What's new - School Forums, February 2006
The National Framework for Values Education in Australian Schools contains a vision for values education that is based on consultation with the school community in developing a whole school approach to values education. To realise this vision the Australian Government is providing funding, through the Values Education program, for values education school forums in all school communities in Australia over 2005–08. Distribution of funding and coordination of forums is happening through State and Territory education authorities
Each school community will make decisions about its forum in the light of the National Framework for Values Education in Australian Schools (2005) and its own particular circumstances.
School forums:
- are not intended to be stand-alone events but rather to be an integral part of the school's values education journey;
- may be a single event or a series of events;
- may be conducted by individual schools or as a cluster;
- will be funded on application;
- funding is dependent on a forum report by individual participating schools.
To support schools in planning and conducting values education forums there are resources offering practical advice and tools on this website. Snapshots of school forums will inspire and show some different approaches to engaging school communities.
School forum resources
Every school in Australia will receive the Values for Australian Schooling Kit which will provide print, DVD and poster resources for values education professional learning and for conducting school values education forums.
Schools preparing to conduct their own school forums will find the following extracts and sample activities to support school forum activity, from the Values Education Forums – Engaging your school community resource in the kit, useful in planning and running forums and engaging the school community. There is information and activities on:
- applying for funding;
- forming a working group;
- getting to know your school context;
- deciding on goals and outcomes for your forum;
- practical considerations for the working group;
- developing specific activities for your forum.
Another useful resource is Discovering Democratic Values: Teaching and learning civic values, a professional development DVD that allows teachers and schools to examine a variety of perspectives in civic values education. It provides models and ideas as a stimulus for schools to reflect on their own practices and consider opportunities for implementing values education relevant to their own school communities.
To obtain a free copy of the DVD on a first come first served basis, schools can contact their State or Territory Values Education Contact Officer or email Curriculum Corporation
School forum snapshots
Reflections and stories of some values education school forums that have been conducted around the country are a useful resource for those wanting practical advice and ideas for preparing their own school forums.
Rochedale State School
Vicky King is a teacher whose enthusiasm for values education was the catalyst for Rochedale State School’s values education school forum. The forum was used by the school community as way of agreeing to a common values education strategy and was the start of their values journey.
Tarpeena Primary School
Tarpeena Primary School held a values forum to review the existing values of the school and to begin the process of integrating their school values and objectives with the National Framework. This forum was the starting point of their values review.
Point Lonsdale Primary School
Values education forums allow school communities to consider what place values education plays in schools policies and practices. Point Lonsdale Primary School has a long and established history of explicitly placing values at the forefront of school practice. They are a long way down the track of values education. In fact, they are so confident in their whole school approach and practice that the students at this primary school organised the whole values education school forum themselves.