The evolving stream of social and moral values at every level of life makes every individual ideologically uplifted and mentally enlightened. This practice of values should be learned from the school. The idealistic spirit, awakened conscience and intelligent efforts of teachers can sow the seeds of values among students. Students can get good values learning under the proper guidance of teachers in the school.
Irrespective of religion, caste and creed, people of all classes expect their children to grow up as good human beings and to be hailed as the best children in the practice of morality. Everyone thinks that the education they could not get from the family, they will get from the educational institution. They have great faith in teachers. As a principal I also believe this. Because the teacher is the greatest human architect of humanity. If the children of the society are destroyed, then generation after generation will be destroyed. And teachers have to take responsibility for it. An extensive period of learning is spent in school. They spend about six to seven hours a day with the teachers. And this is one of the times to learn values.
Therefore, teachers have a great responsibility to teach students the values and skills they will need to succeed in the world. It is important to note that fulfilling these responsibilities is not limited to the ability to adapt to modernity or seamlessly navigate the academic world; Teachers also need to model great values. In order to teach human values to the students, teachers need to emphasize on several main points. For example;
1. Teaching Respect for Family Values: When teachers want to apply their own ideas about values and education, it becomes clear that much of what they want is not quite right. Because education practices may differ from family to family. Not all students in the school come from the same family, rather they all have different family traditions. So while imparting values to our students, it is important to respect the values of their families. As teachers these values should be reinforced through regular practice in the classroom. Teachers will value family values by teaching students positive and respectful behavior.
2. Teaching Kindness and Harmony: Teachers should inculcate kindness, compassion and harmony in classroom interactions with students by practicing moral and humane values. In this case, students should be encouraged towards some basic values. a. Students should be encouraged to show kindness not only to each other, but also to other members of the school. b. Teachers should create a matrix to evaluate the teaching of kindness and compassion among students. c. Provision should be made to reward students for good behavior. d. Parents should be occasionally invited to thank their children by informing them of their progress in showing kindness. e. Sometimes the poor and helpless people in the vicinity of the school can be called to teach them to help them.
3. Practicing honesty: Many children may lie when they are with family, which parents sometimes accept. This may be due to excessive affection for the child, although it is not right to do so, but also in the family, they should always be taught to tell the truth. Teachers never practice such false practices in schools. In no way do they practice malpractice or dishonesty. Teachers will counsel the students and inculcate honesty. If necessary, schools should reward students for honesty and promote aversion to false practices.
4. Teaching personality development: Students should be taught personality and self-esteem in schools from an early age. The dignity of the clan is saved by the personality of the individual. Arrogance in the classroom, doing irrelevant work, disturbing classmates, showing inconsistency in speech and actions etc. are impersonal actions for students. This makes them low self-esteem. In the classroom, teachers will teach them self-esteem and individualistic behavior by giving them motivation.
5. Teaching modesty in manners:. The teacher will teach the students manners, politeness, behavioural patterns, culture, modesty in the school. They can practice chastity among students. Make a classroom behavior chart and practice it regularly. If necessary, if a student violates the code of conduct, disciplinary action may be taken against them or their parents may be called to school to inform them of their behavior.
6. Teaching of personal discipline: Discipline is a major part of social values. Students should be given proper knowledge about the rules and regulations of the institution. By preparing a specific policy for students in classroom management, teachers will urge them to practice it. It is necessary to create an environment in the school where students cannot cause any disturbance. Positive outlook, sense of responsibility, self-discipline, open-mindedness, patience, willingness to compromise and ability to accept diversity are among the strategies to develop the values of students in school.
7. Teaching Smart Communication Skills: Students need to be taught smart communication skills to acquire social and human qualities. These skills include style of speaking, sufficient patience in listening, establishing cordial relationship between speaker and listener, presentation of politeness and respect in speaking and writing, respectfulness in address, keeping promise in words and actions and showing selfless attitude in maintaining communication with anyone.
8. Teaching the practice of altruism: Inculcate the practice of altruism in the classroom or school co-curricular to teach them humane qualities. Students have many responsibilities towards the school such as; Not destroying the school property, treating the staff well, keeping the school yard clean, not destroying the rights of others, not degrading anyone’s dignity, behaving well with classmates or friends, vowing to practice chastity; these are the commendable aspects of practicing social and human values. The teacher will teach these to the students to practice them in real life by exhorting them to always be philanthropic.
9. Teaching Practical Application of Learning Outcomes: The teacher will try to turn the subjects taught in the textbook into life-oriented practical knowledge during their class activities. If the students can apply what they have learned in their daily life, they can build their self-esteem and they can benefit the people of the society. They can also apply school yard cleaning at their homes, which will contribute to their environmental protection. If the teacher can teach the habit of hand washing during tiffin time, the students can go home and practice it themselves as well as teach their younger siblings.
10. Enriching knowledge beyond textbooks: In the classroom, teachers will teach their students to explore the world beyond textbooks. Because through bookish education the students can limit thier stream of knowledge. It does not enrich their intellect and mind. If students can expand their knowledge beyond the textbooks, they can learn to work for the betterment of society and community. Textbooks are the means of learning for students, and the outside world is the breeding ground for them to become human beings.
Therefore, school is the most important factor for making students into enlightened people. If the teachers can teach human qualities to their students, they can build an ideal and dignified nation by awakening social and moral values. Teachers should be aware of the mentioned ten strategies, as well as give practical knowledge to the students to practice them. Let us cooperate with our teachers to make our children the worthy human beings with the social and moral values in the school.
Dr Md Mahmudul Hassan is the Principal, Daffodil International School, Dhaka and President, Bangladesh Smart Education Network (BdSEN)
