STRUCTURE

• Introduction – A short introduction to Values (25 words)        
• Body – Explain the role of family, Society and educational institutions in inculcating values (250 words)
• Conclusion – Mention a short conclusion  (25 words)

ANSWER

Values are beliefs that have an inherent worth in usefulness or importance to the holder," or "principles, standards, or qualities reflected worthwhile or desirable.” Values institute an important characteristic of self-concept and serve as supervisory principles for person. In literature, it is documented that values are so indissolubly woven into human language, thought and behaviour patterns that they have fascinated philosophers for millennia.

Role of family and society in teaching values:

• Bulk of literature have shown that the family and society plays a significant role in shaping moral values of child. There is a strong bonding between the parents and children, which determines the personality of child. Family is the basis on which values are built.
• Moral values such as truthfulness, happiness, peace, justice are inculcated in children’s thoughts, feelings and actions and they function as ideals and standards that govern their actions in their life. The value system practised in the family becomes automatic to the young family members if they are taught moral values thoroughly. The family has a great responsibility to pass on to the children many truths and values, and competencies to accomplish their place in life, whatever the society, whatever the culture or times. The eternal values of Truth, Right Conduct, Peace, Love and Harmlessness (Non-Violence) are transmitted on first through the family. Mothers are the first teachers. Mother is foundational, central, life-bringer and life-shaper. From their mothers, children acquire self-knowledge, self-confidence, learn self-satisfaction, self-worth, the capacity for self-sacrifice.
• The family, forms the child’s viewpoint towards people and society, and helps in mental development in the child and supports his desires and values. Delightful and joyful atmosphere in the family will develop the love, affection, tolerance, and generosity. A child learns his behaviour by demonstrating what he sees around him. Family also contribute significantly in helping a child socialize and has great influence and bearing on the progress of the child. In joint family system, the presence of elders in the family plays an effective role in social and moral development of the children. It will also aid young generation of the family to develop human values and eliminate their negative mental tendencies when they are among elders.
• Children recognize themselves with their parents, other family elders and espouse them as their personal models for emulation and imitation. The behavioural problems are set correct only by the involvement of family in the child’s life as they spend most of their time in adolescence with the parents. Family is the first social organisation that provides the immediate closeness from which the child can learn his behaviour.
• Social standards and customs demarcated by a family provide the emotional and physical basis for a child. Values developed by a family are the groundwork for how children learn, grow and function in the world. These principles, transmits the way of life a child lives and changes into an individual in a culture. These values and morals guides the individual every time in his actions. Children turn out to be a good person because of the value taught and given by his family members. Philosophies passed down from generation to generation make up a family values. Customs and Traditions followed and taught by the family leads a disciplined and organized life.
• Families values helps the child to stand strong on his views regardless of others efforts to break through with opposing views. A child has a strong sense of what is right and wrong and are less likely to become sufferers of deviant influences.

Role of educational institutions in inculcating values:

• Value education is important to help everyone in improving the value system that he/she holds and puts it to use. Once, one has understood his/ her values in life he/she can examine and control the various choices he/she makes in his/ her life. Many reports signify that the aim of educational institutions should not only be to teach education alone but should also be to inculcate values and improving skills of children and teens.
• In school, children are affiliates of a small society that exerts a great influence on their moral development. Teachers serve as role model to students in school. They play a major role in inculcating their ethical behaviour (Satya Pal Ruhela, 1996).
• Peers at school diffuse confidence about cheating, lying, stealing, and consideration for others. Though there are rules and regulations, the educational institutions pervade the value education to the children in an informal way. They play a key role in developing ethical behaviour in children.

To summarize, values are bridge between individual and social. Individual holds value but others influence the formation of those values (Kenneth Fleischmann, 2013). In philosophical frameworks, values are those standards or code for conduct conditioned by one's cultural doctrines and guided by conscience, according to which human being is supposed to conduct himself and shape his life patterns by integrating his beliefs, ideas and attitudes to realize cherished ideas and aims of life (Gupta, 1986). Families, groups and societies tend to share common values (Kenneth Fleischmann, 2013). Family has been regarded as cornerstone of society. It forms a basic unit of social organisation (Goel, 2008).