Living Values Education

Among the many efforts to bring values education around the world, Living Values: An Educational Program (LVEP) stands out as one that has global reach and a sound philosphy adaptable for all cultures.

This innovative global character education program offers a wide variety of experiential values activities and practical methodologies to educators, facilitators, parents and caregivers that enable children and young adults to explore and develop twelve universal values. In addition to programs for classrooms and parent groups, LVEP offers special materials for street children, children affected by war and natural disasters.

To learn more, visit the Living Values website.

Following is a report reprinted from the Living Values newsletter on their activities in Beijing, China

Living Values Education has been going from strength to strength in China and is now in use at about 100 schools in Beijing, from where Ms Zhao Yu-ru of the Beijing Institute of Education (BIE) reported with a recent update: “In January 2004, Professor Yuan Chang-huan and Wang Yuan-mei of the BIE went to the nearby city of Tianjin and conducted a LVE workshop for over 100 English teachers from both elementary and secondary schools. Wang Yuan-mei and I also went to Ping-gu county in February and presented LVE to 150 teachers and their leaders from four elementary schools attended.

Meanwhile, Ding-xiang primary school, in Beijing, is making great progress; the Principal attaches much importance to values education. They make use of their website and also have their values classes broadcast on TV; their teachers wrote two articles on values which were published in the magazine “Head teachers”. BIE lecturers paid a follow-up visit in January, watched and videotaped the lessons and then discussed them with the teachers there. They also visited Long Zhua-shu Primary school which has completed a school-based curriculum textbook on values that makes extensive use of LVEP

In Mentougou district, many teachers are getting involved in values education thanks to the inspiration of and training given by Chen Ju-xin, an active LVEP supporter and the leader of the District Moral Education Committee. On 18th March she organized a teachers’ training day for about seventy teachers and some deans of moral education. She wants to build up a network and offer to teachers supporting tools, materials and a platform for exchanging ideas.”

The China National Children’s Centre hosted a training in 2002 and one of the teachers who attended from the Yon-ding-men Railway Kindergarten, Li Shu-fang, reported that she has been making good use of what she learned: “We have combined Values Education and practical life skills with our regular teaching and games.

As soon as children enter the Kindergarten they are shown not to throw rubbish away carelessly and we explain to them about respecting other people’s work and keeping their surroundings clean and beautiful. Our teachers lead all 5-6 year-old children to observe how the school chef washes vegetables, carefully cuts them, cooks everything and then puts the food on children’s table. After observing everything, teachers ask the children about how they should appreciate and respect others’ work. Guidance is also given on learning to say thanks to others, not wasting food and learning to respect others. We have also developed games — including one on laying a railway track and making the train run properly — during which we teach children how to cooperate with others and let them experience how happy they are while doing so; older children let the younger ones wash hands first and show initiative in talking to new children. Once, when a child was ill, nearly all the other children in the class brought their favourite food from home for this child, which touched many parents and teachers. After implementing Living Values Education, our children have many changes in their life and games. They start to know how to respect, consider, collaborate with others and treat people honestly.”

DVD - Living Values: The Beijing Experience