Dr Dolores Brissett, from the Guidance and Counseling Unit, Ministry of Education and Culture, Jamaica, participated in the July 1998 LVEI TTT (Train the Trainers) held at the Oxford Retreat Centre, England, and has recently completed and is ready to launch the following six-year plan for Jamaica entitled:

Values Orientation Project

Dr Brissett recently outlined The Values Orientation Project at the G15* Spouses Programme 1999 during a round table discussion held from 8:30 am - l:30 pm on February 11, 1999 entitled “Values for a Changing Society”.

It was held at a lovely home of Mr and Mrs Waoung overlooking the ocean. (*G-15 included Heads of State of 15 countries who met in Montego Bay, Jamaica, to unite economically to promote greater economic, educational, cultural and social growth.)

Dr Dolores Brissett, Head of the Guidance and Counselling Services at the Caenwood Centre in Kingston, Jamaica was the keynote speaker at international G-15 luncheon where she outlined her plan based on Living Values for establishing values education program in Jamaica, shown here with Sister Chirya. 

Guests included wives of the heads of state from Malaysia and Nigeria, ....

Malaysia and Nigeria at the National level are aware of the  importance of values and attitudes education. Both first ladies welcomed the Living Values Program enthusiastically and were very happy to receive a copy of the first Living Values book.)

First Lady of Malaysia was already informed of Living Values and expressed her appreciation, gratitude and good wishes for its continuing success.

 

... ambassadors from Ecuador, Chile, and Mexico, and representatives from Jamaica including Speaker of the House, Ms Violet Neilson, Senator Maxine Henry Wilson, business consultant Jean Beaumont, the wife of the Mayor of Montego Bay, Kaleith Solomon, ministers, educators and other women who are national leaders.

Sister Chirya of the BKWSU also spoke outlining the current details of the LVE, Living Values Education, inviting attendees to attend the TTT in July 99 at the Oxford Retreat Centre and to continue their participation in values education to create a better world.

Highlights of Dr Brissett’s plan:


A Values Orientation Project for Jamaica
by Dr Dolores Brissett, Guidance and Counseling, Ministry of Education, Jamaica

Background
In 1993, the Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Honourable P.J. Patterson, perceived the need to move toward a ‘gentler Jamaican society”. He also called for a change in personal attitudes and values as foremost in the strategy for achieving that gentler society. This initiative received popular support because of the perception among large sectors of society that there has been a large scale rejection of traditional values.

The Ministry of Education and Culture has recognized the significance of this initiative. The Guidance and Counseling Unit is seeking to bring additional emphasis to core curriculum and the guidance programme. ....

Purpose
To provide guiding principles and tools to improve the quality of life and draw attention to the importance of a change in values to facilitate a deeper, lasting change in our society.

The world of today’s students is a context in which there are few absolutes or abiding principles; standards are undefined and behaviors are unpredictable.

Attitudes and values are also changing quickly. The rapidity, diversity and consequent anxiety create challenges for students, teachers and the society at large.

It is therefore imperative that students are exposed to a framework, which encourages them to develop powers of self-education and self-reliance facilitated by powerful communication skills which support their interpersonal relationships and enhance their learning capacities. Their exposure should contribute significantly to their development into positive, assured students and individuals.

Objectives
To prepare student to:

• develop positive attitudes to self and others

• contribute to a gentler society

• demonstrate love, respect to self and others

• appreciate the significance of unity to the development of community and nation

Content
The substance of the programme will focus on nine (9) key concepts as follows:

• Respect, Self-worth/Dignity, Cleanliness, Cooperation, Punctuality, Compassion, Tolerance, Citizenship, Silence

Expected Outcomes

• Individual - Changes in values and attitudes and behavior toward sustained positive living

• Community - Create a repository of Values Education resources

• Develop a cadre of community leaders to sustain the project

• National - Develop a National Committee at the end of phase I

Strategy

• Training and Sensitization of Education Officers, Teachers, Guidance Counselors, School Administrators, Parents, Community Leaders

• Student Activities: student exchange, mini projects, student rallies, competitions in schools (locally and internationally)

• Methodology - orientation, curriculum integration/infusion concepts/ discreet interventions. Will utilize vertical and horizontal integration to ensure that the 9 Concepts (values) are introduced and emphasized in the core curriculum.

• Values to be integrated into all activities of the Unit and all officers involved in the application of the values-based approach. Attention will also be given to reinforcing programmes such as ‘PALS’ and “Change from Within”.

Parent Education and Support: Development of programme support by inclusion of parents as an integral part of the change process

Duration and Implementation Plan
Six years: April 1999 - June 2004

The Way Forward
Sharing Ideas, New Strategies, Collaborating/Exchanges

Recommended Resources (p 13 of Proposal)

• LVE Kits (Living Values - An Educational Initiative

• LVE Values Statements and LVE List of Values

• Education in Human Values by Sai Baba Foundation

• ‘The Poetry of Teaching’ by Anthea Church

• Statement on Values

• Violence Frequency Questionnaire

• The Story of Four Schools

• Values Orientation Project (VOP) List of Values

• The Ideal Caribbean Person, National symbols, School Symbol Collection

• Collection of memory gems

• Suggested Techniques for Educating

  • Performing Arts,

  • Art and Crafts, 

  • Memory Gems Campaign,

  • Buddy System,

  • Establishing Rules,

  • Constructive use of TV,

  • Media Watch,

  • Thinking Table,

  • Peace Corner,

  • Time-Out,

  • Imagery/Visualization,

  • Reflections,

  • Games,

  • Music,

  • Songs,

  • Story writing/telling/analysis,

  • Role Reversals,

  • Assemblies,

  • Silence Time,

  • Traffic Control,

  • Public Speaking,

  • Competitions.

Major Activities

1. Training and Sensitization

   • 28 teachers and guidance counselors to implement values based education through 3 1-day and 2 2-day workshops.

   • Two education officers and two college lecturers in a 6-day LVE course

   • Parents of 540 students from 14 schools in an 8-hour course spread over 2 terms.

2. Student Activities

   • Mini-Projects around a selected value, e.g. highlighting co-operation.

   • Student Rally - students participating in the 14 project schools come together in a rally to display the tangible outcomes of the mini-projects.

   • Student Exchanges- Neighboring schools will be encouraged to share their ideas and send groups of students to observe the ‘best practices’ in action.

3. Competitions

4. Parent Education and Support

5. Materials Development and Acquisition

6. Project Management 
   The project will benefit from a small advisory committee which includes 2 guidance officers, a principal, one teacher and 1 counselor and a parent and a patron. To begin the project will be coordinated by a technical assistant with an understudy being an officer in the Guidance and Counseling Unit.