10 reasons to Cultivate Virtues in Schools
“Values are the seeds from which all behavior grows.”
1. Value-based schools and homes develop value-driven children.
WHY: Children who demonstrate respect, compassion, cooperation, integrity, a positive mental attitude, perseverance, and initiative are the children who will make a difference and stand out in the world of tomorrow. In value-based schools and homes, adults cultivate core ethical virtues and learn the importance of living ethical lives. Children are required to choose the values to live by, and then, live the values that they have chosen.
HOW: Value posters are displayed on the refrigerator door and throughout the home to remind children of the importance of family values. They will learn that “Kindness is the language the deaf can hear, and the blind can see.” Children have success mobiles hanging in their classroom and/or bedrooms which serve as daily reminders to “find a way, don’t make excuses.” Special cards
with Monday Messages entitled “Stroke and Growth Notes” are placed on the chalk boards, in the child’s lunch bag, or under their pillow, to remind them to demonstrate respect, compassion, and cooperation.
“We deserve what our attitudes produce!”
2. Children who are clear about their values have minimum problems in decision making!
WHY: When children know “it’s not who is right, but what is right,” they then work toward a resolution to problems, rather than becoming consumed by the problem. When there is a problem, if the teacher refers back to one of the yearly value themes, then the child has a clear reference point. One of the children may remember the song “Working It Out With Words,” while another may
repeat the rap — “we can do it, we can do it, if we put our minds to it!” It’s important that children know that there is a way to settle a dispute peacefully using words, not violence.
HOW: Teach children that “language is the mediator of value-driven behavior.” Problem solving strategies are listed in a school notebook to serve as a reminder to children of how to solve problems. Children learn all kinds of problem solving strategies. For example, “If someone can get your goat, you’ve got a goat to get!” Children recognize that problems are merely questions waiting to be solved. Adults can invite children to construct a class or home newspaper full of solutions, strategies, pictures of ways to
solve various problems!
“If a civilization does not clarify what it’s values and beliefs are, they tend to negate one thing after another.”
3. Children learn how to respect others when there is a program on respect.
WHY: Countless hours have been wasted by parents, by schools, by communities, and by individuals, describing children who demonstrate a lack of respect. Unfortunately people tend to describe what they don’t have, rather than invest in developing strategies and programs for implementing what they need! Schools and communities will continue to fail to develop respectful citizens as long as they continue to cry “I don’t get any respect,” or “all I need is a little respect,” or “kids don’t show any respect.”
HOW: The answer lies in developing relationships with children and by showing them respect. People who demand respect the most are often the people who deserve it the least! Values in Action! is a program that trains children to initiate respect! As children show respect, they are affirmed and recognized by writing their names on a “golden nugget” which is then put in a pot at the end of the “Rainbow of Respect.” This Rainbow of Respect bulletin board shows the different kinds of respect: Respect for Self, Respect for Others, Respect of the Environment, and Respect for Democratic Ideals. If you take care of respect in your classroom, home, community everything else is taken care of!
“Ideals are like stars. We may never reach them, but they can help us chart our course.”
4. Cooperation and collaboration are priorities in a value-driven school and home!
WHY: It has become clear that cooperation is one of the super values which needs to be taught. There are many different examples of cooperation, such as “the moon doesn’t shine without the sun!,” or “one hand washes the other!” If there is any place where people fail it is in relationships. The forces in the world are pulling people apart!
HOW: Cooperation and collaboration can be introduced to the children through a bee hive. “Bee-Connected — Cooperate.” Bees are one of the best examples of cooperation and team work. They serve as an outstanding symbol for children. One type of bee gathers pollen, another makes the honey, another type of bee fans the hive to keep it cool, while still another lays the eggs. The word team is another way of teaching cooperation. The four letters in the word stand for Together Everyone Achieves More. Children never forget
T.E.A.M. when they see it on a poster displayed in their classroom or in their bedroom. Children need to understand that while individuals are paramount a group of people can outperform any individual. Some of our greatest leaders, inventors, athletes , people had mentors , strength coaches, spiritual advisors, trainers, support groups etc.
“Service is the rent we pay for our life here on earth!”
5. Rules and laws alone will not improve our society!
WHY: Rules and laws equal ethics only in a perfect society. In our imperfect world, we must make room for ethic awareness. Homes, schools, and communities that expend great amounts of energy on rules and regulations often miss what’s behind them. Rules come from ethics, so it makes sense to visit the source of all rules — ethics! while laws impact a part of our life we encounter moral and ethical dilemmas everywhere we turn. We are continually faced with the struggle between immediate vs long term gratification. When impulses win we often fall short of the ethical standards that make us strong!
HOW: Ethical shortcuts and situational ethics destroys standards. Teachers and Parents have the responsibility of passing values and ethics on to their children, from one generation to another so we have guiding principles to live our lives. Parenting and schooling is a multi-generational responsibility. Every home and classroom needs a “Code Of Ethics” We need to cultivate in every child the “E” word. We need to help our children understand that ethics is all about the way we work for things to become not the way they
presently exist! Avoid promoting “Do your Best Messages” A more powerful message that guide children to live ethical lives is ” Do a little bit better today then we did yesterday.” Develop under construction folders and keep yesterday journals to monitor our daily progress.
“Rules and laws come from ethics!”
6. When children encounter problems, schools with a values program have clear performance and behavior reference points.
WHY: Have you noticed an absence of the “Others” curriculum? Getting along with others is not a things that is a natural human priority. Showing compassion and empathy toward those in need tends to be placed on the “When I have time” Calendar. Everyone has a different set of experiences and fears that are most often different from ours and require an empathic listener .
HOW: At a small table , a child fills out a behavior report which requires a parent’s signature. The plan deals with improving behavior . A conference is held with the parentSecondary Schools and the child. The child is asked to explain the plan, telling what will be done the next time that a similar situation arises. During the conference, adults state that it always takes two to fight! Anyone can choose to walk away from a fight! The adults models how to disarm a person’s anger, and invites the child to review the 7 body parts chart with a reference to the heart! The child shares what has been learned from the theme on compassion regarding understanding others and accepting other’s perceptions as legitimate. The adults close the conference by talking about the child’s responsible record, and by confirming a belief in the child’s ability to be a compassionate person. The child is invited to design a value poster to post on his bedroom wall.
“No one can make you angry with out your permission!”
7. A values program fosters personal responsibility and initiative in each child.
WHY: We live in a world where it’s hard to find people who acknowledge what they do! People tend to make excuses for their irresponsible behavior rather than acknowledge what they do! Children will become responsible when they experience an intentional emphasis and curriculum in Responsibility Management. The reality is that most discipline programs focus on natural & logical consequences and rarely on solutions and strategies for being a responsible person!
HOW: A five year old once spelled initiative, then said that “it means you get involved “in it”, without anyone telling you to help!” During a yearly school theme on initiative, students wore T-shirts which read “If it needs to be done, I’ll be the one!” Children were trained and encouraged to find answers, not make excuses. They shared stories about how they found ways to get their homework finished, while others seem to make excuses.
A value based program acknowledges responsible behavior when it occurs and invites the students to verbalize the responsible action! Values in Action! schools and homes have programs for “turning children in” for being responsible.
“The highest form of personal responsibility is initiative!”
8. A values program will develop an understanding, an appreciation, and an acceptance of diversities in children and in their cultures!
WHY: As violence, indifference, profanity, and abuse escalate, the need for compassion increases. Love becomes the most dynamic force against the most destructive force.
HOW: Schools and homes with value based programs invite children to sit in a care chair, or give children care cards when they demonstrate compassion toward themselves and others. Care and concern are expressed everywhere! The teacher holds a ruler up from her brain to her heart (12 inches away) and talks to the children about the need to make heart decisions not just head decisions.
The home and the school work hard to build a bridge of compassion from themselves to others. Youngsters discovers that when love and skill work together, results can be expected. Student posters with thoughts on love are placed around the school. These include such sayings as “Perfect Love has No Fear.” “We can do no great things in our lives only small things with great love” Mother Theresa
“Children need reminders more than they need to be informed!”
9. Values develop inner strength and integrity which builds a “you-can-count-on-me” generation!
WHY: Integrity and truthfulness are very scarce in today’s world. It is much easier to say what “sound good” or what makes us “look good,” than to tell the total and complete truth without hurting others! Telling lies becomes a trap and a way of life. It is only through a daily commitment to modeling integrity, that our children will develop into trustworthy adults.
HOW: We can begin to build trust by writing down on a chart all the ways you can count on me because I’m a person of Integrity! After each demonstration of integrity, children put their name and act of integrity on a paper leaf, then hang it on the Integrity Tree. The entire classroom, school, and family memorizes the integrity creed.
You can count on me. I am a person of integrity.
Everyday I will be a little more truthful than I
was the day before. I am a person of integrity;
you can count on me!
Gene Bedley
Children learn that while they don’t live in a world that demonstrates integrity, they can create a small corner within their world where integrity lives. They also learn that a person of integrity will stand out in the world of tomorrow!
“Speak the truth in love!”
10. A value-driven program develops children with a positive mental attitude who have determination and perseverance.
WHY: Determination and perseverance are the character traits which must be learned in order to achieve even moderate success in life. Giving up, and thinking that things are just too hard, are attitudes which will cause many problems. We meet more people who confirm it can’t be accomplished than those who affirm it can be done! When you meet someone with perseverance you never forget them. Their determination, fortitude and persistence are like wet paint It rubs off on everyone they meet.
HOW: Those who persevere are the people who will make a difference in the world. Children should learn to never give up by putting a line through the word QUIT! They can learn to aspire higher and persist longer! By studying those who have achieved success in various area of life beginning with the little engine that could! In an environment that focuses on positive energy, children will learn that sustained energy enables people to set and reach high goals. Inner desire motivates people to action.
“There is nothing greater than persistence!”
– Gene Bedley