As a mom who has been an educator for the past 20 years (yes, I began teaching at a very young age) and who has been enjoying the world of Communications and PR for the last 12 years, I’ve always believed that education is about more than just test scores and textbooks. My students and parents I have worked with over the years can attest to this!
It’s about shaping character, nurturing kindness, and teaching our children to be good people. That’s why I feel incredibly grateful that my 6-year-old is attending a school that doesn’t just focus on academics but also on values—honesty, respect, perseverance, and compassion.
This being said, today I am celebrating values in education! Yes, you’ve read it right! Why? It’s because I love celebrating positivity and highlighting it as best as I can.
As such, this post is about values in education and it all comes from looking at my daughter’s educational journey. I know it has only just begun but those who know me would fully understand why! Like any other parent, I want the best for my kids and Longdenville Sathya Sai Primary School has been a pleasant surprise from day 1.
So, what are these values about? For those who don’t know what values in education are about, they are peace, non-violence, love, truth and right-action. These translate to mean Shanti, Ahimsa, Prema, Sathya and Dharma respectively and they are the five pillars which form Sathya Sai Baba’s Education in Human Values program.
Every day, I see the impact of this approach, not just in homework assignments, but in the little things many would take for granted. These moments remind me that education is so much more than memorizing facts; it’s about shaping the kind of person my child will become.
Being able to see first-hand how the values come together is really a truly rewarding experience. How? Let me tell you!
Imagine a place where values are reflected in actions. Imagine studying it like any other subject but living it in every sense! That’s what it is about and it doesn’t deviate from it.
Education in Human Values (EHV) is timetabled! Every theme for every event incorporates it and parents are not left out. Why? How? Parents get to have a very hands on approach to their kids learning. Let’s call it, ‘accepting responsibility’ because essentially that’s what it is. I am really happy that I opted to share some of the cool assignments with the world over time (yes, I did) and I am happy to share them here with you!
Just click on these links and see for yourself! It’s ‘My Community’ using recyclable material, a Christmas hat, a decoration for the tree (where each student had something to add to the tree), a madhatter design using stuff at home and an “Anything but a bag project”. Please, click on the links so you can see for yourself exactly why I am excited about each of these projects:
https://www.clickasnap.com/image/4823032/school-project-using-recyclable-material
https://www.clickasnap.com/image/4224397/christmas-hat
https://www.clickasnap.com/image/3999159/christmas-decoration
https://www.clickasnap.com/image/3999179/madhatter-design
https://www.clickasnap.com/image/4224395/anything-but-a-bag-project
This is just one part of it. Let me share some others:
- I love that the school community is a close knit community.
- I love the way the kids look out for each other.
- There is no discrimination against religion or ethnicity.
- Their school life embodies teamwork and from greeting each other in the morning to taking responsibility for their own actions, the kids are learning that respect isn’t just about being polite—it’s about valuing others and the community they are part of.
- The kids are being taught yoga.
- The kids are learning about healthy living and eating in a very real sense.
There are many other reasons why this school stands out and I promise there is another post to follow!
Celebrating Existence 