NEW ZEALAND
Youth judge wants core values taught in schools
Principal Youth Court Judge Andrew Becroft wants values taught in schools to help children whose families do not teach qualities such as honesty, kindness and compassion. He believes schools will soon become hubs for social services - providing support for teachers, pupils and families through psychologists, social workers and drug and alcohol counsellors.
"Increasingly there's a role for schools there, I believe, and there's a community debate to be had about what are the core values that underscore our society," Judge Becroft told The Dominion Post. "I think schools need to feel confident that there are a set of community-owned values that they can confidently talk about with kids."
Earlier, speaking to hundreds of primary and intermediate children at the National Young Leaders Day in Wellington, Judge Becroft said it was a thrill to talk to pupils who were not young criminals. "You are not the sort of young people that I normally speak to. Let me tell you some differences. None of you are in handcuffs ... All of you will be sleeping in your own beds tonight."
The judge outlined important leadership qualities and values to aspire toward to avoid ending up in front of a Youth Court judge. They included choosing friends carefully, having the guts to say "no", and living by a values system of core beliefs.
Judge Becroft, a former Rongotai College pupil and Hurricanes supporter, said his greatest challenge was overcoming a severe childhood stutter which had made him afraid of public speaking. Though he loved his job, he felt terrible sending young people to prison, but said there were consequences for breaking the law.
After speaking to the crowd, he said it was not solely the responsibility of teachers to install values in children, and he acknowledged some people opposed values being taught in schools. "How can you be a teacher and not be communicating or conveying values just by the person you are? Teachers are trained to teach but they'll need, I think, increasingly greater support, especially at the sharp end, which is what I see."
Claudia Beaumont, 12, a Year 8 Kapanui School pupil, said Judge Becroft was easy to relate to. She now wanted to be a High Court judge. "Like he said - you've got to try and get a system going so you're a good leader. It's something to work toward - your life attitude."
Post Primary Teachers Association president Robin Duff said values such as care and concern were already features at some schools. He agreed that teachers conveyed values through teaching but said imparting values to children was also the responsibility of families and communities. "Otherwise schools are going to be surrogate parents and surrogate sort of social agencies."
Lane Nichols
16 April 2008