Social Values - A Key Learning in Primary Education

When we think about a school curriculum we think of Maths, Science, History, and Economics and so on.  We want schools and teachers to train our children in academics, perform well on tests, prepare them for higher education and enable them to secure good jobs. We pay very little attention to social values, moral education, or picking up healthy habits. Most parents presume this will come naturally to their children and rigorous training is not required. While it is true that children pick up moral values as they grow up it is important to pay close attention to what they are picking up.

Today children are exposed to violence, dishonesty, gender inequality on an everyday basis, either through the media or because many role models set bad examples. Since the child spend most of his waking hours in school, after the home, we must consider what education the school is imparting to counter these negative influences. Awareness of social norms, an understanding of concepts such as equality, respect for others, acceptance of socio-economic differences and the importance of following the law should be explained to children at a young age. And where better to learn this than at school.

Besides building cognitive skills schools should focus helping their students developing attributes such as civic sense, toilet manners, traffic discipline, appreciation of aesthetics and beauty, understanding the impact and consequences of one’s actions (to mention a few). This will not only lay the foundation for a stable adult life but also serve to build a sound society in the future.  Schools must not only teach these values but also assess the absorption of these value in the students. Further, they must be able to train their teachers in developing these attributes in the students.  

The all-important question for parents becomes how do I know that the school I choose for my child pays attention to value education and holistic development? We have a few answers.

• Meet the Leadership and Management Team: A school needs is not just leaders in the conventional sense but people who are willing to ‘show the way’, who can take the responsibility to facilitate a positive environment and allow others to feel empowered.
• Examine the School’s Policies and Practices:  The school’s policies should be geared towards creating a climate imbued with values of caring, respect and compassion. This is central to holistic child development.
• Review Activities in the School: The objective of the activities must be to provide experiential learning in not only knowing values but also practicing values
• Check for Partnership between Home, School and Community: Schools must empower, involve and support parents in the value-oriented education of their wards.

      Attitudes, values and skills cannot be developed by forcing students to memorize words. Concrete experiences and opportunities to think about, to reflect, critically evaluate, appreciate one’s own values and those of others can help children gain a strong value system/ moral code. Schools and teachers wield great power and influence over young minds. When they equip children with tools for self-development, social awareness and rational thinking they train them to be responsible adults of our society.