Formation of the Will in Values Education

This is Module 3, Lesson 6, Formation of the Will in Values Education. It forms part of the course Philosophical and Ethical Foundations of Values Education.

If the intellect should be trained, the will, on the other hand, must be formed.

The word WILL, or VOLITION, can be associated with the following words: choose, love, practice, act, resist, persevere, control, avoid, follow, internalize, comply, resolve, balance, display, obey, and many more. In this lesson, let’s find out some of the ways how to form the will of our students. Let’s get started.

How do we form the will of our students?

1. Practice virtues and good moral habits

How do we form the will of our students?

First, encourage them to practice virtues and good moral habits. We should provide avenues or opportunities for our students to practice virtues and good moral habits.

Dapat rin natin silang i-encourage na isabuhay ang kagandahang asal sa loob at labas ng paaralan. Dapat rin natin ipaunawa sa kanila na ang pagpapakita ng kabutihang asal ay walang pinipiling oras at lugar. At hindi kahinaan ang pag-iwas sa gulo at bangayan.

2. Change and improve oneself

Ito ang kagandahan lalo na sa kabataan, kase they have the luxury of time, a time to change and a time to develop. Ang pinakamagandang target natin is to change their bad attitude or bad mental dispositions dahil dito nanggagaling ang mga external behavior. Kung ano ang paniniwala nila, yon ang nagiimpluwensya sa kanilang mga kilos o behavior.

3. Persevere, sustain, and commit

Ang kabutihan ng kalooban at ang dedikasyon sa kabutihan ay lalong higit na nasusukat sa oras ng kagipitan, pagsubok, at tukso.

Halimbawa, nasusukat ang pagiging mapagpakumbaba sa mismong sitwasyon na gusto nating maging mayabang at mapagmataas sa kapwa; o sa mga pagkakataon na gustong mangibabaw ang pride natin.

Bahagi ng formation of the will ang pagsisikap na mapagtagumpayan ang maliliit at malalaking pagsubok o mga tukso na magpalamon tayo sa bugso ng damdamin.

Keywords natin dito ang perserverance.

4. Exercise self-discipline and control your emotions

Bahagi ng formation of the will ang pagtuturo sa mga istudyante na isabuhay, i-practice o i-exercise ang tamang disiplina sa sarili at pag kontrol sa mga emosyon…lalo na ang disiplina sa puso at puson, diba? Sabi ng isang pilosopo sa Facebook (hindi ko matandaan kung sino): “A guy who controls his stomach, tongue, and penis has solved 99% of his problems.” Does it make sense to you?

Malaking tulong dito ang paggamit ng mga kwento na nagpapakita ng disiplina sa sarili at magagandang bunga ng pagkokontrol sa mga pabugso-bugsong damdamin ng kabataan.

Keywords natin dito ay self-discipline and self-control.

5. Make responsible use of freedom

Sa totoong buhay, ang magagawa natin sa Values Education ay ituro ang kahulugan ng kalayaan at pananagutan sa kapwa, pati ang responsableng pag gamit ng ating kalayaan.

Hindi na natin saklaw kung ano ang pipiliin ng ating mga istudyante. Kaya ang pinaka the best na magagawa natin ay ibigay ang susi… ang tamang kaalaman at moral compass na magagamit nila sa pagpili ng tama at makakabuti sa kanila, sa pamilya, at sa kapwa.

Ang keyword natin dito syempre ay responsible use of freedom.

6. Act upon a decision rationally

Bahagi ng formation of the will ang pagkilos o pagsasakatuparan ng mga desisyon na pinag-isipan o plinano ng maayos.

Hindi sapat na nagplano lang, o pinag-isipan lang. Sa formation of the will, importante dito yong pagkilos ng mga istudyante natin; at higit sa lahat, paano nila isinasagawa ang kanilang plano or desisyon.

Dito papasok yong kahalagahan ng axiom na “the end does not justify the means”. Importante na naaayon sa moral standard ang mga pamamaraan sa pagkakamit ng anumang layunin. Kaya nga acting rationally diba? opposite ito ng irrational acts. Ibig sabihin, mga kilos na pinag-iisipan, pinaplano, at naaayon sa moral standard.

Ang keyword natin dito ay acting rationally.

7. Take responsibility for the logical consequences of a decision and act

Sa Values Education, itinuturo din natin ang pananagutan ng bawat isa. Kung ang ginawa ng ating mga istudyante ay may hindi kanais-nais na bunga o resulta, kailangan nilang harapin at panagutan. Huwag takasan!

Kung bagsak dahil hindi nag-aral bago mag-exam, aba, ay harapin. Kung nag cheat sa exam, harapin ang parusa. Kung nakabuntis at nabuntis, dapat panagutan at panindigan dahil ginusto nila `yon.

Ang keyword natin dito related sa will ay taking responsibility. Paninidigan o pananagutan.

8. Choose the higher good or universal truths and moral values

If you remember the Utilitarian ethics by John Stuart Mill, meron syang sinasabi na lower pleasure and higher pleasure. In the same manner, meron din lower values and higher values. Halimbawa, mas mataas na pagpapahalaga ang pagrespeto sa tao kaysa sa pag respeto sa aso. Mas mataas ang pagpapahalaga sa pag-aaral kesa sa paglalaro ng paborito mong online games.

Sa Values Education, tungkulin natin na ituro ang mga mas matataas at universal na moral values. At Kailangan ipaintindi natin kung bakit MAS mainam na piliin sila kaysa sa mas mababang uri ng pagpapahalaga. At ang pinaka mahalaga ay isabuhay nila ang higher values.

That is exactly the reason why we teach Values in school, to make sure that they are choosing to practice universal truths and moral values. In that way, they will contribute to the building of a just and humane Philippine society.

Keyword natin ay “to choose”.

9. Love God and neighbor

Bahagi ng formation of the will sa Values Education ang pagtuturo na mayroong Highest Good or Truth Himself or the Creator, which is the ultimate object of our intellect and will – and that is God.

Hindi natin kailangan magturo ng complicated concepts about God or about theological doctrines. Ang importante na malaman ng mga istudyante ay mayroong Diyos na may likha ng lahat. We have to acknowledge this truth as the backbone of finding the purpose of our existence.

Kahit sa ating Philippine Constitution, this loving Creator is acknowledged by our fathers. Di ba sinasabi sa preamble na, “We, the sovereign Filipino people, imploring the aid of the Almighty God, in order to build a just and humane society…” and so on. So, God is acknowledged and his help is needed to build our society.

In the same manner, in Values Education, we acknowledge our need for God`s help or grace, so that we can achieve our goals and purpose in life.

So, we find ways for our students to express their love of God through their loving concern for others.

Our keyword here is love, to love.

Why should we form the will?

First, to master its function, and its function is to do or to act.

Second, to refine its purpose, and its purpose is to choose or to love.

Third, to achieve its goal correctly, and its goal is goodness.

And lastly, to reach its fulfillment, and its highest fulfillment, as far as volition is concerned, is a virtue.

So, these are the reasons why we should form the will.

Those are some ways how to form the will of our students, especially in the context of Values Education.

This brings us to the end of this lesson 9, formation of the will in Values Education. And this lesson is the last lesson in module 3, which is about the Nature of the Human Person.

Let`s have a quick recap of Module 3: Nature of the Human Person.

In Lesson 1, we defined the term Human Nature. In Lesson 2, we learned the Three-fold level of human nature. In Lesson 3, we studied the integral nature of the human person. Then we moved to Lesson 4, where talked about the lower and higher faculties and their possible application to Values Education. Then, in Lesson 5, we discussed some ways how to train the intellect, and why we should train the intellect. And in this last lesson, Lesson 6, Formation of the Will in Values Education, we learned some ways how to form the will of our students.

That`s module 3, Nature of the Human Person, under the course, (Philosophical & Ethical Foundations of VE).

For other modules in this course (Philosophical and Ethical Foundations of Values Education), check the links below:
Module 1: Introduction
Module 2: Philosophies of Man
Module 3: Human Nature

Alternatively, you can watch on YouTube this brief lecture on Formation of the Will in Values Education.

References

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• Esteban, E.J. (1990). Education in Values: What, Why, and For Whom. Sinag-tala Publishers, Inc.
• Farrel, W. and Haly, M.J. (1952). My Way of Life. Confraternity of the Precious Blood.
• Lipio, F.C.O.P. (1998). Conscience: A Catholic Filipino View. St. Paul’s Philippines.
• Morga, M.D. (1993). Toward Authentic Morality: An Ethics Textbook for Philippines. National Bookstore, Inc.
• Montemayor, F.M. (1994). Ethics: The Philosophy of Life. National Bookstore, Inc.
• Peschke, K.H. (1996). Christian Ethics: Moral Theology in the Light of Vatican II. Divine World Publications.
• Reyes, R.C. (1989). Ground and Norm of Morality: Ethics for College Students. Ateneo de Manila University Press.
• Rice, C.E. (1996). 50 Questions on the National Law: What It Is and Why We Need It? Ignatius Press.