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Notice that around us, there are "good" people, who were never taught to "be good" since they were born, yet are innately good in character? We admire (and sometimes envy) their personalities, because more often than not, it seems their being good somehow radiates a certain nobility, a kind of correctness and rightness, and even serves as a sort of magnet--people somehow gravitate towards them because other people LIKE their demeanor. Is this then, the reason why we want to TEACH kids (or even adults) to "be good"? Think--for those who are good by nature (i.e. since they were born), the process is nearly effortless. If you have a hard time envisioning/picturing what I mean, let me use another analogy or case.

Notice that around us, there are "intelligent" people, who were never taught to "intelligent" since they were born, yet are innately smart? We admire (and sometimes envy) their personalities, because more often than not, it seems their being intelligent somehow radiates a certain attraction, and even serves as a sort of magnet--people somehow gravitate towards them because other people LIKE their smartness. Is this then, the reason why we want to TEACH kids (or even adults) to "be smart"? Think--for those who are intelligent by nature (i.e. since they were born), the process is nearly effortless. If you have a hard time envisioning/picturing what I mean, let me use another analogy or case.

Notice that around us, there are "talented" people, who were never taught to "talented" since they were born, yet are innately skilled in some feat/art? We admire (and sometimes envy) their personalities, because more often than not, it seems their being talented somehow radiates a certain attraction, and even serves as a sort of magnet--people somehow gravitate towards them because other people LIKE their being talented. Is this then, the reason why we want to TEACH kids (or even adults) to "develop a talent"? Think--for those who are talented by nature (i.e. since they were born), the process is nearly effortless...

...so now are you getting my drift?

I personally think goodness, is innate--there simply are people who are BORN GOOD (genes man, genes) and those who are BORN umm, NOT SO GOOD (I refuse to use the term "bad", because that's an entirely different subject altogether--the issue here is of "goodness"). Thus, teaching GOODNESS, especially to those BORN NOT SO GOOD, is almost like trying to teach an average person how to come up with the grand unified theory (intelligence) or teach an average person how to play Beethoven's 5th using a Ukelele (talent).

Okay, I'm NOT saying people should stop teaching goodness--that's like trying to stop people from teaching in graduate or postgraduate schools, or trying to stop people from teaching music and or painting in conservatories. I'm just saying that, given the perspective I've (hopefully) shown you, via the contrasting attributes of intelligence and talent, goodness is just an ASPECT of personality, and thus it's not something DEMANDED of someone (would I DEMAND musical talent from someone? Of course I wouldn't). Just offering another (perhaps skewed) perspective/insight on the issue of goodness.