Sunday School: An Exploration of Ethics for Children
As a parent, you may find yourself uncomfortable with a traditional religious upbringing, yet recognize a need for your children to develop a moral/ethical "compass." In our Sunday class, we focus on the values that humanity has always held high. Each week, children explore these values and celebrate the joys of life through discourse, song, story and deed.
The Goals of the Sunday School Program are
- To explore values such as integrity, honesty, responsibility, courage and commitment.
- To affirm the value and uniqueness of each individual.
- To promote knowledge and celebration of the diversity among people.
- To inspire social responsibility towards individuals, groups and our environment.
To develop a child's identity as part of a community. - To learn about those ethical teachings which are common to the world's religion.
Ethics for Children is open to children of members and nonmembers alike. We ask that parents volunteer to assist in the class once every 6 weeks or so and occasionally accompany the children on an outing. Other than that, we ask only that you be conscious of the fact that an ethical education for your child starts with you. If you can, please commit to making participation in the program a priority. Avoid scheduling conflicting activities and bring your child regularly. Regular attendance sends a signal to your child that an ethical education is important.
Our prime concern is development of the moral reasoning process, something our children can use in myriad ways every day. Through stories, service projects, and art activities, we encourage the exploration of ideas and issues in a safe, inclusive environment. We also encourage FUN!
The Ethics for Children Program runs from September through May. Classes are held on Sundays concurrent with the Sunday Platform. The main program is for students ages 4-10. For students 11 and up we provide a coming of age preparation program and mentorship. (We also welcome older children and teens as volunteer helpers.)
The suggested fee for each semester is $125 for the child of a member ($250 per yr), $175 for nonmembers ($350 per yr), additional siblings are $35 (member) and $50 (nonmember) per semester. Though fees help cover the cost of materials and staff, no one will be turned away. Please let us know if there is hardship. For more information, contact Rita Chawla, Director of Youth and Family Services, or click here for frequently asked questions about Sunday School.
Other programs for Youth and Families
In addition to our Sunday School, the New York Society for Ethical Culture sponsors other programs for youth and families.
