Council for Global Education’s Four Building Blocks of Education
Universal Values (Virtues) SPIRIT– To BE
Values put meaning into action. A values education is the foundation for every child’s
development. Without it, the process of education becomes meaningless. Without meaning,
children lose interest and ultimately the results of education are ineffective for
both the individual and society.
CGE promotes:
- Example by teachers and parents
- School mottoes and ideals
- Parent education programs
- Teacher training programs
- Daily reflection
- Study of and visit to holy places of worship of different religions
- Curriculum that integrates universal values and character development
- The teacher as a role-model for "excellence in all things."
Excellence in All Things (Knowledge) MIND– To KNOW
Academic excellence is a consequence of a values focused education. Excellence itself
is a value. A child who accepts excellence as a life guiding principle will be able
to better develop his or her full potential. Extraordinary achievement can become
the norm.
CGE promotes:
- Participatory processes in learning
- Innovation research centers (in education)
- Focus on striving for understanding
- Learning "why" and not just "how" or "what"
- Quality circles in academics
- Teacher-student-parent cooperation
- Guardian-teachers (as liaison to parents)
- Motivational schemes that focus on both accomplishment and effort, viewing excellence
in its multiple dimensions.
Global Understanding (Attitudes) HEART– To LOVE
Children must learn to view national and cultural diversity as an asset and reverence
for all forms of life. Love and respect for others, proper communication skills,
and true understanding form the basis of global understanding. CGE promotes the
recognition of the "oneness of humanity" as the ultimate goal or principle of this
understanding, leading to unity and peace in the world. Learning about cultures
and traditions cannot by itself provide a basis for unity and children must to taught
to love other fellow human beings and revere life whether or not they know about
them or like them.
CGE promotes:
- Emphasizing diversity as an asset
- Developing early exposure to and love for world’s cultures, religions and traditions
- Early exposure to and love for diverse languages
- School-to-school exchanges
- International joint service projects
- Commitment to and equal emphasis on the education of both sexes
- Activities for building world peace
- World-wide student exchanges & international camps
- Promoting cooperative games, consultation and collaboration between a diverse student
body
Service to Humanity (Skills) BODY– To DO
Children must be inspired to contribute to the betterment of the world. By taking
care of the environment or the needy, for example, children gain additional understanding,
confidence and motivation that a classroom setting alone cannot provide. life
CGE promotes:
- Exposing children to nature — to learn to cherish it
- Exposing children to service opportunities
- Promoting nature camps and international environmental awareness programs
- Getting children involved in projects on "sustainable development"
- Getting parents, students and teachers to do service projects together
- Practice of participatory principles & consultation with those they serve
- Helping children become leaders in service to humanity
"Awareness of the necessity to free people from religious bigotry and fanaticism gives rise to a non-sectarian yet spiritual approach to moral education."