Principal,
Satyug Darshan Vidyalaya
Education plays an important role in shaping up the future of the children. In an attempt to bring value based education to students, Raj Kumar Sharma, Principal, Satyug Darshan Vidyalaya, believes value based education will help in nurturing responsible citizens
Education is a systematic and a planned process of the development of the potential of a being to its maximum, by the harmonious growth of the physical, mental, social, emotional and spiritual qualities inherent in the human. Thereby into an integrated personality and a responsible citizen globally.
As students today are lacking a humanitarian approach hence value based education is the need of the hour. It is a teaching framework in which values are taught both explicitly in the classroom and implicitly by example. The framework consists of teaching tools and techniques. It involves the development of the school environment that expresses and practices positive universal values. Children witness and engage with those values to guide and inform their behaviour. Value based education provides a successful environment for teaching and learning of the full range of the academic, social and interpersonal skills.
Value based education approach offers a new way of thinking about education and how children can be supported to become successful and happy members of the global society. It encourages reflective and inspirational attributes and attitudes. They can be nurtured to help people, discover the very best of themselves which enables them to be good global citizens and prepares them for the professional life.
In value based schools, students develop a secure sense of “SELF”. They become more empowered to take responsibility of their own learning. They develop academic diligence when they are involved with a value based school. They develop rational trust. They become articulate and able to talk freely. Students can understand much more deeply their work and their lives. Value based education also promotes an effective learning and under pins the continuous improvement of the personal, social, moral and economic well being. It is an investment in individual capability and self-responsibility and its product.
Impact of Value Based Education on Schools
Values based schools emphasize value education in their curriculum and teaching. As a consequence, students become academically more diligent, the school assumes more peaceful ambience, better student-teacher relationships are forged, student and teacher wellbeing improves and parents become more engaged with the school.
Explicit teaching of values provides a common ethical language for talking about interpersonal behaviour. It also provides a mechanism for self-regulated behaviour. An important outcome is a more settled school which enhances quality teaching and an improved student performance.
Academic Diligence
Students show an increased attentiveness in class and a greater capacity to work independently, assume more responsibility for their own learning ask questions, work together more cooperatively, take greater care and effort in their schoolwork, take more pride in their efforts.
School Ambience
School ambience includes a decrease in the conflict among students. There is a demon stration of a greater empathy, honesty and integrity. Students become more tolerant and cooperative in their interactions. Classrooms and playgrounds become safer and more harmonious. Greater kindness and tolerance among students is seen. Students take greater responsibility with school equipment and routine tasks.
Value based education approach offers a new way of thinking about education and how children can be supported to become successful and happy members of the global society. It encourages reflective and inspirational attributes and attitudes. They can be nurtured to help people, discover the very best of themselves which enables them to be good global citizens and prepares them for the professional life
Student-teacherRelationships
Student-teacher relationships become more trustworthy. More democratic classrooms are established. Teachers give students more power by allowing them choices in learning activities. Teachers become more conscious of scaffolding students to manage their own behaviour or resolve conflict with others. Teachers seek opportunities to acknowledge and reinforce appropriate behaviour. They listen to students and respond to their concerns and opinions. Students perceive that teachers treat them fairly and thus behave more respectfully, politely and courteously towards them.
Student-teacherWellbeing
Students feel a greater sense of connectivity and belongingness. They gain a greater capacity for self-reflection and self-appraisal. They develop a greater capacity for regulating their own and their peers’ behaviour. Teachers receive collegial support, strong leadership, confidence and knowledge through opportunities for professional development and through staff collaboration. They re-examine their practices and role. The relation & trust among staff and between teachers and families get fostered.
Thus, in a nut shell, when values education is explicit, a common language is established among students, staff and families. This not only leads to greater understanding of the targeted values but also provides a positive focus for redi recting children’s inappropriate behaviour. Teachers perceive that explicitly teaching values and developing empathy in students results in more responsible, focused and cooperative classrooms and equipped students striving for better learning and social outcomes. When values are explicitly endorsed, acknowledged and valued within a school culture, it becomes incumbent on schools to ensure that staff, as well as students are both benefacto rs and recipients in respectful and caring interactions. The common focus draws teachers together to create a collaborative and cohesive school community that support teachers to do their job more effectively. This has important ramifications for students’ academic progress and wellbeing.
