Education in Values- Strategies and Challenges

for Value Education 

OUTLINE• Introduction

• Values

• Value Based Spiritual Education (VBSE)

• Strategies to Implement VBSE

• Meditation for Regulation of Mind

• Challenges

• Conclusions

INTRODUCTION

Past Education Scenario• Education imparted by Rishis/Maharishis• Gurukulavasam• Rishis were trikalajnanis-knowing everything from the

past, present and future as well as knowing everything that is to be known from the past, present and future. In a sense, therefore, they imparted knowledge coming from the past, they imparted knowledge from the present based on their own spiritual experiences and in a sense, imparted knowledge of the future from their own vision of the distant future in which they alone had access.

• Joint Family System-great deal of care, love and well

being. The old received as much care and attention as the very young and the children were shared by all as a sort of common wealth, and a source of joy and happiness . Story Telling have always been an effective way of presenting values, concepts and ideas to children and adults alike.

Present Education Scenario• There is supposedly more ‘Education’ now,

but there is also more Corruption– more Greed– more Selfishness– more Poverty– Lack of sincerity and integrity.

• Why?

Because, now Education is

- synonymous with a) Examinationb) Employment &c) Empowerment

Unfortunately it no more stands for

a) Emancipation b) Ennoblement and c) Evolution

Education Today

• Non-existence of gurukulasampradaya as well as joint family system has adversely affected the present education scenario.

• Absence of a holistic approach and an imbalanced growth of knowledge –dealing only with external world around us and not related to the inner-self of an individual.

• Misdirected educational system --- instead of developing a person as a humane human being it is only directed towards superficial, surface level achievements.

• Designed purely for money-making and not for man- making and only promotes negative qualities like jealousy, hatred and rivalry instead of virtues like kindness, compassion and honesty .

Then, what exactly is the true meaning of

“Education”Does Education

Make one wiser? Happier? Contented? Make one a better human being?

Or is there something more to Education?

Yes, of course, education is not just this.

Then what Then what isis Real education? Real education?

What should be its role? What should be its role?

EducationEducationIs not mere stuffing of facts.

Education is for the actualization of the potential already in children.Education is really the process of removing the ignorance that is covering our inner knowledge, which is absolute, which is perfect, which is eternal, which is supreme. (Chariji)

Education is for a Holistic LIFE and not for a mere living.

‘Education’ needs to be enriched with VALUES.

Now, to understand the concept of

Value based Value based Spiritual EducationSpiritual Education,

We must first see what “Values” really mean.

What are Values ?What are Values ?

Values are Standards

or Principles Considered important in life

Values

coming from Being

within Practiced

? ?

Values From withinValues From within

1.1.LoveLove

2.2.KindnessKindness

3.3.CompassionCompassion

4.4.MercyMercy

5.5.SympathySympathy

6.6.EmpathyEmpathy

Values to be PractisedValues to be Practised

1.1.PunctualityPunctuality

2.2.DisciplineDiscipline

3.3.ObedienceObedience

4.4.BehaviourBehaviour

5.5.ConductConduct

6.6.CharacterCharacter

Why Values?Why Values?

• Values bring quality and meaning to life

• Values give a person his identity and character

• Values act as guidelines—they tell him what he should and should not do.

They make us realize that

WHAT WE AREWHAT WE ARE

Is more important than

What We HaveWhat We Have

• Character

• Good conduct

• Moral Integrity

• Self Discipline

Education in Values or Value education helps in developing

Education in Values or Value education helps in developing

• Compassion

• Love for all living beings

• Responsibility

and many other positive qualities in the students.

And above all…

It makes them feel better about themselves!It makes them feel better about themselves!

It becomes a second nature to them to be disciplined, punctual etc.

Their academic performance goes up.And they are able to spend

more time on learning.

And … as time goes on,

Role of Value EducationRole of Value Education

• In spite of all this, Value education is not given enough prominence in the curriculum.

• Is it because it is not a course which can be tested and graded?

• Is it because the result of the teaching cannot be seen immediately?

• Or is it because we think students will learn the values somehow or the other and it is not our responsibility?

Whose responsibility is it anyway?Whose responsibility is it anyway?

Isn’t imparting values the responsibility of parents? Yes, it is. But teachers and schools play a BIG role too.

• Students spend more time in the campus .• Campus forms the bridge between home and

the society.• It is in schools and later in the colleges that

students learn how to behave in the society.• It is in schools & colleges that a good value

system can be nurtured.

Role of Government

National Education Policy of our government insist on establishing a Centre for Value Education in all universities and institutes of higher education with the sole purpose of imbibing human values in their campuses

But, Activities of CVE ?

Limited to mere conduct of expert lectures/discourses on values, ethics, morality education etc. and/or indulging in community/social service.

There is no conscious effort made anywhere to bring about internal change in an individual. Anything good must sprout from inside so that the external body can reflect the beauty of it in all its glory.

This harmony between inner and external process is termed as ‘Spiritual Civilisation’

So, what is needed?• There is an urgent need for change – changing from

what we are to what we have to become; • Change from ambitions to aspirations. The

importance and urgency of change must be brought forth through our education system.

• We need education to understand the value of education and the value of further education.

• Since values are caught rather than taught, it is imperative to devise other meaningful and pragmatic strategies to help in personal evolution, embracing all aspects of existence.

Education in Values

• Now that the holistic vision of life-oriented education was found to be insufficient for the upliftment of mankind, ‘Values in education” peeped its existence in the educational scenario.

• But this has proved to be a futile attempt and a shift has been made to "Education in Values".

• This, in other words means, the imparting of ‘Value Based Spiritual Education’, abbreviated as VBSE

Where does Value education fit into the curriculum?

Where does Value education fit into the curriculum?

EverywhereEverywhere• Students are not born with a set of values.

• Students unconsciously imbibe all kinds of values from their parents, teachers and peers, all the time. So, in a sense, values are more ‘Caught’ than ‘Taught’.

• Still, they do need guidance to help them learn the right values.

• This guidance goes on all through the curriculum, all through the day, by all those who come in contact with them.

• It is not a one man’s job.

Why Value Based Spiritual Education?

Why Value Based Spiritual Education?

Spirituality is the “art and science of Divine remembrance.”

i.e., doing everything in the remembrance of God so that anything we do has a thought of divinity attached to it. This motivates us to keep the highest goals in all aspects of living and prevents us at all times from doing anything wrong.

Therefore it is necessary that our students are educated in spiritual values.

Basics of

Value Based Spiritual

Education

Catch Them YoungCatch Them YoungParents, teachers, family, school, environment, friends, society, religion - all these wield a great influence on the child.

Parents, teachers, family, school, environment, friends, society, religion - all these wield a great influence on the child.

Physical deviations –games, yoga, dance, gymnastics etc.

Physical deviations –games, yoga, dance, gymnastics etc.

Catch Them YoungCatch Them Young

All these help to teach them the values for

life.

All these help to teach them the values for

life.

Academics and Co-curricular activities, both help in teaching values.

Academics and Co-curricular activities, both help in teaching values.

Catch Them YoungCatch Them Young

Meditation, Value Based

Education,Music, Self analysis, Positive affirmations and

Resolutions help in improving our

character.

Meditation, Value Based

Education,Music, Self analysis, Positive affirmations and

Resolutions help in improving our

character.

Catch Them YoungCatch Them Young

The suggestions and words spoken by the

parents and others affect the character and good

conduct of a child and even babies.

- Babuji

The suggestions and words spoken by the

parents and others affect the character and good

conduct of a child and even babies.

- Babuji

Catch Them YoungCatch Them Young

Experience, Experience, appreciate and appreciate and

understandunderstandThe learned have only read the books.

The practical man has tasted the spirit of the

books.

The learned have only read the books.

The practical man has tasted the spirit of the

books.

The “learned The “learned

teachers” are like teachers” are like

sign posts by the sign posts by the

road, to tell you road, to tell you

where the road leads where the road leads

to.to.

The “learned The “learned

teachers” are like teachers” are like

sign posts by the sign posts by the

road, to tell you road, to tell you

where the road leads where the road leads

to.to.

Experience, Experience, appreciate and appreciate and

understandunderstand

One who can express has not experienced and one who has experienced cannot express.

- Babuji

One who can express has not experienced and one who has experienced cannot express.

- Babuji

Experience, appreciate and

understand

Experience, appreciate and

understand

Watch your -Thoughts : they become Words.Words : they become Action.Actions : they become Habits.Habits : they become Character.Character : it becomes your Destiny.

- Frank Outlaw

Watch your -Thoughts : they become Words.Words : they become Action.Actions : they become Habits.Habits : they become Character.Character : it becomes your Destiny.

- Frank Outlaw

Thoughts and DestinyThoughts and Destiny

MMMM S

Present SituationOnly Materiality

SSSS

M

The SaintsOnly Spirituality

SS

Equilibrium

MM

SS

Progress

MM

MS

Union (Yoga)

M- materiality S- spirituality

"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly."

Think about the incredible change that occurs during metamorphosis ... From crawling to Flying .. From dull to Spectacular ... From fat & sluggish to Light and Airy. What metamorphosis can YOU go through?

Nothing is too great a change for you ... light & airy .... spectacular beauty ...shedding one "persona" and BECOMING totally new!

You can change into ANYTHING!

But what does the caterpillar do before it becomes a butterfly? It takes some time to "cocoon". Time to isolate itself. Perhaps if each of us would take some "cocooning" time, we would begin our own metamorphosis !

Living life as an adventure is FUN living life in boredom is NO FUN.

Finding a way or making a way when others do not see one is FUN.Accepting that there is just no way is

NO FUN

Turning your dreams into reality is FUN ...

Living in a dream world is NO FUN. Grabbing an opportunity when it

presents itself is FUN ... Letting an opportunity go by is

NO FUN.

Which choice are you going to make?

“A person starts to live when he can live outside himself." -- Albert Einstein

“To solve a problem get out of the problem” - Chariji

“Be a guest at your home” - Chariji

"It is not enough to be busy, so are the ants. The question is: what are we busy about?"

A goal,a love and a dreamgive you total control over your life.

Value Education will Value Education will helphelp

Value Education will Value Education will helphelp

1. The Need to Understand Oneself

2. Management of Self3. Decision Making4. Personality Development

1. The Need to 1. The Need to Understand OneselfUnderstand Oneself

1. The Need to 1. The Need to Understand OneselfUnderstand Oneself

a) Who Am I ?b) What is my goal ?c) How should I proceed

towards my goal ?

2. Management of Self2. Management of Self2. Management of Self2. Management of Self

a)Time Managementb)Stress

Managementc)Life Management

3. Decision Making3. Decision Making3. Decision Making3. Decision Making

a)What is good for me ?b)How to make decisions ?c) Co-operation and Co-

ordination

4. Personality 4. Personality DevelopmentDevelopment4. Personality 4. Personality DevelopmentDevelopment

a)What is Personality ?b)How should one develop

personality ?c) How should I mould

myself ?d)Facing situations

Strategies to Implement VBSEStrategies to Implement VBSE

• Independent approach – teaching core values

• Integrated approach – teaching values with the curricular subjects

• Subtle approach – Being a good role model and teaching with love

Value Education could and should take place all the time at schools and the following

approaches can help to focus on it.

Approach to VBSEIndependent

Approach- Prayer- Meditation- Positive Resolutions- Bhajans / Songs- Value Education classes- Stories- Self Introspection- Yogasana

Approach to Value Education

Integrated Approach• Curricular Subjects Co-

curricular• English Dance• Language Music• Maths Drawing• Sciences Craft• Humanities Games

Approach to Value Education

Subtle Approach

• Role of Teacher• Role of School• Role of Parents/Family• Role of Society

Independent ApproachIndependent Approach

• Teacher directed activities

• Individual activities by students

• Group activities like games, exhibitions, discussions, role-play, debates, dramatization, making collages etc.

And more effectively through specific, special time slots allotted in the time table

The ‘Independent approach’The ‘Independent approach’

uses this special time to inculcate uses this special time to inculcate values in a deliberate manner.values in a deliberate manner.

How to make VBSE classes interesting?How to make VBSE classes interesting?

• Many think Value education classes can only be preachy and boring--it is so full of Do’s and Don’ts!

• Yet it need not be so.

• How about making the classes fun filled and interesting? Even more interesting than the regular classes?

Try out some of the ways-

• Story telling.• Songs and poems—use folk songs and action songs• Comprehension exercises—using the media, picture

comprehension

Let the students use their Head, Heart and Hands!

Let the students use their Head, Heart and Hands!

• Activities using their Head – Solving riddles and puzzles, Dramatization,Role play, Discussions and debates etc.

• Activities using their Heart – Music, Games, etc.

• Activities using their hands – Drawing illustrations and colouring, poster making,

making models and collages, craft work etc

• And many more!

Integrated Approach• This is a recent development, where the common spiritual and

behavioural values are taught, while a course is being taught. This means that each and every teacher who teaches a course must incorporate values in each of the topic

• Integration is possible in both curricular and co-curricular courses.

• In this integrated approach, the student will neither forget the course nor the value. For example, while teaching about pendulum and motion, it can be correlated to mind, desires and contentment.

• In chemistry, cause and effect value can be taught while teaching balancing of reactions.

• Teaching of science should get humanized, eg; In the lessons of human physiology/biology, heart and brain should be studied not simply as pumping stations and memory control towers but as seats of love, feelings, emotions, conscience – the qualities that mankind is characterised by.

Subtle Approach• The most effective, though difficult to

comprehend or integrate. • Based on the fact that “ Values are caught

and not taught”. • Parents, teachers, peers, family and

society influence the student and his behaviour. Parents and teachers must regulate their minds.

• Parents have to be wise enough to know that “ My child is mine; nevertheless it has its own existence. It has a tendency of growth and let me allow it grow”.

Subtle approach We teach who we are!

Subtle approach We teach who we are!

Actions speak louder than words.

Students learn values from What we are than

from What we say.

They also pick up hidden and unintended

values from

what is said and not said

what is done and not done!

What is the role of the Teacher?

What is the role of the Teacher?

As a substitute mother and a role model,

• should have a positive, healthy attitude and the right values

• a balanced emotional outlook

• a regulated mind which is able to think clearly and answer without any ambiguity

What is the role of the Teacher?What is the role of the Teacher? should

• help the students achieve their full potential and bring out the best in them.

• be able to lead them towards a better tomorrow.

• Most important of all---MUST BE LOVING AND SINCERE!

• Yes, it is a tall order but it is BIG responsibility too!

Subtle approach – teaching with LOVE

Subtle approach – teaching with LOVE

• Love is of paramount importance.

• Love is the core value. It leads to understanding, sympathy, empathy, consideration, care, sacrifice etc.

• A teacher who approaches any subject with love, wins over the hearts of his/her wards.

• Love is the catalyst which grooms them into a complete human being

It is said that

• An excellent teacher inspires

• A good teacher explains

• An average teacher teaches &

• A bad teacher complains!

Which category do I belong?

A TEACHER IS AND CAN BE THE PIVOT OF THE SCHOOL

A TEACHER IS AND CAN BE THE PIVOT OF THE SCHOOL

Need of the hour

Based on life oriented value based spiritual curriculum and love based approach the process of education in this millennium should consist of the following four stages—

“Knowledge which is taught

Knowledge gained through intuition

Knowledge gained through revelation

Ultimate knowledge that comes from within ourselves through meditation- yogic practice”.

Meditation for regulation of mind

What is Meditation and what is the purpose

of Meditation?

Meditation may be defined as Meditation may be defined as the continuous thinking of the continuous thinking of

something, or about something, or about something. something. In a sense, In a sense,

therefore, anybody who is therefore, anybody who is thinking continuously of thinking continuously of

something may be said to be something may be said to be

involved in meditationinvolved in meditation..

Meditation is a process. It is Meditation is a process. It is a process which we a process which we

undertake to reach a undertake to reach a destined goal, a destined goal, a

predetermined goal.predetermined goal. Meditation is a training to Meditation is a training to

apply the mind for the apply the mind for the purpose of regulating the purpose of regulating the

mind by our efforts.mind by our efforts.

The whole purpose of The whole purpose of meditation is to make a meditation is to make a

reversal in this fact of life reversal in this fact of life that the mind is our that the mind is our Master. We have to Master. We have to

become the Master of our become the Master of our mind. It is only this much, mind. It is only this much,

just reverse it. just reverse it.

As one meditates so one As one meditates so one becomes. It therefore becomes. It therefore follows that what we follows that what we

meditate upon we get or meditate upon we get or become and inversing this become and inversing this

formula, if we want to formula, if we want to become something we must become something we must

meditate upon that and meditate upon that and nothing else.nothing else.

Therefore if our aim is Realisation or the attainment of one-ness with the Ultimate, the object of meditation must be that Ultimate and nothing else.

We can learn to meditate We can learn to meditate only by meditating. only by meditating. Meditate every day. Meditate every day.

Because by doing it again Because by doing it again and again, we and again, we

progressively increase progressively increase our ability to take our ability to take command of the command of the

situationsituation. .

Challenges to VBSE implementation

Challenges-1  Religion vs. Spirituality

• First and foremost challenge in imparting spiritual education is that even educated, intelligent people often confuse religion with spirituality.

• Spirituality is no way related to religion and in fact spirituality begins where religion ends.

• Spirituality aims at integrating the entire humanity under the umbrella of universal brotherhood irrespective of one’s religious background, beliefs, caste, creed, sex, language, race, country etc.,

• Religions have caused several wars and resulted in division of mankind.

• Whereas religions survive on the weapons of fear and temptation, spirituality thrives on love alone.

• Thus there cannot be any resistance from any corners to implement a spiritual education programme.

Challenges-2

  The five levels of education

Information should not be confused with knowledge, knowledge should not be confused with wisdom, wisdom should not be confused with intuition, and intuition should not be confused with revelation. There are so many levels in this world today. Information, knowledge, wisdom, intuition, and revelation are the five levels of education. Unfortunately in today’s schools only the lowest of these five levels is taught. The higher levels seem to have no meaning, and they are not even referred to.

Challenges-3The myth about Yoga

Many mistake yoga for yogasanas, which is only Hatha Yoga for nourishment of body and to some extent mind.

The purpose of any yogic practice should be nourishment of the soul and the sole aim of such practice being complete oneness with the Ultimate and nothing short of it.

Perhaps yoga is the most misused/misinterpreted term today, not only in the west, but in our country too.

Today we have yoga for dance, yoga for sex, yoga for sports, yoga for diabetes cure, yoga for ladies etc.

The crux of the problem lies in our poor understanding of the real goal of human life.

Many are happy with temporary goals of peace, curing of diseases, mukthi or just concentration. In today’s fast life, people expect miracles to happen in their life without any self-effort.

Challenges-4The notion that spirituality is for the old and

weakMany have the wrong notion that spirituality is

meant for the old and for the mentally, physically and financially disadvantaged lot.

Ancient wisdom says any spiritual practice must start from the conception stage and we have the stories of Abhimanyu and Prahlada from the puranas.

Success in any spiritual practice requires strong will power coupled with unalloyed devotion and obedience to the Spiritual guide and it is truly meant for the strong only.

Challenges-5Is Spirituality commercialised?

• It is unfortunate that in a country like India with her glorious past, there have been umpteen number of yogic systems/organisations who have made a good amount of money by cheating and exploiting the public in the disguise of so called spirituality.

• The huge gathering of people around such notorious gurus also fascinates most of us and we often think majority opinion is always correct.

• The need of the hour is non-religious, non-profit making spiritual organisations whose only aim is spiritual welfare of its people and not money-making.

• Wherever and whenever wealth, power and fame accumulates, there can be only inflated ego, fear, insecurity, distrust and not to talk of spirituality.

Challenges-6Where can I find a role model

• Since the most effective approach to VBSE is the subtle approach, both parents and teachers have to be role models. Therefore both parents and teachers must regulate their mind by practicing meditation and evolve spiritually.

• A real teacher continues to learn all his life. Common understanding is the most important because, unless we lay a ground for common understanding, neither can the teacher understand the student nor can the student understand the teacher. Understand in the real sense, not with the head but with the heart.

• A good teacher must recognize and attack the unwillingness, subdue it, entice the owner of that unwillingness out of his or her shell into which they have wrapped themselves. And the battle is won.

• It is same with parents too. Between the teacher and the student, there must be flow of love from the teacher to the student, reciprocated by obedience from the student to the teacher. The teacher must become an example, which the students can follow, not someone the students are afraid of.

Challenges….

Once again we come back to the need for spirituality for all, none can escape it.

It is a matter of utter shame for a country like India to see her educated people debating on whether one need spirituality in their life or not.

Spirituality is essential as log as we are here and there is no question of any choice about it.

Conclusions

Conclusions-1• Right education should cater to an individual's

intellectual, physical, emotional, social and spiritual development.

• Education should help him/her evolve into a person with holistic vision and growth, culminating in preparing a happy future for an integrated mankind.

• The means to achieve these objectives are presented in this paper, the most effective being the subtle approach.

Conclusions-2• Some of the challenges in the implementation

of VBSE are presented.• Most of these problems can be overcome,

once we educate the student community on the need for spirituality in their life and for that, the educators themselves must be role models.

• It is earnestly hoped that academic institutions interested in imparting value based spiritual education work in collaboration with a non-profit, purely spiritual organisation for training their teachers who in turn will train their students.

Conclusions-3With these humble beginnings, we can help in

the fulfilment of the aim of regenerated, revitalised, spiritualised youth which alone can lead India in the consortium of nations in this world.

To talk of material leadership is a farce and a travesty of the truth.

India can lead the world only in spiritual matters and this is possible only through a value based spiritual education.

Thank you for having given some of your

precious time to view my presentation.

Have a nice day!

Thank you for having given some of your

precious time to view my presentation.

Have a nice day!