Finding solutions to curb value erosion among children
Aakanksha N Bhardwaj
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, October 9
Experts and principals of different schools interacted and expressed their views on the topic, ‘Causes of value erosion and need to revive the system in the society’ during the Principals’ Meet organised by The Tribune here on Tuesday.
The discussions were also held on the topic ‘Improving school climate through virtues of equality, integrity and empathy.’ The principals of around 51 schools attended the meeting.
Vice Chancellor RS Bawa and Dr Manoj K Sharma from University Business School, Punjab University were the chief guests. The event was sponsored by Chandigarh University and Urvashi Bhatia was the anchor of the event.
Emphasis was laid on developing and inculcating the values among children from the beginning. Loss of human integrity was also one of the important topics to be discussed during the meet.
The experts said the tragedy was that people did not value others and had become selfish. It was also discussed that in the modern era, everything had changed, as the present generation had forgotten to play sports, read books and all they were involved in was technology.
Vice-Chancellor of Chandigarh University RS Bawa said the prime need was to share some systems and values which were very important.
The experts dwelled on the importance of building character among students for making of leaders of tomorrow. Dr Manoj put light on intelligent quotient, emotional quotient, and physical quotient. They pointed out that character-building was a process that had to be started early on, rather than expecting youth to change later in life. They said parents and teachers have a pivotal role in character-building of youths and thus, it was imperative that they become their role models.
He shared many anecdotes to explain his point on the importance of the values in one’s life.
Values getting eroded
The Vice Chancellor said everyone had been invaded by the western values. “Our values are getting eroded. There are three values i.e. empathy, integrity and equality, but the students are becoming more self oriented now,” he said.
Importance of 3 Ds
RS Bawa and Dr Manoj also expressed the need to embrace three Ds, such as diligence, dedication and discipline. He said discipline was the biggest causality these days. Giving free hand to the children was not good. They also talked about the lack of reading habit among students now-a-days. “There is no physical activity. It must be looked into that what percentage of children play sports verses the percentage of children have mobile phones, and surprisingly 99.9 percent of the children today have phones,” the experts shared their point of views.
Empathy an important skill
If a child knows the value of empathy, he/she will be more careful about what is happening around. If we teach them to treat people equal to themselves, we will be really doing a favour to them.
Vice-Chancellor RS Bawa said, “We are the people who can make the difference. I am not in favour of religious education but I believe that moral, ethical, social values play a very important role in a students’ life. The students must know that what values they must inculcate. The generation is going astray and the things will go out of control very quickly and it will be done by the teachers who can restore the greatness of the nation.”
He also added that the gradual decay of the values is picking up and is going out of control, adding that we must create great human beings and citizens.
FC Verma, the manager of New St Solider Senior Sec Public School said, “Values play a very important role. Without values, life is like a ship without rudder.”
Rekha Sharma, from Police DAV Public School said that there are no good role models for the present generation. There are nuclear families now whereas in joint families system, a child would know how to respect one. This whole system needs to be changed and the energy of the youngsters must be channelised.
Those awarded
Excellence in academics
Woodland Overseas School, Hoshiarpur
Shiv Jyoti Public School, Jalandhar
MGN Public School, Urban Estate II, Jalandhar
Cambridge International School, Phagwara
Outstanding contribution to education
Jorawar Singh, Cambridge International School, Phagwara
Dr R U Tiwari, Lord Mahavir Jain Public School, Phagwara
Outstanding community initiative
DIPS School, Urban Estate I, Jalandhar
Cambridge International school, Phagwara
State Public School, Shahkot
DAV Public School, Bilga
Darshan Academy, Dasuya
Eco-friendly school
DIPS School Urban Estate I, Jalandhar
Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Phalahi
Innocent Hearts School, Jalandhar
SD City Public School, Adamwal, Hoshiarpur
DAV Public School, Bilga
Excellence in sports
Police DAV Public School, Jalandhar
Lord Mahavir Jain Public School, Phagwara
Innocent Hearts School, Jalandhar
DIPS School Near Sura Nussi, Jalandhar
MGN Public School, Urban Estate II, Jalandhar
What VC said
We are the only ones who can make the difference. Only moral, ethical and social values can build the character of a student. The students must know what values they must inculcate. The generation is going astray and the things will go out of control quickly. Only teachers can restore the greatness of
the nation. — RS Bawa, Vice-Chancellor
Principalspeak
When we talk of education, we talk of value education. Schools should be introduce values as a vital part of education. But we find values missing in every subsequent generation. There is no focus on becoming a good human being. The concern today is me, mine and myself. We must try to change the basic structure of schooling. — Rashmi Vij, Police DAV Public School
I am of the opinion that value and education must go hand in hand. For a good society, both things are equally important. — Shalu Sharma, APS, Jalandhar Cantt
The values are eroding fast. It is important that the values are inculcated in students early as the society needs good human beings for its growth. — Dhiraj Banati, Innocent hearts School
We face so many problems. Education being given to students is only bookish and there is a need for cultivating values on a daily basis. — Manjinder Singh, St Soldier School, Friends Colony
I am doing a research on this topic. It is very difficult to take the students back to that old value system. Even parents hardly have time so they expect it from school. So we have to groom students, otherwise we will lose the generation. — Dr Sandeepa Sood, Saffron public school, Phagwara
The topic was quite motivating and it was a great learning experience. Both experts who spoke on the matter were great speakers who made us learn some new points. — Dinkar Sharma, Vashisht Bharti International School
It was definitely a wonderful exercise. We are able to provide our children with everything other than the values. The values are degrading. Not degrees but behaviour and attitude matters a lot in ones personality. — Ravi Sharma, DAV Public School, Bilga
It was a relevant topic. Such meets eventually help everyone in society to discuss over things that are important. Schools must cope with the future challenges by making the children learn values and things will emerge better. — Romila Sharma, SPPS Convent School
