Beyond the Classroom

The Power of Values in Education

While it’s easy to assume that academic knowledge is the cornerstone of a student’s education, research and experience show that values and character development carry far more weight—surpassing even reading and math scores in importance.

These values and life skills lay the foundation upon which academic achievement builds. Without them, while beneficial, success in core subjects like math and reading may not lead to long-term fulfillment or achievement.

Paul Tough’s work in How Children Succeed sheds light on the powerful role those non-cognitive skills—such as grit, resilience, curiosity, and self-control—play in determining a child’s future success. Tough argues that character, not cognitive ability, is the key to lasting achievement. His research supports the idea that children who develop strong character traits early on are more likely to overcome adversity and thrive academically, socially, and professionally.

Values or beliefs also form the foundation of our worldview, which is the lens through which we see and understand the world.

What is the purpose of why we want students to learn in the first place? Of course, we want them to be able to get a job and possibly go to a good university. However, more importantly, we want them to learn and use that learning to serve others, to use their learning to glorify God.