Teachers and Parents: Agents of A Child's Complete Education
Teachers and Parents: Agents of A Child's Complete Education
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CHAPTER 2 Each person develops a unique set of values. This assertion rests on the unique life
experiences, influences, fulfilment of basic needs (food, shelter, security etc.), and people in
THE IMPORTANCE OF VALUES a person's life. However, all unique values can be grouped into categories.
Singh (2009) identifies 6 sets of values inherent to a person. These values are
Introduction captured basically from the various influences in the living spaces of a human person. these
values are individualistic, family, professional, national, moral and spiritual values.
We consider something as important when it has great significance, value, or
consequence. How do values then become important in our lives? There are many • Individualistic values refer to the inborn value of self-preservation. This means that a
definitions of values: "A value is a belief upon which one acts by preference" (Allport, 1950); person's well-being is of utmost importance. Every child starts with individualistic values. It
"A value is a conception, explicit or implicit of the desirable which influences the selection is in the nature of a child to want everything OF himself or herself and that everyone
from available modes, means, and ends of action (Kluckhohn, 1951); and "A value is the surrounding him (o her) are meant to serve his (or her) needs. The individualistic values can
object of a positive attitude" (Bulatao, 1961). While the terms used in the definitions differ, be considered as the most basic set of values.
there appears to be an agreement that values influence behavior. Values therefore are
irnportant in our lives because of their intimate link and impact to our behavior. Bulatao • Family values refer to values that stems forth from a person's relationship with his or her
(1961) declares "our values color our human acts and are reflected in every product of our family. The family, which is the basic unit of the society, pervades the value system of a
human soul." person with reference to closeness and solidarity, politeness, hospitality, and gratitude.
Our lives are shaped by those who loved us, and by those who refuse to love us The family nurtures each individual in the best possible way that they know. In a
(Powell, 1975). Undeniably, we are molded by the people whom we have related with. Our family system, each member performs complementary functions in order to help each other
personal relationships (family, friends, teachers, neighbors) and the social consciousness succeed as a person. The parents ensure the continuity of the value and tradition they have
have significant contributions in our thinking processes, behavior, decision-making, as a family. It is important to take into consideration that both the mother and the father
preferences, and value system. carries with them different values and it is crucial to teach the right values to their children.
Singh wrote:
It is our human interactions that we are able to witness first – hand and imbibe the
correct (and incorrect) behavior responses to life events. From these learned behavior- "In the family system, the interest of each member of the family is protected
responses we draw out our preferred actions which in turn become guides for our behavior. through an unwritten law as love and trust alone governs the management of a family. The
Our derived values (values adopted from the people who have significantly influenced us) entire system of family value is maintained by tradition and trust. However, when family
and chosen values (those which upon our personal experience and introspection have found values are strong, it results in the reduction of individual freedom and decline in the
to be correct and true and thus have committed ourselves to) explicitly tell us who we are as individual values. Every person has to think for the family first and the self as secondary."
a person and pervades our human life. Understandably, values can change and be modified
depending on the person's experiences, influences, and life stage. Values can also be • Professional values refer to the values acquired from the different organizations and
appreciated as standards used in making a decision (Lynch, 1961). For example, a child who workplaces in the society. Man develops a set of values from the practice of his or her
grows up in a rural locality may form new set of values once relocated to an urban setting. profession. It is very important to understand that each profession has its own set of values
This is because values differ between funnily and generations, regions and cultures. which sometimes contradict the values of another profession. Yet, these values are
necessary to keep the professionals united and working together for the common good. An
example of contradicting professional values will be the appreciation for human life from an
educator's point of view against that of a law enforcer. While teachers will never promote
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the killing of a person, a police officer will readily take a man's life given the necessary 2. What are your different sets of values? Can you identify the set of values that your
circumstances. Professional values may differ but it actualizes the mission and responsibility students are coming from?
of each person in the society. Filipino professional values such as social acceptance, 3. Can you identify significant values that you have imbibed from the family, school, and
("pakikisama," "amor propio," economic, security, "pagrnamay-ari") are discovered, learned, community? Do you think our sources of values come from one significant institution or a
and practiced while an individual finds meaning in the workplace. combination of the family, school and society?
Values Education
• National values are commonly codified in the national laws has to of a particular country.
These laws seek to grant equality and justice to all its citizens. The national values are In an attempt to respond to this challenge, a good number of schools have already
appropriated in order to protect the citizens by particularly emphasizing their rights and reviewed their curriculum and integrated values in subject areas. Value integration is a
privileges as persons. At the same time, each individual is tasked to love the, country her as commendable move to address the dichotomy between belief and practice.
a sign solidarity and patriotism. It is also important to take note that human values have a
social aspect. The government official who demands "porsiyento", the fireman or policeman Robb (1988) defines values education as "an activity which can take place in any
who extorts "tong" or "Iagay" for a ese service which is his duty, all contribute to the organization during which people are assisted by others, who may be older, in authority or
worsening graft and corruption. We are all responsible for one of another ("tayong lahat ay more experienced, to make explicit those values underlying the, own behavior, to assess the
may pananagutan sa isa't-isa") (Gorospe, 2011). effectiveness of these values and associated behavior for their own and others' long term
well-being and to reflect on and acquire other values and behavior which they themselves
• Moral and Spiritual values are ethical values which are naturally developed in each realize are more effective for long term well-being of self and others."
individual because we are created with dignity and respect for life. Every person desires to
be loved and be respected by other people in the society. The natural tendency to love and Values education is therefore a process by which a mature adult assists learner to
respect others discover, choose, and act with the goal of attaining one's personal well-being as well as that
moves us to practice these values. In addition, the belief of each Individual to a Supreme of the society. It must be made clear however that values education is not indoctrination. In
Being calls us to believe that we have a higher purpose on earth that each creature is fact, a successful values education program should develop critically—minded persons who
created with a purpose and that is to love and to share the beauty of life bestowed to US by are able to synthesize, see connections, evaluate arguments and then decide on the proper
God. Filipinos deep trust in God ("paniniwalo to Diyos", "bathala" or "Maykapal") basically course of action. In continuously choosing what is right and moral, the young person's
influenced by the Spaniards who Christianized the country. actions develop into good habits which then become the pillars of appropriate values.
Hence, upon knowing the different sets of values that a person develops over time There are many agents of values education. Parents act as primary agents of values
in his life, it is important to acknowledge that in order to understand a person, one should education. Vatican II asserts the family as the domestic Church which "inculcates religious
know and therefore understand his beliefs and values. Each individual is formed by the beliefs, attitudes, morals, and social conscience." Monera and Marco (2006) add that the
different sets of values. Thus each person sees things according to their own belief and "modelling of parents are indispensable. The parents, in the, most fundamental function,
values (Thomlinson, 1953). Trying to find a common area of good understanding will help are expected to safeguard, reproduce, and transmit religious and cultural values."
two individuals create an excellent dialogue and open communication.
In partnership with the parents, school teachers (in loco parentis) also carry the
Questions for Reflection: immense responsibility of forming young people to become value-laden productive citizens
1. Can you come up with your own definition of values? Do you agree that values influence of the society. Newman and Blehl (1963) even go to the extent of describing an ideal
our behavior? education as "almost prophetic in its knowledge of history; it is almost heart-searching from
its knowledge of human nature; it has almost supernatural charity from its freedom from
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littleness and prejudice; it has almost the repose of faith because nothing can startle it; it governments, arenas of power and other human exploits have brought numerous social ills
has almost the beauty and harmony of heavenly contemplation, so intimate is with the of which we are challenged to identify, correct, and fight against. Values education and the
eternal order of things and the music of the spheres." teacher must make the students discover that there is a way to make this world a better
place. Values education can be a tool in the dialectical process of finding solutions to social
ills where opposing orientations are appreciated in their mutual interactions toward
Teaching is a never, ending quest of helping learning achieve knowledge, skills and advancement or growth.
values. Hence, teachers should the first one to model good behavior in and out of the To teach values in these post-modern times is a necessity. If teachers are to form
school. upright persons who are actively involved in social change then they must rise up to the
challenge of becoming paragons of virtue.
Teachers are the best visual aid inside the classroom. Zulueta & Guimbatan (2002)
share the following desirable characteristics of a teacher:
Questions for Reflection:
• Emotionally stable and with sound mental health 1. In your opinion, is values education still relevant today? Why?
• Good physical health and dynamic personality 2. What are the most important values that we have to teach our students so that they can
• Creativity, resourcefulness and good countenance properly respond to the challenges brought about by globalization, secularization and
• Good grooming, good example in word and actions modernization?
• Has positive outlook in life 3. How can we effectively teach values?
• Friendly and sociable
• Firm yet has democratic leadership
• Encouraging attitude and morally upright
Values education will be futile if it ends with just the empowerment of the person to
solve his (or her) personal or private matters. It should also be seen as a powerful tool to
move the young (who will also be adults soon) to look and respond to the more serious
aspects of life and the many ills that plague the society. The world of the workplace,
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