Sathya Sai Primary School

Why Education in Human Values is needed

Research shows that children are seriously disadvantaged if they do not develop good social, emotional and ethical skills. In addition they need to develop a sense of meaning and purpose integrated with a sense of mastery. Unfortunately the majority of the children are disadvantaged in these terms. It is also known that for optimal personality and character development children require to be taught values explicitly. By promoting positive relationships and a positive climate of Human Values, education in human values creates powerful learning dynamics that encourages children to attain their full potential.

As children understand, explore and internalise values, relate with them at a feelings level and develop lively conscience, they take responsibility for their own choices and make them consciously more and more often. These encourage positive self-image, increase confidence and a sense of personal mastery.

When Education in Human Values is introduced into a whole school it offers a strongly positive influence during critical and formative years over several years of schooling. It may be sequenced from simple to complex, from a single to multiple but closely related subvalues. The values to be inculcated may be selected by the school at the beginning of the year as at any subsequent stage. EHV assists the children relating to values at three levels - cognitive, affective and behavioural. Through EHV the child is encouraged to:

• Explore and develop clear understanding of Human Values. This sharpens child's critical thinking, problem solving skills and raises child's awareness of own conscience.
• Raises level of self-awareness, particularly of thoughts about oneself and others, motivation and feelings. Self awareness of feelings and thoughts leads to self-confidence and emotional resiliency.
• Undertake continuous self-evaluation of behaviour. Continuous reflection enables the child to deal with moment to moment decisions and puts the child on a trajectory of continuous moral learning.

Numerous studies have shown that where EHV is introduced the schools become better learning centres; the behaviour improves, respect for self and others increases, the culture of the school improves; co-operation increases and academic standards are lifted. Teachers spend less time on behaviour management and more on academic work. Teacher stress is reduced.

Outcomes of Education in Human Values

As already reviewed research both in Australia and overseas has shown that EHV leads to:

Better academic achievement:

• Improvement in literacy and numeracy. The children become concentrated and able to grasp concepts more easily and the learning environment in the school improves.

Behaviour and Discipline

• Classrooms become more peaceful.
• Incidence of inappropriate behaviours decrease.
• Fights in the playgrounds decrease.
• Children themselves take positive action to reduce conflict.

Interpersonal Skills

• Increased awareness of others
• Increased social skills -
• Better listening skills
• Better conflict resolution
• Better co-operation
• Decrease in vandalism
• Harmonious atmosphere in School

Intrapersonal Skills

• Increased self-confidence
• Better self-concept and self-esteem
• Increased sense of pride
• Emergence of leadership skills in children

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Building the Education Revolution This school has received funding from the Australian Government to undertake infrastructure projects under the Building the Education Revolution component of the Government's Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan.