Does it take a Village?

Most of us have heard the phrase, 'it takes a village to raise a child'. The topic raises many questions as to where responsibility lies in teaching our children how to be caring, productive, responsible members of our community. Clearly everyone who interacts with our children within our community has some impact on influencing our children's morals, thoughts and behavior. A kind senior citizen at the library might help your child reach a book on a shelf, the local baker may hand them a free cookie, a park ranger might stop them in the park and point out a snapping turtle in the road and pick it up and move it, or a policeman might stop your child and tell them to put on their helmet while riding their bike. All of these people in our community will collectively influence our children, who they become, who they admire, trust and want to emulate. The schools clearly take on a significant role in our children's development, but is too much responsibility being forced their way? New government mandates, and optional programs that fall under the 'loco parentis' program, bring this question to the forefront. Who is ultimately responsible for teaching and developing a child's moral compass? Should teachers be responsible for instilling values, as well as a caldron full of math, reading and science skills? What exactly is the parents role in all of this now? Is our only responsibility now, to get them dressed, feed them breakfast, and put them on the bus? Are costly government mandates now installing regulations on how to raise our children, because they don't think we are capable of teaching right from wrong? Are parents too willing to hand over the reins, because they are busy and overwhelmed with juggling work, while making sure their children make their baseball practice, flute lesson, and playdate, before coming home to 2 hours of homework? Yes, a community has a great deal of influence over our children's values, but shouldnt a parent be the compass when it comes to instilling morals?