Government to integrate Values Education into the National School Curriculum
CHILDREN'S VALUES EDUCATION TOOLS "WITH A TWIST" GO NATIONAL
The 2005 Cronulla riots and these staggering bullying statistics have highlighted the urgent need to educate youth about the importance of tolerance, inclusion and good values, and to encourage them to live by these in their daily lives. They have also prompted the Government to integrate Values Education into the National School Curriculum, however fun and interactive teaching tools and resources have been lacking strongly, particularly for primary schools across Australia.
Phil and Jodi Tweed, parents of five children, four of which were in primary school at the time, approached their children's school to see how they could assist to make a positive contribution to their children's education. The Tweeds were told by the school's principal that values education resources were a much needed commodity and that they were looking for an interesting and intertactive way to teach this as a part of the curriculum.
With Phil being a talented singer/songwriter/producer and Jodi an events and production specialist, the two gathered a small team and embarked on creating an incredible musical production for the school called 'sPlat to help solve this problem.
'sPlat's storyline involves a cute Platypus called Plat who feels discouraged by the actions of his colony and embarks on a journey to right the wrongs of his friends and family. His journey sees him put the nine important values set as a framework by the Australian Federal Government - care and compassion, doing your best, fair go, freedom, honesty and trustworthiness, integrity, respect, responsibility and understanding, tolerance and inclusion - into action. The songs throughout the musical capture these values and reinforce these messages.
"Our children and the other students at their school responded so well to 'sPlat, that the teachers could hear them using some of the lines from the play in their every day dialogue in the playground, which was exactly what we were hoping would happen," says Jodi Tweed, mother and 'sPlat Musical Co-Creator. "The children were using what they had learnt about values in their everyday lives. "Following the success of the project, we approached the Federal Government for their endorsement as we realised that this was a vital resource that primary school teachers could easily reproduce and use to teach values across the country."
Both s'Plat and Values in Song, a CD of the songs featured in the musical were given the thumbs up by the Government, and have since been made available to teachers and parents in NSW. Over 40 schools have now used the musical resource with incredible success, and many more have purchased the CD. The products are now being launched nationally.
Phil and Jodi Tweed believe that, "With parents and carers working longer hours, these kinds of resources have become critically important to ensure that schools and parents work together in communicating fundamental values to children both at school and at home from a young age."
The Values in Song CD is now also available to parents who want to teach their children about the importance of values through a fun, simple and interactive activity that the whole family can take part in at home. The CD also includes backing tracks of all the songs and song words, which can be used in a variety of situations.
"We are so proud of the fact that our own children were involved in the development of both 'sPlat and Values in Song along with their primary school. The feedback from the children, teachers and parents has been tremendous and we're excited to be able to make this resource widely available to schools and parents.
"By involving children in a creative and artistic learning process of values education, they are far more likely to get a true understanding of what it all means, and to take ownership and responsibility over their actions. We believe this is so important in the social development of children and this country's future."
'sPlat the Musical and the Values in Song CD are available online at www.stylemusic.com.au or by calling (02) 4938 3518. The cost of the full musical package is $240 plus GST and is particularly aimed at primary schools with students aged 6-12. The Values in Song CD, available to schools and parents is $30 plus GST.
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