Lecture 1_Value Education introduction.pptx

Value education

1. Universal Human Values, Ethics and Life Skills Lecture 1: Value Education

2. Definition In this modern society, education continues to be regarded as a good source of development of both individual and societies. Education plays an important role in the socioeconomic development as well as in the ethical development of individuals. Societies considered education as an instrument for improving the socio economic conditions of their subjects and an instrument for promoting the qualities of tolerance, justice, sharing, and cooperation etc., of their citizens. The societies think that inculcation of these qualities in the citizens would contribute to the establishment of organized societies.

3. Value Education Values are the guiding principles of life which are conducive to all round development. They give direction and firmness to life and bring joy, satisfaction and peace to life. They bring quality to life. Thus “Value is something or anything which appeals us, satisfying our needs, whether it is material or non-material, satisfaction and desirability are common elements in it.” Values regulate and guide human behaviour and action in our day to daily life. Values are embedded in every word we select and speak, what we wear, ways in which we interact, our perceptions and interpretation of others reactions in what we are say and so on. Values are formed on the basis of interests, choices, needs, desires and preferences. These comprise the nuclei of value formation. Values have a selective or directional quality. When preferences acquire certain definiteness, intensity and stability, these become the criteria for judgement, choices, action and grounds for decision-making in behavior. Value thus is considered to be an enduring belief upon which human beings act by preferences.

4. Concept of Value Education In view of the noted philosopher A.C. Garnett in Religion and Moral life (1955) observed that on account of the ambiguity of the term ‘Value’ it should be avoided except where the contextual meaning is clear. According to Maslow, Values are defined in many ways and mean different things to different people. As a matter of fact, it is so confusing semantically that I am convinced we will soon give up this catch-all word in favour of more precise and more operational definition. The concept of values refers to the criteria used for determining levels of goodness, worth or beauty. Values are estimable and hence worthy of being possessed. The most popular meaning of the concept of values is given by Dewey, John is “To value means primarily to prize, to esteem; but secondarily it means to apprize, to estimate. It means, that is, the act of cherishing something, holding it dear and also the act of passing judgement upon the nature and amount of values as compared with something else. To value in the latter sense is to valuate or evaluate”.

5. Need for Value Education Mahatma Gandhi found that there is a great deal of moral degradation in the society. The main causes of moral degeneration are: ▪ Lack of respect for the sanctity of human life. ▪ Breakdown of parental control of children in families ▪ Lack of respect for authority, seen through the brazen breaking of the law and total disregard for rules and regulations ▪ Crime and corruption ▪ Abuse of alcohol and drugs ▪ Abuse of women and children, and other vulnerable members of society. ▪ Lack of respect for other people and property. Sri Aurobindo said-  “A man’s value does not depend on what he learns or his position or fame, or what he does, but what he is and inwardly becomes.” The aim of Value Education is not only to concede but also, follow them to the daily life attitude and behaviour and give to the community by ending good citizenship and integrity.

6. Family Values Family values, sometimes referred to as familial values, are traditional or cultural values (that is, values passed on from generation to generation within families) that pertain to the family's structure, function, roles, beliefs, attitudes, and ideals. Family traditions are usually defined as ‘a combination of social ideals, personal attitudes, ideas and environment derived from our parents or relatives, while family values usually refer to how we frame our personal life in our relationship with our family members to maintain harmony. The values of a family depend on the dynamics of the family. It will also depend on education, culture, and the society in which the family lives. The family values will be different for each family as well as for each generation. As values are integrated with culture , religion as well as socially determined attitudes, behaviour and customs, an evaluative and critically questioning methodology is required for the promotion of family values .

7. Aesthetic values Aesthetic value is characterized by appreciation of beauty, from proportion and harmony, love for fine arts, drawing painting, music, dance, etc. Aesthetic values according to idealism: • These types of values are behind the perceptual world • Artistic abilities and skills provide enjoyments • Plato considers it as specific ability and specific subject • It is dominated by feelings or affective aspect Naturalism gives the following opinions about aesthetic values: • It is also known as experience values • The specific experiences provides pleasure and happiness • It is human nature • It is a higher level of perception • They do not accept the value beyond nature and matter

8. Ethical Values Ethical values are a set of moral principles that apply to a specific group of people, professional field or form of human conduct and interaction. Ethics are based on the awareness that a human being is essentially spiritual and intrinsically valuable. Ethical values respect human rights through self-restraint, non-aggression, integrity, justice and honesty. A person with ethical values can be trusted and will be respected and revered. These values presuppose moral courage and the power to act according to one’s moral convictions even at the risk of financial, emotional or social security. These relate to our personal behaviour with our fellow beings. Among these we include values like honesty and truth etc. All moral values are also covered under ethical values.

9. Ethical Values Spiritual values are characterized by the process of ‘reflecting on non-material dimensions of life and acquiring insights into personal experiences, which are of enduring worth. They are related to soul and immaterial reality related. They are intangible and are not concerned with material things. They need not be religious values. They affect the individual in his relations with himself’. Spiritual values are eternal and they do not change. They are real ideas. These are concerned with the realisation of the ‘Self’ and being one with ‘Divinity ’. Examples: truth, beauty, goodness, unity, pure, love, joy, self-giving, contentment, wisdom, dispassion, self-discipline, devotion to God, etc.

10. Thank you