CGE Philosophy (VUES)
The Four Building Blocks of Education
The Council for Global Education is an international non-profit organization which promotes these four building blocks of education as essential aspects of every child's education in the 21st century: universal values, global understanding, excellence in all things and service to humanity. These are the foundational aspects of the CGE framework for education, referred to as GEMS - the Global Education Model of Schooling. In addition to the four essential building blocks, the GEMS model includes the 12 governing principles which are part of a formative educational process (FEP) that helps shape educational outcomes and ensure that education is an on-going and dynamic process of continuous improvement in which all stakeholders participate. The goal of education is to ensure that a man has knowledge, wisdom, spiritual perception and exemplary living. In this process of education that begins in early childhood, children should acquire certain Habits of Life, such as always telling and seeking truth, striving for excellence in all things, self-analysis, appreciation for beauty, respect and reverence for all forms of life, compassion and kindness towards others, and search for meaning in all things, among others.
Universal Values
Although values clarification is essential, values education in the GEM goes a step beyond critical analysis and intellectual appreciation by connecting it to volition and the desire for improvement. Mere knowledge of ideals and principles is not enough. There is always the need to translate the ideals into action. GEM teaches how spiritual understanding can combine with reason to transform rational thinking and material growth into a continuous stream of self-improvement and spiritual as well as material progress. These inter-denominational values are taught at a GEM school in a non-intrusive way.
Global Understanding
The development of civilization has occurred in a spiral pattern with seasons of enlightenment and periods of darkness, but with constant advancement. Confidence in the advent of human maturity and global community provides the foundation for world peace.
The Global Education Model of Schooling encourages an appreciation of the cultures, traditions and religions represented by each child at the school, and beyond the school and the nation, by the world at large. GEM also promotes student academic exchange programs, international month-long school camps, and international cultural exchange programs. Adapted from Japan's Society of Prayer for World Peace, children in the GEM program pray regularly for world peace using their simple yet effective prayer ceremony: May Peace Prevail on Earth. They commit themselves to serving the cause of world peace daily in their school pledge.
Excellence in All Things
GEM considers academic excellence a natural consequence of a student's lifelong commitment to excellence in all things. In daily morning gatherings of the students, all children take the school pledge in which they commit themselves to developing 100% knowledge of all their subjects and to strive for excellence in all things. Beyond mere knowledge, they strive to gain a fuller understanding of their subjects, and beyond the "how" to address the "why" as well.
Because crucial patterns of learning are basically established by age five, the GEM early childhood education system emphasizes structured activities and organized play designed to have a positive effect on the pre-schooler's development. Skills introduced at this age include expression and comprehension of symbols, recognition of relationships, measuring, sorting and classification, problem solving, exploring, creativity, memory development, communication, teamwork, reflection, and self-evaluation.
The focus upon multifaceted, interdisciplinary learning with active classroom participation is carried on through all academic levels. Involvement nurtures enthusiasm, a prerequisite for joy in learning. Recognition of academic excellence and individual encouragement stimulate positive learning patterns and result in individuals who have a self-disciplined approach to their studies. The schools teach "eloquence of speech" as a trait of excellence in education and children receive extra attention to develop clarity of expression and eloquence.
Service to Humanity
GEM encourages service at the world level through its education. It believes that classroom concepts are not enough and that children must learn by doing. The students must perform a certain amount of other community services, as well, such as giving company to the old, or helping the poor. GEM schools collaborate with local non-governmental and charitable organizations, to send students to plant trees, clean parks, look after the elderly and tutor children, among other service projects. By stressing the dignity of all labor and that no job is beneath a person, an attitude of service is encouraged. By helping others and taking responsibility for them, children gain enormous confidence in themselves that classroom settings are inadequate to provide.
The Four Building Blocks of Education
The Council for Global Education is an international non-profit organization which promotes these four building blocks of education as essential aspects of every child's education in the 21st century: universal values, global understanding, excellence in all things and service to humanity. These are the foundational aspects of the CGE framework for education, referred to as GEMS - the Global Education Model of Schooling. In addition to the four essential building blocks, the GEMS model includes the 12 governing principles which are part of a formative educational process (FEP) that helps shape educational outcomes and ensure that education is an on-going and dynamic process of continuous improvement in which all stakeholders participate. The goal of education is to ensure that a man has knowledge, wisdom, spiritual perception and exemplary living. In this process of education that begins in early childhood, children should acquire certain Habits of Life, such as always telling and seeking truth, striving for excellence in all things, self-analysis, appreciation for beauty, respect and reverence for all forms of life, compassion and kindness towards others, and search for meaning in all things, among others.
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Universal Values | • |
Excellence in All Things |
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Global Understanding | • |
Service to Humanity |
Universal Values
Human beings are endowed with spiritual capacities. This is a fact testified to by the founders of all the world religions as well as by sages and philosophers throughout history. An understanding of these positive virtues and values gives individuals and societies the moral accountability that is the basis of human integrity. The GEM provides each child with a spiritual foundation for his or her activities, be they academic, physical, social, or, eventually, professional. Through GEM, students develop virtues such as trustworthiness, compassion, humility, courage, kindness, and patience in an effort to assist them to expand their ability to perceive, participate, experience, empathize, and comprehend.
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Although values clarification is essential, values education in the GEM goes a step beyond critical analysis and intellectual appreciation by connecting it to volition and the desire for improvement. Mere knowledge of ideals and principles is not enough. There is always the need to translate the ideals into action. GEM teaches how spiritual understanding can combine with reason to transform rational thinking and material growth into a continuous stream of self-improvement and spiritual as well as material progress. These inter-denominational values are taught at a GEM school in a non-intrusive way.
| GEMS uses several general approaches to build virtues in the children: | ||||||
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To the children's already heavy course loads, the schools add classes specifically intended for moral instruction. But the instruction doesn't just go from teacher to student; each day begins with a half-hour assembly run by students from a class (a different class each day) who choose a virtue-Truthfulness or Love, for example-and prepare a presentation on that subject. Parents from that class are invited to join the assembly. |
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b |
Perhaps even more significantly, teachers integrate a values education into the larger fabric of learning. When the students write essays or participate in art, music, or drama, they often prepare their work on themes of unity, peace, environmental integrity, service, etc. |
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World peace will require an appreciation for the richness and importance of diverse cultural, religious, and social systems and a strengthening of those traditions that contribute to a sustainable world civilization. Global understanding demands awareness of the interdependence of all things and a profound sense of responsibility for the fate of the planet and for the well being of humanity. Developing world mindedness requires a re-orienting of education to include among personal, local, and regional concerns the challenges facing the entire world. The establishment of a peaceful society requires the arts of consultation and collective decision-making.
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The Global Education Model of Schooling encourages an appreciation of the cultures, traditions and religions represented by each child at the school, and beyond the school and the nation, by the world at large. GEM also promotes student academic exchange programs, international month-long school camps, and international cultural exchange programs. Adapted from Japan's Society of Prayer for World Peace, children in the GEM program pray regularly for world peace using their simple yet effective prayer ceremony: May Peace Prevail on Earth. They commit themselves to serving the cause of world peace daily in their school pledge.
Excellence in All Things
Education is a continuous and creative process that brings out the vast potential inherent in each child. It facilitates the evolution of cultures and traditions and provides opportunities to expand upon achievements of earlier generations. By developing the capacity for lucid individual expression of thoughts and feelings, a child increases his or her ability to contribute to collective knowledge and understanding. Appreciation of order and beauty as expressed in the arts and sciences is also a key to academic growth and insight.
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GEM considers academic excellence a natural consequence of a student's lifelong commitment to excellence in all things. In daily morning gatherings of the students, all children take the school pledge in which they commit themselves to developing 100% knowledge of all their subjects and to strive for excellence in all things. Beyond mere knowledge, they strive to gain a fuller understanding of their subjects, and beyond the "how" to address the "why" as well.
Because crucial patterns of learning are basically established by age five, the GEM early childhood education system emphasizes structured activities and organized play designed to have a positive effect on the pre-schooler's development. Skills introduced at this age include expression and comprehension of symbols, recognition of relationships, measuring, sorting and classification, problem solving, exploring, creativity, memory development, communication, teamwork, reflection, and self-evaluation.
The focus upon multifaceted, interdisciplinary learning with active classroom participation is carried on through all academic levels. Involvement nurtures enthusiasm, a prerequisite for joy in learning. Recognition of academic excellence and individual encouragement stimulate positive learning patterns and result in individuals who have a self-disciplined approach to their studies. The schools teach "eloquence of speech" as a trait of excellence in education and children receive extra attention to develop clarity of expression and eloquence.
Service to Humanity
The richness of human experience, the diversity of individuals and cultures are matched only by the diversity evidenced in the natural environment. Assuming responsibility for the condition of the environment as well as our individual and collective state of being are vital elements in education today and can be clearly identified in the GEM curriculum which supports ecological sensitivity. GEM schools host international environmental awareness camps and students often get involved in local beautification projects. Service in the GEM is not a specific act of charity. It is a way of life in which the purpose of education itself is to prepare for a life of service to the family, community and the world.
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GEM encourages service at the world level through its education. It believes that classroom concepts are not enough and that children must learn by doing. The students must perform a certain amount of other community services, as well, such as giving company to the old, or helping the poor. GEM schools collaborate with local non-governmental and charitable organizations, to send students to plant trees, clean parks, look after the elderly and tutor children, among other service projects. By stressing the dignity of all labor and that no job is beneath a person, an attitude of service is encouraged. By helping others and taking responsibility for them, children gain enormous confidence in themselves that classroom settings are inadequate to provide.