Choice: The Foundation of Values

The following is from a personal communication from Nancy Snow, District Guidance Officer, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia:

“Choice is the basic ingredient for the promotion of
prosocial values. If we want kids to be caring, kind, and
generous, we have to have them become aware of choices.
You cannot mandate responsibility, persistence,
consideration, honesty, or integrity. These values are
chosen; therefore, the concept of choice is essential to
the teaching and learning of values.”

Young people will choose these values and become more self-disciplined when  (1) positive benefits are explored, (2) they are prompted to reflect on their choices, and (3) influence—rather than coercion—is used.

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