TEACHING GOOD VALUES
HOME FIRST, SCHOOL SECOND
Whether values are taught at home or in school, both need to work in tandem. No school or family can act alone and hope for the child to succeed. This article takes a look at what the family can do in holistic education.
Role models
Parents set the tone. Parents need to be good role models for their children to emulate. Children look up to their parents as leaders, and from young, they will assume that the actions and values of their parents ought to be the right values. Parents should be sensitive around children especially during their early years. They should refrain from scolding or raising their voices in front of others, nor indulge in unhealthy habits such as smoking or heavy drinking in front of their children.
Teach values
Ms. Chew, mother of a teen daughter shares her views on the issue:
“My daughter has good grades; however, she has a terrible attitude at home. She assumes that good grades entitle her to behave however she wants. She frequently comes home late and has picked up drinking and smoking. She does little to help around the house as well. I think we need to teach our kids the right values first before we get so concerned about grades.”
What defines us
Good grades don’t define us, our character and values do. Stellar grades may show that one is hardworking, but it is faceless and does not reflect on who that person is.
Teaching the right values first will make schools a more conducive place to learn. Over time, everyone will benefit from this eco-system. If we instill the mindset of helping one another, the students with better grades can help the weaker ones. This can actually be adopted in the form of a buddy or mentoring system. A stronger student can be paired with a weaker one and he can help to teach the weaker student. This can make learning more fun as well. Students can also learn from their friends and perhaps even spark a love for teaching.