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It's time to take lessons about civic duty and ethics off the school curriculum before children get hurt, writes Fintan O'Toole.

WHENEVER THERE is a discussion about the apparent lack of interest in politics shown by most young people, someone suggests the need for more political education in schools. Actually, in the current climate there is a need for much less political education in schools. It would be far better for our young people to remain blissfully ignorant of politics than to preach to them about democratic values and then encourage them to watch news and current affairs programmes. The contrast between what they are taught and what they encounter is a perfect school for scandal. If we hold up their political leaders as role models, we will raise a generation of amoral cynics.