We need to teach values to students to help them develop a moral compass, make good decisions, and become responsible, empathetic, and caring members of society.
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Teaching values to students is crucial because it helps shape their character and behavior, which in turn influences the kind of society they create. Values drive actions, and teaching students values helps them become more responsible, empathetic, and caring members of society. Values such as honesty, respect, kindness, and perseverance not only make students better individuals but also better citizens.
However, it is important to note that values cannot merely be taught through lectures and speeches; they need to be modeled and practiced as well. Parents, teachers, and other authority figures play a critical role in demonstrating values and modeling them in everyday life. This is because children and young adults learn best by example.
In a time when information is easily accessible, values are becoming increasingly important. As Tim Elmore, the founder and president of “Growing Leaders,” puts it, “The Information Age has been an age of impressive achievement, but unfortunately, values have not kept up with knowledge. . . we’ve never had more information, but we’ve never struggled more with integrity.” Therefore, teaching values along with knowledge is critical to equip students with the tools they need to navigate a rapidly changing world.
Teaching values is not a one-time event; it is a gradual process that takes place throughout a student’s life. It is not limited to classrooms; it can happen in homes, schools, and even through extracurricular activities. A study conducted by the Josephson Institute of Ethics in the US found that schools that teach character and values along with academics had better academic performance, lower rates of drug and alcohol use, and fewer disciplinary problems.
Teaching values also follows a pattern- it begins with self-awareness and self-reflection, and then moves to awareness of others. Students need to learn that their actions and decisions can have a positive or negative impact on others. Finally, values must be applied in real-life situations; students need to learn to make ethical decisions, even when it is difficult.
In conclusion, teaching values to students is essential to their personal and communal growth. As the famous author and moral philosopher Erich Fromm wrote, “Man’s main task in life is to give birth to himself, to become what he potentially is. The most important product of his effort is his own personality.” Therefore, teaching values to students is not just about helping them become better students, but also better human beings who can contribute positively to society.
The Importance of Teaching Values to Students |
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Values help shape character and behavior. |
They make students better individuals and citizens. |
Values need to be modeled and practiced. |
Teaching values along with knowledge is critical. |
It is a gradual process that takes place throughout a student’s life. |
Values follow a pattern- self-awareness, awareness of others, and application. |
Schools that teach values have better performance, lower rates of drug and alcohol use, and fewer disciplinary issues. |
Teaching values helps students become better human beings who can contribute positively to society. |
See a video about the subject
Nicholeen Peck discusses various ways parents can teach values to their children in this video. She suggests reading age-appropriate books that contain stories that convey positive values, followed by discussions between parents and children. Peck advises creating a family standard to outline principles for children to follow, pre-teaching them for success, and preparing them for situations where they may encounter different values in different social settings. She emphasizes teaching children true values that are constant principles to help them form their identity.
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Teaching kids good values and responsibility help them to think from others’ perspective and help others. It might also help them to know their purpose in life and what good things they need to do for others in society. Moral values help people to be more selfless and put the needs of others before themselves.
Here is why there is an inherent need and importance of value education in the present world:
- It helps in taking the right decisions in difficult situations thus improving decision-making abilities.
- It inculcates students with essential values like kindness, compassion and empathy.
- It awakens curiosity in children developing their values and interests. This further helps in skill development in students.