Education In The City: Are Values Caught Or Taught?

The Office of Education Research (OER), together with the National Library Board (NLB), presented the second “Education In The City” lecture on 23 March 2018. The “Education In The City” series aims to showcase education research perspectives to give the public a deeper understanding of issues in education and provide tips on how to help our children.

This second instalment of the series was centred on values education and the talks provided fascinating insights on how empathy, hospitality and criticality can be cultivated in children through reading.

The first speaker, Assistant Professor Myra Garces-Bacsalfrom NIE’s Early Childhood and Special Education Academic Group, gave a presentation on how children can ‘catch’ values through the reading of picture books. She explained the role of picture books in exposing children to diverse life narratives and engaged parents on how to select age-appropriate picture books for their children.

Assistant Professor Suzanne Choofrom NIE’s English Language and Literature Academic Group spoke about how values can be ‘taught’ through Literature. She highlighted the ways in which the study of Literature cannurture empathy in students and sensitise them to cultural diversity in Singapore and the world. Assistant Professor Choo also offered parental tips on using literature to impart values to their children.

The lecture concluded with a question-and-answer session moderated by Dr Teng Siao See, a Research Scientist from OER’s Centre for Research in Pedagogy and Practice. The topic garnered lively participation from the audience, and both speakers responded to a wide range of questions on values education for tertiary students, multicultural picture books for social and emotional learning, and the difference between sympathy and empathy.