The 2006 New Zealand Draft Curriculum statement identifies eight core values to be taught in New Zealand schools. New Zealand students will be encouraged to develop and appreciate the following values:

  • Excellence
  • Innovation, inquiry and curiosity
  • Diversity
  • Respect
  • Equity
  • Integrity
  • Care for the environment
  • Community and participation

Interestingly, these are not so much traditional moral values (apart from integrity and respect) but more reflective of the present government’s political values and philosophy.

Australia has also been going through a similar process under their charismatic Federal Minister of Education, Brendon Nelson. This is seen by some as an extension of fervent nationalism rather than reflective of common human values or Judeo-Christian values. The common Australian values identified are:

  • Care and compassion
  • Doing your best
  • A fair go
  • Freedom
  • Honesty and trustworthiness
  • Integrity
  • Respect
  • Responsibility
  • Understanding, tolerance and inclusion

Loosely, four of the values are the same or similar. In Australia, an $A29 million program to propagate these values is planned.

Promoting social justice – type values in schools is inherently dangerous. An example would be the valuing diversity / promoting tolerance and inclusion area prompted by immigration led changes to the Australian and New Zealand societies. Acceptance without question of diverse cultures and cultural practices, can also be acceptance in some cultures of abuse of women and children, of genital mutilation and of straight out barbarism. Tolerance of such situations is just plain dangerous.

An important role of the school in any civilization is not so much the promotion of the government of the day’s political philosophy, but of the transmission of the heritage and culture of our society – a handing down of our history and values. Many New Zealand schools have adopted the Cornerstone Values Programme, developed by John Heenan. He argues it is possible to define a core of universal moral values which are common to all cultures and religions arising from traditional understandings of a “centuries old consensus” of what is right and what is wrong. The Cornerstone Values are:

  • Honesty and truthfulness
  • Kindness
  • Consideration and concern for others
  • Compassion
  • Obedience
  • Responsibility
  • Duty
  • Respect

These values are not politically driven but more traditional moral values arguably at the core of all cultures and societies. These values do not promote one culture or religion over another.

Along with many other New Zealand schools, the values promoted at Matipo Primary School had already been identified from the more traditional cultural transmission field. They are unashamedly moral values:

  • Honesty
  • Trust
  • Kindness
  • Fairness
  • Care
  • Truth
  • Compassion
  • Respect
  • Reliability
  • Friendship
  • Responsibility

Overriding these traditional values we have four value concepts which also reflect our unique New Zealand culture:
WERO - To accept the challenge of learning and living (which also incorporate two of the 2006 values; excellence and innovation, inquiry and curiosity)
AROHA - Love and care of each other, of the school and the environment (2006 care for the environment)
MANA - Having pride, dignity and values
KIA KAHA - To stand tall, respect yourself and be proud

The definition of school values is a relatively easy task. Teaching them is best done by example, reminder and reinforcement but is not the province of the school alone. Parents, the community, the media and New Zealand leaders also have a crucial role to play. At a time when traditional value institutions such as Scouts, the church, marriage and the home are changing or being minimized so rapidly, the promotion of traditional values has never been so important.