of “social capital”, upon which we build the future for our country.’ It is this essential link between ‘family capital’ and ‘social capital’ which in part explains the special place afforded to marriage in the Irish Constitution.

Article 40.1.1 of Bunreacht na hÉireann recognises the family ‘as the natural primary and fundamental unit group of Society, and as a moral institution possessing inalienable and imprescriptible rights, antecedent and superior to all positive law.’ It is not accurate to suggest that this is merely a remnant of Catholic influence on the formulation of the Constitution and therefore to be rejected as anachronistic or sectarian.

Similar recognition and terminology can be found in the Constitutions of many other countries around the world which have them. The Greek Constitution for example describes the family as ‘the foundation of the conservation and progress of the nation.’ Such values are also consistent with Article 16 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights when it states: ‘The family is the natural and fundamental unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.’ Article 16 of the Social Charter of Europe (1961), Article 23 of the International Treaty on Civil Rights, Article 10 of the International Charter on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as well as many other national and international instruments affirm and develop this basic insight that the family is the nucleus of society, and for that reason, deserving of special status, development and care.

  • Proposed Changes to Legislation and Policy It is on this basis too that Article 41.3.1 of Bunreacht na hÉireann places an obligation on the Government to guard the institution of marriage with special care.
  • This brings me to the sensitive and complex issue of the Government’s stated intention to legislate for a variety of relationships other than marriage, notably for cohabiting and same-sex couples.
You might be interested:  The School Or College In Which One Has Been Educated?

In its submission to the Oireachtas All-Party Committee on the Constitution on this issue, the Committee on the Family of the Irish Bishops’ Conference in February 2005 acknowledged, and I quote, that ‘a diversity of family forms support the fundamental human activities of care, intimacy and belongingness to varying degrees, yet it is appropriate that the Constitution should guard with special care the institution of marriage.

such a commitment to special care of the family based on marriage ought not, nor does it, prevent the State from seeking to offer appropriate support to individuals in other forms of family units.’ (p.6) The issue then is not whether it is appropriate to introduce policies and legislation which provide some level of protection for people in relationships of long term dependency.

In many circumstances this will be totally appropriate and just. The question is at what point such legislation or policy begins to undermine the family based on marriage as the fundamental unit of society and thereby undermine the common good? In this regard the publication by Government of the General Scheme of Civil Partnership Bill in June of this year gives cause for concern.

  • Obviously we must await the publication of the actual legislation arising from the scheme to make a complete assessment.
  • It is clear however that the General Scheme envisages the possibility that Government will grant to cohabiting and same-sex couples the status of marriage in all but name.
  • Some restrictions will apply to adoption by same sex couples.

Apart from this however and given reports that the Department of Justice has confirmed that “social welfare and tax entitlements on a par with those of spouses will be provided through the finance and social welfare Bills”, it is difficult to see how anything other than the introduction of de facto ‘marriage’ for cohabiting and same-sex couples is envisaged.

If this is the case, those who are committed to the probity of the Constitution, to the moral integrity of the Word of God, and, to the precious human value of marriage between a man and a woman as the foundation of society, may have to pursue all avenues of legal and democratic challenge to the published legislation.

The intention is not to penalise those who have chosen or find themselves in different family forms or relationships. It is rather to uphold the principle that the family based on marriage between a man and woman is so intimately connected to the good of society that it is deserving of special care and protection.

  1. The value of the Constitutional guarantees given in this area cannot be limited to the wording of the Constitution about marriage and the family remaining unchanged.
  2. The relevant Articles of the Constitution are more than a statement of aspiration.
  3. They imply that the State will maintain a qualitative difference between the level of support and entitlements provided by the State to the family based on marriage and that afforded to other forms of dependent relationship.

This makes the stated intention of Government to remove the category ‘Marital Status’ and to replace it with ‘Civil Status’ through the Equal Status Act particularly worrying. Some might argue that it is in fact a breach of the Government’s Constitutional duty to protect the institution of marriage.

  1. Those who believe in the values espoused by the Constitution are entitled to ask why such a profound and unnecessary change is envisaged along with others which may yet emerge.
  2. Marriage, and with it the common good, is directly undermined when legislation and policy reduce marriage to simply one more form of relationship among others.

It is worth noting in this regard that the definition of marriage for the purposes of the Constitution has been judicially interpreted “as the voluntary union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others for life”. The Issue of Equality Some have argued that what is at stake here is the principle of equality.

  1. This is to argue that what are being compared are two things which are qualitatively the same.
  2. This is manifestly not the case.
  3. The link between a public commitment to life-long marriage, and the stability of the family unit, as well as the distinct role of a mother and father in the generation and education of children, gives marriage a unique and qualitatively different relationship to society than any other form of relationship.

In the words of the Pontifical Council for the Family in 2000: ‘Equality before the law must respect the principle of justice which means treating equals equally, and what is different differently: i.e., to give each one his due in justice. This principle of justice would be violated if de facto unions were given a juridical treatment similar or equivalent to the family based on marriage.

If the family based on marriage and de facto unions are neither similar nor equivalent in their duties, functions and services in society, then they cannot be similar or equivalent in their juridical status.’ This qualitative difference between the family based on marriage and other forms of relationship is increasingly recognised in research.

For example, one of the largest surveys on family life to date, the British Millennium Cohort Study (2008) has found that one in four children of cohabiting parents suffer family breakdown before they start school at the age of five, compared to just 1 in 10 children of married parents.

  1. Other studies in Britain and the US suggest that children born outside of marriage are more likely to do worse at school, suffer poorer health and are more likely to face problems of unemployment, drugs and crime.
  2. In the words of one commentator, “The strong implication for governments is that they should be doing more to support marriages.” All the more remarkable then that Ireland looks set to repeat the mistakes of societies like Britain and the US by introducing legislation which will promote cohabitation, remove most incentives to marry and grant same-sex couples the same rights as marriage in all but adoption.

This will effectively dissolve the special status of marriage between a man and woman enshrined in the Constitution. This would indeed be a revolution, perhaps the greatest revolution in the history of the Irish family – as the title of Conference suggests! But will it be a revolution which promotes the common good of our society? Will it really help children and married couples or will it further erode marriage at a time when research and experience point to the value of marriage for children and society? Whether what is envisaged will breach the Constitution remains to be seen once the legislation is published.

  1. But no one should underestimate how radical and far reaching the legislation arising from the General Scheme published by the Government could be.
  2. My key message today is thus: The priority of the family over society and over the State has to be reaffirmed.
  3. The family does not exist for society or the State, but society and the State exist for the family.

What is being proposed by the Government undermines the very principle of equality it claims to uphold. It limits the provision of support in the General Scheme to relationships which are presumed to be sexual. This is unjust to those in established relationship of dependency which are not sexual.

It confirms that what is driving the change in legislation and policy in this area is not a concern for equality at all. The provision of just, reasonable and much needed support to those in established and dependent relationships which are not sexual in nature has been ignored in the General Scheme.

Anyone in a caring, dependent relationship, whether sexual or not, should be given certain protections such as hospital visitation rights and a stability of residence in the event of that relationship ending. Why should people in such relationships be discriminated against because their relationship is not sexual? There is a need to address important issues of fairness to people in established relationships of dependency.

  • This is possible without undermining the unique role of marriage in society and its contribution to the common good.
  • More Support for Marriage: A Benefit to Society Marriage deserves to be supported by society.
  • It is so fundamental to the common good that the State acts in the interests of society when it supports marriage through benefits in taxation, social welfare and social policy.

If we have the good of children and of society at heart then it is also clear that we need to try and maximise the number of children being raised by a married mother and father. We can do this through providing positive incentives and the formation of positive social attitudes to marriage.

  1. We also need to provide greater support for married couples themselves as they live out their life long commitment to each other and their children.
  2. This includes providing more adequate preparation for marriage.
  3. Accord is involved in outstanding work in this regard for which they deserve to be applauded.

Two of the greatest obstacles Accord encounters however, is the difficulty in acquiring a sufficient number of volunteer counsellors and a general resistance on the part of couples to attending a marriage preparation course. In other countries, for example in Italy, the pre-marriage courses consist of a least 9 weekend sessions.

Here it is much less. In spite of this priests often comment to me on how couples will spend any amount of time with the florist, the photographer, the hotel manager in preparation for their wedding. These arrangements are important but the time given to them can be in strong contrast to the willingness of engaged couples to take time out together to reflect on the importance and meaning of what they are about to do.

Conclusion During my thirteen years on the staff of the Irish College in Rome, it was my privilege to marry a great number of couples, hundreds, maybe thousands. As an aside I have to say that some of the best people in all those couples came from Clare.

I am not saying that because I am here in Clare but because I believe it and have believed it for many years. My abiding impression is one of people who had high hopes and earnest dreams for a happy and fulfilling life together. No-one I know ever entered marriage with the expectation or desire that it would fail.

The Church offers the compassion of Christ for all those who suffer in this way. It invites all of us to have compassion and to offer practical support for those whose marriages have broken down. And it is here that we come back to our starting point: ‘The Word of God in the life and mission of the Church’! Jesus was born and lived in a family, with all its characteristic features.

  1. At the wedding feast in Cana he conferred on marriage the highest dignity of a sacrament.
  2. Jesus could have produced the wine without the help of the stewards but he decided to involve them and Mary also becomes involved.
  3. I see this as an indication that in God’s design the community, particularly the immediate family, have a part to play in supporting marriage.

There may be a lot of comedy about prying in-laws but the extended family have a vital role to play in supporting marriage. In the story of Cana we also observe how Mary was sensitive to the needs of the newly married couple. Instead of wringing her hands when the wine ran out, an obvious cause of embarrassment and possibly of conflict for the couple, she gets involved telling the stewards ‘Do whatever he tells you’.

In this she points all newly married couples to the true source of their happiness and success in marriage – seeking the will of God in all things together. It was this which was identified as a particular virtue in the life and marriage of Blessed Louis and Zelie Martin, the parents of the Little Flower, St Therese of Lisieux.

They were beatified on 19 October past by Pope Benedict. It was Mission Sunday. They are only the second spouses in history declared blessed as a couple. How appropriate then, that as Ireland prepares to consider legislation with the potential to undermine God’s will for marriage and the family, we turn to the example and inspiration of this married couple and draw strength and direction from it.

How well we remember the wonderful welcome given by the faithful in Ireland to the relics of their daughter, St Therese of Lisieux, some years ago. The Martin family of nine children and parents who were fully engaged in business, social and Church life are a timely source of encouragement for all those who promote the value of the family based on marriage in our society.

The Word of God is pro-love, pro-marriage, pro-family, pro-life and pro-society. My prayer is that, through the intercession of Blessed Louis and Zelie Martin, more and more people will rediscover this revolutionary message of the Word of God, for the sake of our society and its future.

ibid. B v R 1 ILRM 491 per Costello J; it should be noted that the above statement was made prior to the fifteenth amendment to the Constitution, hence the inclusion of the words “for life”. Pontifical Council for the Family, Family, Marriage and De Facto Unions, Holy See, 2000, n.10

: The Family as the Foundation of Society (address by Cardinal Sean Brady) – Accord, Ireland
View complete answer

Who is the first family in the world?

1. Lurie Family – Year Founded: c.1037 BCE Founder: King David Current Head of Family: N/A Country of Origin: Israel photo source: Wikimedia Commons via Jastrow Depending on who you ask, the Lurie Family is a strong contender for being the oldest known family tree in the world. According to Dr. Neil Rosenstein, who wrote The Lurie Legacy, the Lurie Family can trace its lineage all the way back to the biblical King David.
View complete answer

How does love relate to family?

In the context of family love, the term ‘love’ refers to bonds characterized by deep affection, respect, loyalty, and healthy attachment. Family relationships are different from other types of bonds.
View complete answer

Why family and love is the most important thing in the world?

Unconditional Love – Just like few of our basic requirements to live life. A human being also requires several other emotional needs like love, which is essential for mental happiness. Families are important because they give us unlimited love, laughter and a feeling of belonging.
View complete answer

Is family the foundation of love?

One could define Family as a group of people who are related to each other, a person’s children, and a group of related people who lived in the past. In reality, Family has a profound meaning, unique to every household and family. On a personal note, family is defined as a foundation of love, support, and strength.
View complete answer

What is the school of love?

From falling in love, to growing in love – Love is no longer a mystery – but it’s up to us to turn it into a mastery. At the School of Love, we are committed to teaching you everything you need to build lifelong, deep and meaningful relationships. We provide you with a set of skills, strategies and tools to permanently improve your love life.
View complete answer