In our contemporary society, Values Education is an inferior area of academic interest especially in public school. It is because it has no independent existence as a subject. It is an area of study that does not bear equal weight as Mathematics, Science and other field of interests. But how can Values Education be counted as legally equal to Mathematics, Science, English and Filipino as subjects? It is when Values Education is placed on a equal premium on critical, rational and logical thinking to cultivate moral and evaluative reasoning when addressing a certain problems or issues.
In that sense, here are some approaches in teaching Values Education that could possibly maintain the concept or basis that the subject is as meaningful as the academic subjects. The first approach is values integration. It is the learning process in any subject which covers the acquisition not only of concepts and skills but also of values. The second approach is values inculcation. This is instilling and internalizing norms in the individual value system through modeling. Values Clarification is the next approach. It makes choices freely, prizing and cherishing choices made. Another approach is the moral development. This confronts a moral dilemma, setting a position on a dilemma and reflecting on the reason. The next approach is values analysis. It identifies and clarifies value in question, assembles and assesses facts, arrives at tentative value decisions and tests the value principle implied in the decision. The last but not certainly the least approach is action learning. It is planning strategies for action steps, implementing strategies and evaluating and reflecting on actions taken.
These approaches will guide our students in solving conflicts in nonviolent ways as they are encouraged to express ideas without fear.
By: Ryan Jake F. Bariacto | Teacher III | Mariveles National High School – Poblacion | Mariveles, Bataan