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Values and Attitudes Proposal
requested of LVEP by the Ministry of Education
Following the trainings in Montego Bay, the Ministry of Education
requested a meeting with LVEP representatives to formulate a program for
Region 4. A proposal for values training has been submitted and programs
will commence in September 2003.
The 1994 National Values and Attitudes Consultation Report states: “It
was, however, up to us as a nation that we do not simply allow changes
to occur in Jamaica as part of an imported pattern. Instead, we have to
determine what are the positive changes we want and work assiduously to
make them happen. We must be active agents for positive change. The
Prime minister stated that in short, the remedies lie within ourselves.
To achieve the lasting effects from self-development and management of
self and interpersonal skills a change in attitudes and values must
begin with a focus on self. Such a change must involve respect for self
and others and recognition that each person is important. Also the
importance of the home, school and social environment in shaping role
models was pointed out.”
Recommendations included:
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Institute
social programmes to teach discipline, good manners, respect for self
and country
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Sharpen
communication skills
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Establish
peer counseling groups to emphasize the positive, using role models
and a mentoring program and
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Develop
mediation skills using peaceful conflict resolution. The Abijah/Ruskin
Reasoning One Love concerts are an example of how the 'One Love'
philosophy can be used to mediate conflicts. It is suggested that
this program to be continued to assist in teaching mediation through
music in schools.
We have listed in red
some of the main “problem” areas researched previously by the First
Regional Consultation on Values and Attitudes and reinstated by the
Second Regional Consultation under the coordination of the Ministry of
Information. In blue we have listed ideas
for values and attitude projects and suggestions for implementing.
Problems identified and suggested solutions:
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Indiscipline
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Develop national pride in the young through
special classes and community projects: Montego Bay High’s project
for establishing a sign ‘Keep our City Clean’, with the emphasis on
developing appreciation for national institutions and symbols,
respect for their country, citizenship skills and good manners, and
respect for the elderly and infirm.
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Revitalise the Cadet Corp.
Quote from a local business manager: “Jamaica is
one place you don’t want to be if you are sick or old!”
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Lack of employment
opportunities that lead to idleness and loitering
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Negative perceptions and
attitudes toward labour and farm
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Offer a plant-a-tree project for children. The
Forestry Department and RADA have free trees available for farming
projects.
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Students work with farmers, such as Santoy
Farmers Cooperative to develop plots of land, find markets for
produce, and start a savings plan for future educational needs.
This develops enterprise and
entrepreneurship. Example: Dr. Simon
Clarke gives a wonderful talk on how they began a farming project at
Green Island so children who worked the farm earned paper money that
they could use to buy school lunches, etc.
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Crime and violence
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Hold an essay competition on how to positively
influence the media and music worlds, e.g., the need to refocus the
media from “bad news” reporting to highlighting the positive and the
music world from “bad” lyrics to positive ones.
Address the crime and violence problem through a debate or news
articles written by students. Suggested topics include:
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The effect of TV and Cinema on crime
and violence.
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How can the media enhance a values based culture
and increase positivity in attitude?
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Work with select positive media specialist such
as Pat Clarke, IRIE FM and Dalton Laing of Observer Western Division
to develop and hone journalistic skills in an effort to produce
positive news.
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Develop a media project for young adults of
selected schools:
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The Good News Network (GNN): (sounds similar
to CNN!!)
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Research and report on the positive news
of life affirming events and programs happening in the community,
nation, and world.
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Skills developed:
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Use of computer: learning
how to access media sites.
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Letter writing to editor
etc.
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Journalism skills;
writing/typing articles for publishing in paper.
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Photography skills.
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Television/movie, video
production or broadcasting; putting together their own Good News
media program, communications skills, and how to interview/be
interviewed.
Editor of the Jamaica Gleaner newspaper, Garfield
Grandison, is interested in promoting positive media. The Gleaner
recently published a Letter to Editor recommending a 50=50 rule, 50% of
the articles on the front page of the newspaper are to be positive and
life affirming and 50% can be otherwise. This rule to be increased to
60=40, 70=30, etc.!!
The Good News Network, with teacher supervision, could promote positive
reporting and broadcasting and monitor the media to see if those
agreeing to promote positive media were following through with the 50=50
rule for an agreed period of time of one week, one month, until
2004, etc.
In addition they would be encouraged to write articles on values and
attitudes for the children and youth sections of the newspaper, liaise
with media, develop a positive news radio program talk show or TV
program . . .
Non-involvement of persons of good character in leadership positions
Establish a program of motivational speakers
organized to visit selected schools to discuss self-management
leadership skills.
Lack of database regarding available community resources
A good project for high school students to compile,
published and distribute locally a Skills Bank, a Directory of available
community resources and services offered.
Training for Educators and Parents
Begin public education on values and attitudes and on parenting skills
in all schools and teachers’ colleges and to be included in schools’
curricula. This would include Teacher Training workshop in values and
attitudes education.
Establish parent education programs in order to train parents to teach
children on respect for life and property, on good manners, and to
develop good work ethics.
Liaise with the PALS Programme and the Heart Trust, implementing values
project for secondary schools.
Living Values: An Educational Program (LVEP) www.livingvalues.net/jamaica
has presented two 2-day teacher training programs in both Negril and
Montego Bay with representatives from 12 schools from each location
attending. These trainings have been free of charge. Living Values
trainers are available to conduct further workshops for educators.
Additional points:
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Include teaching civic responsibility in the
curriculum.
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Regard children as part of the community and teach
them to give their contribution.
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Help them develop a sense of security.
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Nurture good human relationships.
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Encourage reflection, to examine the self and have
self-discipline.
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Build on basic values, e.g.: Main values selected
from recent National V/A Consultation:
Honesty, Truth, Love and Peace, Forgiveness
and Tolerance and Respect and Fairness.
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Teach children self-respect and respect for others.
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Develop in children a sense of self worth.
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Teach children economic efficiency.
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Pray and meditate with the children.
Where to Begin!
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Hold an
initial meeting with invited core group of experienced educators to
collaborate on developing a public program in values and attitudes.
Ms. Paulette Chevannes has conducted excellent V/A programs in 4
Kingston schools and has summarized methods and techniques used and
positive evaluations for improving failing schools through values and
attitudes training in the form of two published booklets. We recommend
she meet with this group. Additional resource persons include Sharon
and Theo Chambers from Positive Tourism, Floyd Burchell, Training Mgr
from Sandals, etc. The focus would be on successful Schools.
Principals/faculty will prepare and present reports on projects and
methods used in the past orcurrently in their school which are
helping improve quality of life through values education.
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This core
group could sponsor a public symposium or conference (the second week
in September 2003 is possible) to publicize, educate and motivate the
public and educators about the values and attitudes program. Through
this gathering, the public would receive information about the details
of the V/A attitude program formulated for Region 4, what schools are
participating (all Region 4 schools or specific schools), the criteria
for implementing and methods for evaluation, etc.
Representatives from successful schools and other selected individuals
including Ms Chevannes, Heart Trust, PALS, Living Values: An
Educational Program and other groups with values and attitudes
educational programs could be invited as the main speakers and/or
facilitators of workshops. This program could be coordinated with
parents to increase their awareness and involvement. As a follow-up
to the Symposium, interested educators within Region 4 schools could
then discuss and decide on projects, including any of the above
suggestions and/or new ideas. Areas of current concern include media,
music, environment, social renewal, productivity and work ethics,
family, self-discipline and management of interpersonal skills.
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Educators would submit to Region 4 office (by end of September
2003) an initial proposal of ideas of projects they would like to
implement in their school. Follow up evaluations
would completed showing the results of these V/A programmes; for
example: January, June and August 2004 is selected by Ministry of
Information for an assessment of the success of the National V/A
program.
Respectfully submitted by Chirya Risely, Jamaica
Coordinator for Living Values: An Educational Program
Tel: 979-5261 16 Leaders Ave, Montego Bay, email:
jamaica@livingvalues.net.
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