31

Character CountsLeading to the fully balanced young person

Education provision is about attaining skills and application of knowledge but today

employers are looking for more. Human Resource networks indi-cate repeatedly that employers seek well-rounded leaders sup-ported by a balanced character.

The attempt to understand and develop character extends back in history, it can also be seen throughout the teachings of re-markable names - such as Kant, Comte and Renouvier, during the 18th century. Renouvier felt that students should learn, throughout their educational careers, how to make moral decisions, and to become good individuals in society. This strong

notion of morality in educa-tion was conveyed powerfully throughout his work. Nowadays, with globalisation and the easy access to technology, it is quite a different challenge to help pupils build a good judgment whilst faced with distorted values via television, magazines, social me-dia and others. Yew Chung Inter-national School (YCIS) prioritizes its students’ moral and ethic education and prepares them to face challenges they may encounter, or situations where their character could make a difference in judgment.

School is a big part of most peo-ple’s lives. That is where children will grow not only in knowledge and understanding of sever-

al subjects, but also will form their personality, manners and attitude towards their surround-ing universe. When high moral standard and good character are highlighted in one’s educa-tion, life at school goes beyond simply learning Sciences, Maths and languages. To help students develop fully as individuals with both of these mentioned qual-ities, YCIS thrives on educating young people on building an honorable character and helps them become people that will fully grasp respect, kindness, perseverance and diligence.

A successful school is an organi-sation that is concerned with the full development of its students. Their lives after graduation are

EDU GUIDE 2014

32

EDU GUIDE 2014

what matters. It is indeed true that good hearts also lead to good grades, although the main concern is to prepare these stu-dents to be successful and re-spectful people that care about others, and pursue a mindset that is constantly connected with social issues, local needs and problem solving.

Using everyday situations and real stories, YCIS combines top-ics of personal and social de-velopment, character building, morality and ethics with global perspectives. The globally pre-pared YCIS graduates will have learned important values that will guide their path, wherever they desire to establish their future. The school’s Character Education Programme is based on the Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) from England, and also takes some references from the USA. As part of YCIS’s program, beyond lesson time, students partici-pate of charity events; assem-blies and other group activities that aim at helping them ac-complish inner transformation.

In 1932, YCIS was founded based on Christian values. Ever since its beginning the school has been able to provide moral lessons to their students, help-ing them achieve self-trans-formation. By integrating character formation into the curriculum through areas of pastoral, spiritual and global life lessons. The school shapes students into balanced and responsible global citizens that acknowledge their surrounding world with a different perspec-tive, which includes action and care.

The YCIS community, including students, staff members and parents, join hands to provide help to the victims of natural disasters and the less privi-leged. The Yew Chung Edu-

cation Foundation has intro-duced “Seeds of Hope” project and co-ordinates, with all Yew Chung International Schools, fund raising efforts for the establishment of local primary schools in various parts of rural China. Every year, they bring help to at least one rural school of every province/city where there is a YCIS campus or fur-ther afield.

“We believe that the classroom activities are fundamental to allow the children to learn about these qualities,” says a YCIS Primary teacher. “Positive praise and encouragement is vital and a child who perhaps does not excel academically can feel rewarded in other ways, boosting their confidence as a person.”

The Character Formation Programme allows a weekly reflection of the typical be-haviour of well-known animals, helping the children understand the true meaning of the gesture and character. For example, “diligence” the meaning is gath-ered through a story of a beaver that keeps working hard, finish-ing his task, concentrating and

品格致胜造就全面均衡发展的个体

在当今竞争激烈的社会诉求下，授人以渔胜于授人以鱼。跨国企业对人才的需求已经从单纯的专业技术

层面上升到具备优良品格的全面领导者。

学校在我们每个人的一生当中起到了举足轻重的作用。那里不仅是学习知识的地方，更为重要的是一个人的品性、礼仪、对世界的认知和态度也在学生时代逐步形成。为培育学生具备优良品格及崇高品德，达致全人教育，耀中致力培养学生的内在转变，品德兼修。

学术成就固然重要，而均衡全面的教育能引领学生走得更远。如何应对踏入社会之后的挑战是当今全球一体化需要面临的首要任务。独立精准的思考、解决问题的能力、懂得感恩和回报社会的心态将赋予个体更多的力量和财富。

耀中致力全人教育，用心培育适应环球挑战的世界公民。耀中品格教育以英格兰青少年个人、社会与健康课程为蓝本，并参照美国有关品格培育的教材，为学生提供一系列品格生活教育课程，帮助他们发展正面的个人品格。我们透过日常生活实例和真人真事培养

33

EDU GUIDE 2014

not being lazy. A song, a story, lesson activities and discussions of how to display this personali-ty all contribute to the embrace-ment by the children.

With this unique character edu-cation programme, and through helping others, YCIS students learn to appreciate the role they play in the world, they also be-come more caring, tolerant and responsible. Qualities like these will stand out in this competitive world, which constantly brings unpredictable challenges in all sort of situations.

It is truly breathtaking to witness a beautiful and remarkable transformation within young ones. Children’s lifetime a school will certainly impact their fu-ture, since their decisions and participation in society will be a reflection of their past. Their learning shall help establish the new generation. Econom-ic, social and environmental challenges will continue to arise in the world’s future. If children grow learning to be involved with society, exhibiting honesty and truthfulness, they will be part of those people who we wish would drive the world in the best direction.

学生的良好品德，课程内容包括个人成长与待人接物、品格和世界伦理道德观等培训。课堂以外，我们更透过早会时间、小组活动和各类慈善活动为学生进行品格生活教育；帮助学生将优良品格内在转化。

回望1932年，建立

在基督信仰和价值观上耀中成立了第一所学校。在80余年的发展长河中，我们将品格教育融入学校生活的点滴之处，培育了富有责任心、爱心和具备独特视角的世界公民。

耀中大家庭的每一位成员，包括学生、家长和老师时常亲力亲为帮助那些弱势群体。耀中教育机构自发成立了“希望种子”慈善项目，每一年在耀中学校所在的城市会通过慈善音乐会的形式进行筹款，利用所得善款在中国欠发达地区筹建了几所希望小学。每一年耀中的学生都会去看望希望小学的学生，送去温暖。

一位小学部的老师说：“位小学部的老师说：群体。耀中教育机构自发成立了“希望种子”慈善项目，每一年在耀中学校所在的城市会通过慈善音乐会的形式进行筹款，利用所得善款在中国欠发达地以提升孩子的自信。”

为 了 帮 助 孩 子 形 象 化 地 正 确 理

解每一个举止及品格的真正意义，我

们会让他们反思一些熟知动物的典型行为。比如，在学习“勤勉”这个品格特质时，学生通过对海狸的研究发现它认真地完成每一项任务、注意力十分集中、勤奋且一点也不懒散。为了加深学生对其的认知，大家亲力亲为，通过一首歌、一个故事、课堂活动和讨论等丰富的形式，呈现这个品格特质。

我们相信在耀中独特的品格教育课程中，学生们会更加珍惜世界赋予他们的角色。在具备了立体的丰富视角和优良品性的同时，亦会在竞争激烈的社会中游刃有余。

见证每一位学生的内在转变是让人欣喜和自豪的。教育不仅要立足当下，更要展望未来。新生代需要具备全方位的知识和技能以面对未来世界的综合挑战。

When high moral

standard and good character are highlighted in one’s education, life at school goes beyond simply learning Sciences, Maths and languages.