Education goes beyond academic content. In an increasingly complex world, human values play an essential role in the integral formation of students, shaping their cognitive skills, attitudes, behaviors, and interpersonal relations.
The importance of values at school goes beyond teaching math or history. They are essential for building a more fair, collaborative, and supportive society.
We will explore throughout the reading of this article how the school, as a formative environment, can positively influence the community by adopting and transmitting values that contribute to shaping responsible, ethical citizens, who are committed to the collective well-being, making them academically competent, and prepared to face the challenges of a globalized world.
What are human values?
Human values are principles and attitudes that guide the way we relate to others and the world around us. They are directly connected with the concepts of ethics and morals, helping guide decisions and behaviors, in addition to influencing social interactions.
Examples of human values include respect, responsibility, honesty, solidarity, and empathy.
When we talk about the importance of values at school, it is crucial to understand that these principles are not just something to be taught in theoretical classes, but must be incorporated in a practical and experiential way into everyday school life.
The school has a unique and privileged role, for it is where children and adolescents learn about living in a group, building identities, and understanding the diversity that forms a society.
What is the importance of teaching values at school?
The school has the social role of preparing students for the world, and that includes educating individuals who are ethical, responsible, and committed to the community. Teaching human values is essential because it contributes to the personal development of students and helps create a more harmonious school environment, with more cooperation and less conflict.
By integrating values, such as respect, honesty, and empathy in daily activities, the school can form citizens who are more aware of their responsibilities, and more capable of making decisions that benefit themselves and the whole community around them.
Teaching values at school is also important for students to develop social skills, such as solving conflicts, and the ability to work in groups, which are essential for success in adult life.
St. Nicholas’ 5 core values
St. Nicholas School stands out for educating global citizens based on five core values that guide the school environment and promote student’s integral development. These values – integrity, respect, commitment, belonging, and international mindedness – support the school’s philosophy and guide the interactions of the whole school community.
1. Integrity
Integrity is St. Nicholas’ core value, which promotes honesty and commitment to ethics in all situations. From an early age, students are encouraged to act transparently and make decisions that reflect solid principles, helping build a community of trust and respect.
2. Respect
Respect is essential to the environment of cooperation and mutual understanding at St. Nicholas. The school values dignified and understanding treatment among all, reinforcing the importance of valuing differences and contributing to harmonious coexistence. This value inspires empathy and genuine connection between students, educators, and families.
3. Commitment
At. St. Nicholas, the commitment goes beyond traditional expectations of a school. This value encompasses dedication to the development of each student, support to the families, and continuous seeking for the school’s educational objectives.
4. Belonging
A sense of belonging is carefully cultivated so everyone in the school community feels valued and accepted. This value creates an inclusive and welcoming environment, where students, teachers, and families share a sense of unity and purpose. Thus, St. Nicholas builds a space where everyone can express their individuality in an atmosphere of respect and solidarity.
5. International mindedness
With a global mindset, St. Nicholas encourages the understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures and perspectives. This value fosters a global mindset, essential for educating students who relate to the world in an open and informed way. Here, students learn to appreciate different views and integrate this diversity into their growth.
How to work with the values in the classroom?
Teaching values at school should not be a single or isolated activity. For human values to be truly incorporated into the student’s lives, they must be worked on continuously and integrated into the school’s curriculum. At St. Nicholas School this is done practically and dynamically.
Teachers are trained to integrate these values into all areas of knowledge, not limiting themselves to theoretical discussions, but applying them in practical activities, collaborative projects, and group dynamics.
The idea is that students live the values throughout the whole learning process, whether solving a mathematical problem in a group or discussing social themes in the classroom.
Furthermore, the school promotes extracurricular activities, such as cultural events and community actions, for students to practice the values they have learned in their daily school lives, strengthening their commitment to the community.
Conclusion
The importance of values for the school community is unquestionable. By integrating ethical principles in the educational process, schools form students who are more prepared academically and responsible, empathic citizens, committed to the collective well-being.
At St. Nicholas the values are at the core of the integral formation of students, preparing them for the challenges of the contemporary world in a sensitive and critical way.
Do you know the values that guide your children’s educational formation?
Schedule a visit to St. Nicholas and see up close how our values are incorporated into the daily school routine. Discover how integrity, respect, commitment, belonging, and international mindedness are part of the routine and foster a welcoming and formative environment for students, teachers, and families.
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