Children are the future of the world. They spend their early years learning from the world around them, which is often split between school and home, where both environments play a role in shaping aspects of a child’s life.
Often, it falls under the responsibility of caretakers and parents to teach a child their manners, morals and etiquette. Home environments are where children are most comfortable, and this naturally results in core principles like morals being picked up primarily from home. A child with good morals will not litter if aware of the impacts problems like pollution have on the world. Therefore, children should be taught how to behave and act in their home environments, as willingness to recycle can be interpreted as an example of good manners and morals.
On the other hand, schools also play a crucial role in shaping minds and teaching children about social norms. Recycling and waste management can also be considered a social duty. Therefore, many would argue that schools play a far bigger role in shaping how a child behaves in such societal contexts. This fact is more evident when considering the shifting perceptions on waste and sustainability. Pollution and human activity have been having increasingly worrying impacts on the planet and schools should be obligated to educate their pupils on such real-world problems.
Hence, I believe the responsibility of directing children to fulfill their civic duty falls under both the responsibility of the household and the responsibility of an education institution. A healthy relationship between school and home should allow children to apply the morals learned at home to the practical lessons taught at school for the benefit of the child and the world’s future.