The Educational Value of Sobriety

In this article, we'll talk about the importance and educational value of sobriety when it comes to educating our children.

Written and verified by the pedagogue and trainer María Matilde.

Last update: 27 December, 2022

In the nonstop society we live in today, we’re constantly doing, buying or consuming. With that in mind, sobriety as an educational value makes a lot of sense.

The value of sobriety allows us to grant things their fair value. It also allows us to reflect on and assess whether all the things we do and want are really important and necessary.

The meaning of sobriety

If we refer to a person’s behavior, sobriety refers to moderation, prudence, or temperance in their conduct. Therefore, sobriety is linked to a person’s character, who’s capable of knowing how to manage their time and resources in order to live without excesses.

In other words, a sober person is one who is able to manage their desires and impulses. What’s more, they’re able to establish, in a rational way, a limit between what’s reasonable and what’s excessive or not very moderate.

The educational value of sobriety

In the social context, the educational value of sobriety makes a lot of sense. That’s because sobriety teaches us to avoid excesses and the accumulation of material things without thinking about how this affects the environment.

Sobriety helps us to worry less about satisfying superficial desires and whims and helps us to worry more about fighting as a society. For example, for a strong health system that ensures the health of all.

Therefore, neither parents nor educators should lose sight of the fact that sobriety’s an important value to teach to our children and students.

Reality itself is demanding it of us, as we’re learning the hard way that everything has its fair value. As a result, education must contribute to the new generations being able to identify and establish which priorities are necessary to build a better world.

Learning to be sober…

An education based on values is always a priority. Among these values, we’d like to highlight that of sobriety and an education that aims at avoiding excesses in people’s lives.

Therefore, today more than ever, raising individuals who are capable of prioritizing the necessary from the superfluous is essential. We must raise people who prioritize the common good and sustainability as a form of social construction. And all this implies teaching actions such as:

• Not depending on or succumbing to constant consumerism. Knowing how to distinguish between what we need and what’s nothing more than a whim or trend.
• Avoiding all kinds of excesses. In the purchase of material goods, in general…  In the excessive use of technology… And in the consumption of harmful substances (drugs, alcohol, medicines…). It also means avoiding the excesses having to do with our behaviors. That’s to say, to learn to be aware of the contexts and the limits to our verbiage and histrionics.
• Making responsible use of goods and services, being aware of the repercussion that this has on our environment. It also means being aware of the people behind the production and provision of those goods and services. What are their working conditions? How much do they earn?
• Building individuals with personalities based more on introspection, self-discipline, and reflection. This means not depending on the opinion and approval of others.
• Learning to lead a balanced life. For which a controlled and organized way of life based on personal objectives is necessary. A life with adequate time for family and work obligations, as well as for leisure and fun.

Conclusion regarding the value of sobriety

Today we know how complicated it is to find a balance between economic growth, care for the environment, and social welfare. So, educating children on the value of sobriety makes a lot of sense, because people must learn to give things their true and fair value.

And, in this way, with our individual actions, we can contribute so that together we can achieve this balance.