Values Values EducationEducation

VALUES EDUCATION: SETTING VALUES EDUCATION: SETTING THE CONTEXTTHE CONTEXT

““We live in difficult times when peace and We live in difficult times when peace and human security are facing new challenges human security are facing new challenges at the individual and global levelat the individual and global level

Education is a key dimension of the long Education is a key dimension of the long term process of building peace, tolerance, term process of building peace, tolerance, justice and intercultural understanding- the justice and intercultural understanding- the reorientation of education to create a reorientation of education to create a better world is truly urgent.”better world is truly urgent.”

Koichiro Matsuura Director-General of UNESCOKoichiro Matsuura Director-General of UNESCO

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT VALUES EDUCATIONVALUES EDUCATION

Values education is not new or something Values education is not new or something extra, it is building upon what already existsextra, it is building upon what already exists

Values education is on both national and Values education is on both national and state agendasstate agendas

Values can be personalised, politicised and Values can be personalised, politicised and contestedcontested

Values education can strengthen students Values education can strengthen students self esteem, optimism and help students to self esteem, optimism and help students to exercise ethical judgement and social exercise ethical judgement and social responsibilityresponsibility

What is new is progress towards a conscious, explicit What is new is progress towards a conscious, explicit and planned approach to values education for all and planned approach to values education for all students in all schoolsstudents in all schools

VALUES EDUCATIONVALUES EDUCATIONA challenging and complex domainA challenging and complex domainWhose values? Which values?Whose values? Which values?What is the content of a valuesWhat is the content of a valueseducation curriculum?education curriculum?

Should values be taught in schools?Should values be taught in schools?

What pedagogies can be used to teach What pedagogies can be used to teach values?values?

VALUES EDUCATIONVALUES EDUCATION

Any explicit and/or implicit school Any explicit and/or implicit school based activity which promotes based activity which promotes student understanding and student understanding and knowledge of values, and which knowledge of values, and which develops the skills and dispositions of develops the skills and dispositions of students so they can enact particular students so they can enact particular values as individuals and as values as individuals and as members of the wider communitymembers of the wider community

Approaches to Values Approaches to Values EducationEducation

Providing a place in the curriculum for specifically Providing a place in the curriculum for specifically studying values– their nature and significance in our life-studying values– their nature and significance in our life-choices, and how one goes about justifying them and choices, and how one goes about justifying them and negotiating value agreements in the group: in short, negotiating value agreements in the group: in short, studying the “discipline” of values discourse.studying the “discipline” of values discourse.

Values Education Programs:Values Education Programs:Drug Education, Religious Education, Program Achieve, Drug Education, Religious Education, Program Achieve, Social Skills Programs Social Skills Programs

Service Learning ApproachesService Learning Approaches Service learning provides the Service learning provides the

opportunity for opportunity for studentsstudents to learn and to learn and develop through active participation develop through active participation to meet a specific community need.to meet a specific community need.

Students experience success in Students experience success in helping others and learn to view helping others and learn to view themselves differently.themselves differently.

World ViewsWorld Views Values don’t exist in a vacuum – they come out Values don’t exist in a vacuum – they come out

of the beliefs we hold about the worldof the beliefs we hold about the world We need to understand why people hold We need to understand why people hold

different values and why they behave differentlydifferent values and why they behave differently The overall perspective from which one sees The overall perspective from which one sees

and interprets the worldand interprets the world A collection of beliefs about life or the universe A collection of beliefs about life or the universe

held by an individual or a groupheld by an individual or a group It is the root, the source, from which our It is the root, the source, from which our

thoughts, values, actions and feelings spring.thoughts, values, actions and feelings spring.

A Whole School ApproachA Whole School Approach Involves all members of the school Involves all members of the school

community (students, parents, teachers, community (students, parents, teachers, community members)community members)

Acknowledges that values learning occurs Acknowledges that values learning occurs not only through the formal curriculum but not only through the formal curriculum but across all experiences in a student’s school across all experiences in a student’s school lifelife

Ensures students receive consistent values Ensures students receive consistent values messagesmessages

Promotes the sharing of a common vision Promotes the sharing of a common vision and common languageand common language

Whole School ApproachWhole School ApproachValues reflected across the whole school in:Values reflected across the whole school in: the articulated school mission, purpose the articulated school mission, purpose

and valuesand values all school policies and guidelinesall school policies and guidelines the behaviour of students, teachers, school the behaviour of students, teachers, school

staff & parentsstaff & parents the curricula and learning materials in all the curricula and learning materials in all

subject areassubject areas the teaching/learning process, the teaching/learning process,

methodology, pedagogymethodology, pedagogy the whole school culture and the whole school culture and environmentenvironment

Good PracticeGood Practice Establishes a shared values language Establishes a shared values language

across the schoolacross the school Explicitly teaches and models valuesExplicitly teaches and models values Uses a range of learning strategies Uses a range of learning strategies Enhances student agencyEnhances student agency Develops approaches relevant to the Develops approaches relevant to the

local contextlocal context Gathers data for continuous Gathers data for continuous

improvementimprovement

PedagogiesPedagogies Active learningActive learning Action research / Inquiry / Problem Action research / Inquiry / Problem

SolvingSolving Community based / Service learningCommunity based / Service learning Critical literacyCritical literacy Student Action Teams / Student Student Action Teams / Student

MentoringMentoring Socratic CirclesSocratic Circles

Where Does Values Education Where Does Values Education Fit in the Curriculum? Fit in the Curriculum?

    civics and citizenship educationcivics and citizenship education    environmental education, sustainable futuresenvironmental education, sustainable futures international and global educationinternational and global education indigenous studies, languages and multicultural educationindigenous studies, languages and multicultural education    history, philosophy, social sciences history, philosophy, social sciences health and human developmenthealth and human development sciences – ethical dilemmas, problem solvingsciences – ethical dilemmas, problem solving math, economics (equity issues –gap between haves/have-math, economics (equity issues –gap between haves/have-

nots)nots)    media & ICTs – critical thinking, discernment, choosing media & ICTs – critical thinking, discernment, choosing

screen-based informationscreen-based information

NATIONAL VALUES FRAMEWORKNATIONAL VALUES FRAMEWORK

A stimulus for discussions about valuesA stimulus for discussions about values A vehicle for promoting greater A vehicle for promoting greater

understanding and explicitness of school understanding and explicitness of school values including:values including:

A context, underpinning vision based on A context, underpinning vision based on the National Goals for Schooling For the the National Goals for Schooling For the 2121stst Century Century

Guiding principles, key elements and Guiding principles, key elements and practical guidance for schools in practical guidance for schools in implementing values educationimplementing values education

THE FRAMEWORK’S VISIONTHE FRAMEWORK’S VISION All Australian schools will promote values All Australian schools will promote values

education in a planned and systematic education in a planned and systematic way by:way by:

Developing student responsibility in local, Developing student responsibility in local, national and global contextsnational and global contexts

Building student resilience and social skills Building student resilience and social skills Ensuring values are incorporated in school Ensuring values are incorporated in school

policies and teaching programs policies and teaching programs Articulating the school’s mission/ethosArticulating the school’s mission/ethos Reviewing the outcomes of their values Reviewing the outcomes of their values

education practiceseducation practices

CORE VALUES FOR CORE VALUES FOR AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLINGAUSTRALIAN SCHOOLING

Care and compassionCare and compassion Doing your bestDoing your best Fair goFair go FreedomFreedom Honesty and trustworthinessHonesty and trustworthiness IntegrityIntegrity Respect Respect ResponsibilityResponsibility Understanding, tolerance and inclusionUnderstanding, tolerance and inclusion

Whose values? Whose voices?Whose values? Whose voices?

““Where every value is defined you’ll Where every value is defined you’ll find a totalitarian society.find a totalitarian society.

Rather, we need to engage with Rather, we need to engage with students in dialogue and deep students in dialogue and deep thinking about valuesthinking about values.”.”

Professor Lee Win On, Professor & Principal Lecturer , Hong Professor Lee Win On, Professor & Principal Lecturer , Hong Kong Institute for Education –National Values Forum 2005Kong Institute for Education –National Values Forum 2005

Gaps in our knowledgeGaps in our knowledge How are we preparing young people How are we preparing young people

for recognising and understanding for recognising and understanding values issues that are complex and values issues that are complex and difficult in Australia’s changing difficult in Australia’s changing society?society?

What is the role of criticism and non What is the role of criticism and non conformity in values education?conformity in values education?

Other gapsOther gaps How are we preparing How are we preparing all all teachers to teachers to

be values educators?be values educators? How do we more effectively engage How do we more effectively engage

parents and communities in values parents and communities in values education partnerships?education partnerships?

How do we address values education How do we address values education in non mainstream school contexts?in non mainstream school contexts?

How do we report meaningfully on How do we report meaningfully on values learning outcomes?values learning outcomes?

RELATED INITIATIVESRELATED INITIATIVES National School Drug Education StrategyNational School Drug Education Strategy National Safe Schools FrameworkNational Safe Schools Framework Mind Matters Program Mind Matters Program Discovering Democracy ProjectDiscovering Democracy Project Global EducationGlobal Education National Environment and Sustainable National Environment and Sustainable

Education Statement for Australian Education Statement for Australian Schools (2005)Schools (2005)

National Statement – Engaging Students National Statement – Engaging Students with Asia (work in progress 2005)with Asia (work in progress 2005)