Morality helps understand the difference between right and wrong. Children who learn moral lessons at a young age become well-behaved and humble individuals. But is one period every other day enough to teach children those moral values?
Moral values can’t be instilled in students by preaching for one hour a couple of times a week when they mindlessly keep the values aside through the rest of the time. The truth is that schools need to be more proactive with their approach towards teaching the idea of morality among their students.
It would not be wrong to say that students are keen observers. They tend to grasp things quickly. Therefore, they should learn about ethics and principles through examples and actions, just as they learn to write compelling essays with the help of samples from paper writer service and constant practice. Parents alone cannot fulfill this duty as children spend considerable time at school. Hence, teachers, too, need to put in the required effort to sow the seed of morality in every student.
What Moral Values to Teach
Some people build their ideal values as they grow and experience different scenarios. You can’t teach them every principle that can be named. But you can use your creativity and actions to help them make the appropriate decisions in life. When a person can listen to the inner moral compass, they will stick to high values most of the time.
Yet, you must know the roadmap you are going to follow, and hence, you must know what basic ideals you should teach them:
- Empathy: Teaching students to develop empathy is of utmost importance in today’s ruthless world. The ability to put oneself in others’ shoes is rare. That’s why more and more students should be encouraged to embrace empathetic behavior towards family, friends, acquaintances, and strangers. Needless to say, that empathy leads to kindness.
- Integrity: Honesty and truthfulness are the two greatest values that no one should ever let go of. Teach your students to adhere to their integrity even in the most difficult situations as well as when no one is watching.
- Humility: Staying down-to-earth even after reaching the peak of success makes an individual humble. Students should be taught to be humble irrespective of their accomplishments, backgrounds, possessions, etc. Let them know loud and clear that humility always wins over arrogance.
- Discipline: Discipline is necessary throughout the different phases of life. Not just the students, but everyone needs discipline to lead a successful and healthy life. Therefore teaching students the value of discipline is one of the biggest responsibilities of school authorities.
- Courage: Life can be unfair, and hence students should be trained to become fearless. They should know how not to give up on challenges and to be courageous enough to accept and reflect on their mistakes.
7 Ways to Foster Moral Values in Students
While you can always guide and encourage the kids to make mindful choices during their time at school, you should also set up activities to help them understand moral values.
Role-Playing
Teachers can arrange tell-a-tale classes where both teachers and students participate in role-playing activities. Choose any popular folktale based on moral lessons. Make sure students get completely engrossed in role-playing. The more real it feels, the better would be the impact on their young minds.
Thoughtful Games
Games are a great way to teach many things. When students play games together, they learn coordination, communication, politeness, trust, and humility. The idea is not to be forceful to students while teaching them about morality. Thoughtful games help students embrace different values with ease when they are played regularly under teachers’ supervision.
Encouragement to Be Kind and Supportive
Motivate your students to lend helping hands to classmates, house-helps, stray animals, and older people. Let them understand that being kind won’t make them look weak. Bring to their attention how helping others can make lives simpler for everyone out there.
You can also conduct an activity where each student will talk about a time when they helped someone and express how they felt about it. The wholesome feeling of being kind and helpful encourages students to do good.
Appreciation and Rewards
Students, especially the young ones, are generally hungry for appreciation. Make it a point to appreciate and reward those students who display morally correct behavior throughout the month. The recognition and reward go a long way in motivating the students to embrace ethical standards.
Ground Rules
Creating rules inside the classroom, such as sharing a textbook or eraser to teach moral values, work like a charm. You can also encourage students to share their lunch when somebody forgets or doesn’t bring their lunchbox, etc.
Be very clear with the consequences in case the students don’t follow the ground rules. And the punishment should also be in line with moral learning.
Volunteering
Volunteer programs are another good deed that fosters kindness and humility. Students can volunteer to lend a helping hand at the cafeteria, computer lab, or charity organizations. Volunteering always encourages students to grow up as morally responsible individuals.
Firm Foundation of Respect
There should be zero tolerance for disrespect inside the classroom as well as on school premises. Also, foster the idea of self-respect among students.
Wrapping Up
Moral values can create the desired impact and result in positive outcomes when taught to students correctly and at the right time. Students, when guided morally, can turn into kind, understanding, respectful, humble, and punctual human beings. Therefore, schools, along with parents, should help students follow the path of morality.
