Values Education
In the last six years national values education activity has been driven by the National Framework of Values Education in Australian Schools. Commissioned by the Australian Government , this framework contains nine core values for Australian schools. It was unanimously supported by the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs and based on a study conducted in sixty-nine schools in 2003. For the framework and associated resources, see:
- Values Education – for Australian schooling - The Australian Government’s website for Values Education includes guides to good practice, event listings and publications.
In Victoria values education is not new. The Victorian Essential Learning Standards are underpinned by a set of educational purposes and principles which relate to broader community understanding of shared personal values (VCAA P-10 Bulletin, April 2007). The importance of providing students with opportunities to develop their understanding of values within the context of everyday learning is imbedded in the Principles of Learning and Teaching.
It is therefore acknowledged that values, their meanings and their application, should be discussed and reviewed as part of a robust learning community.