School engages parents in values education

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

"How do I deal with my son if he ignores my orders or questions? He often comes home from school looking as if he has had a bad day. What should I do," asked Lita, the mother of a High Scope Indonesia elementary school student, during a discussion here on Tuesday.

Lita was one of 270 parents coming to join what the High Scope Indonesia School, located in South Jakarta, calls "Values Education Campaign".

Highlighting the campaign was a discussion facilitated by entertainer Tantowi Yahya.

During the discussion, parents were given the opportunity to raise questions and share concerns over their children's social and moral behavior.

The campaign, which started in early February, included an exhibition of artworks made by pre-school to junior high school students. The artwork mostly expressed student's concerns about the earthquake and tsunami disasters, as well as other current social issues.

The purpose of the campaign was to teach and develop students' moral values and sense of social responsibility, and to assist parents in preventing bad behavior in their children.

"Nowadays, most parents feel that their children are more critical and argumentative," said Rosita, a mother of two children who study at the school.

Rosita said one effective way to find answers to questions on the moral behavior of students was for parents to work together with the school to make sure lessons taught at the school were applied at home.

"Parents are asked to participate in the parent support group program, which the school plans to hold regularly," said Rosita.

"Teachers will hand out a list of parenting exercises relating to building social and moral values, which the parents have to apply at home with their children. After two weeks, parents are called by the school to share their experiences in carrying out the exercises," explained Rosita.

Komaruddin Hidayat, an education expert, said values education included stimulating children to be curious, self-confident, cooperative, appreciative, respectful toward others, and empathetic.

"Remember parents, you can't teach the children what you want; you can only teach them what you are," said Komaruddin, referring to the role parents play in educating their children.