positive education for the future
ethos
positive education for the future
Character Development:
The power of the Inner
Curriculum
Jane Hawkes, a highly regarded psychotherapist, aims to
inspire readers to be more curious about both themselves
and the world in which they live. In this article, she
introduces readers to a number of useful tools which she
hopes will help to transform their lives
Wow! On a recent visit to the outstanding
reception class at Long Crendon Primary
School, in Buckinghamshire, I found myself
engaged by delightful children. Observing
the scene, I saw a group of pupils fascinated
by channelling water around a series of
drainpipes, using buckets and people power.
They were obviously having fun and enjoying
the team’s learning experience. I noticed
a boy playing alone and another being
supported by his teacher, as he explained
to another child how her words had hurt
his feelings - a lovely example of emotional
coaching. I chatted to some of the girls, who
were curious to know who I was and why was
I visiting their class.
All of these children demonstrated the
value of curiosity, and all of them were
being impacted by their experiences: a
great example of character development
in action. As I reflected on the children and
their activities, I realised that we are all in
the process of developing our characters,
and have the potential to change and grow
whatever age we are.
In this article I will share some of my thoughts
on the character development of children
18
and adults, through my understanding of
Values-based Education, (VbE), and the Inner
Curriculum (IC). VbE may already be a familiar
concept to you. Briefly, it is a philosophy
of education that underpins the whole
school environment and all that happens
within the school and its community, with
universal, positive human values. The school
community decides on the values (principles
that guide our thinking and behaviour),
which they think are important. They explore
the deeper meanings of these words, and
how they will live these values through
their thinking and behaviour. Children and
adults learn an ethical vocabulary, and thus
access their ethical intelligence. The evidence
is soon clear on how this philosophy is
informing and changing character in both
the adults and the children. It provides
a common language to discuss and
understand the impact of human behaviour.
Encouraging everyone to have greater
awareness.
The Inner Curriculum is the term Neil Hawkes
(www.neilhawkes.org) and I have given to
our thinking about how we understand
ourselves, and our relationships. We have
been sharing these ideas with school leaders,