As pervasive violence shatters many societies,
the call for values echoes through headlines
and school hallways as educators, parents and
children become increasingly concerned and affected.
The Living Values series offers a variety
of experiential activities for teachers and parents
to help them teach children and young adults
to develop twelve critical social values: cooperation,
freedom, happiness, honesty, humility, love,
peace, respect, responsibility, simplicity, tolerance
and unity. In each book, these twelve values
are explored using age-appropriate lessons that
incorporate group discussions, reading, quiet
reflection time, songs, artwork and action-oriented
activities.
These lessons are already in use in more than
1,000 locations in sixty-two countries. Pilot
results indicate that students are enthusiastic
and teachers report a decrease in aggressive
behavior and more motivated students. Living
Values Education was born when twenty educators
from around the world gathered at UNICEF Headquarters
in New York in 1996 to discuss the needs of children
and how to better prepare students for lifelong
success. These global educators identified the
curriculum and the program was ready for piloting
in February of 1997.
Diane Tillman is
an Educational Psychologist who worked in a California
public school system, USA, for 23 years. Diane
travels widely internationally, training educators
about LVE process and lecturing on personal development.
She is LVE's International Coordinator for Content.
She has served the United Nations Association
- USA at the local, regional, and national levels.
Educators around the world contributed activities
to the expanded 1999/2000 edition of Living Values
Activities books. While Diane Tillman is the
primary author of the six LVE books, two of the
books have co-authors.
Diana Hsu is the co-author
of Living Values for Children, Ages 3-7 Diana Hsu is a
teacher who has worked with children aged 2-
through 14- for the last 24 years in Germany,
Hong Kong, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.
She began writing stories for children ten years
ago. The activities and stories she contributed
were field tested in several countries.
Pilar Quera Colomina is the Living Values Education
Coordinator for Spain. She travels widely internationally,
training educators and community members about
the Living Values process. Her 27 years' experience
teaching in schools encompasses pre-primary,
primary, and secondary levels. Pilar is
also the author of Manual para Educadores I and
II.
Living Values Education welcomes your suggestions
and invites participation at all levels. When
viewed as an ongoing process, values-based education
becomes part of a lifelong learning experience.
Many opportunities can be found to integrate
values-based education into existing curricula.
These will vary from place to place according
to cultural needs. It is in the spirit of cooperation
that the Program was founded, recognizing we
learn from one another. We would like to thank
all those who have contributed their time and
energy to the Program.
