Meaning and Types of Values in Civic Education

Meaning of Values:

Value is a commonly used word with several meanings. Our explanation of this subject “values” will be from the perspective of Civic Education.

People attribute different worth to things based on their sense of value. For instance, one person may prefer a car over a house simply because he places more value on the car. Another may choose the opposite because the house is of a greater value from their perspective.

Take a moment to think of something you love so much, cherish or admire. It could be your mom, dad, brother, sister, friend or even a product of technology. You will always do everything in your power to preserve, protect and respect what you love and consider to be valuable (have value). In fact, you cannot publicly deny your affection for anything you have placed your value on.

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Note: The values that we have placed on human beings, technology or other things will directly or indirectly influence our behavior and the decisions concerning them; since they become an important aspect of our lives.

Under Civic Education, values may be defined as follows:

Value is the esteemed quality or importance which a person or group of persons attach to certain ideas, beliefs or principles.

When you think about your ideologies (or school of thought) as an individual; you will discover that you place some values on them.

Please read on the Attributes and Benefits of Honesty here.

Value is the standard principles, ideas or belief that is supported, accepted and maintained by individuals and the society they live in.

Think about your culture for a moment. You will discover that it has its own principles, ideas and beliefs.

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Value is a lay down rules and standard that influences our relationship with people.

Take a moment to think about the people you like and dislike. This is an attribute of the value you have placed on them.

Please read on the Attributes of God here.

Another definition of value is “a more personal measure of worth”.

Think of this definition as the importance at which you place on things.

Please read on Scale of Preference and Opportunity Cost here.

Types of Values

Values can be classified into three types. These are:

1. Positive Values

A positive value has everything to do with those qualities that are good for oneself and the society at large. Let’s consider these instances below;

• A young girl may choose to place value on her virginity regardless the challenging situation she finds herself, preserving it until marriage.

• A young boy on the other hand may place his value on education, and would do everything possible to achieve his educational dreams.
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• A business man may place value on "truth" and will be determined to speak it always regardless the situation.
  Please read on the True meaning Honesty here.

In reference to the above instances, the followings can therefore be classified as positive values:

1. Honesty
2. Deligence
3. Discipline
4. Integrity
5. Patience
6. Positive Dedication and Focus
7. Respect
8. Goodness
9. Sincerely
10. Equity
11. Justice
12. Prudence
13. Self Belief
14. Selflessness
15. Kindness
16. Tolerance
17. Forgiveness
18. Self Control
19. Temperance
20. Cooperation
21. Compassion
22. Humility

Please read on the Leadership Qualities of Joseph that has transformed Lives here.

2. Negative Values

A person with negative values will only end up destroying his/her life. Negative values are bad, worthless and will only bring about one’s destruction. They are seen in the following instances:

• Negative values could be in the form of prioritizing the unhealthy use of drugs (drug abuse) because of the temporarily feeling of relief that comes along it's intake.
  Please read on Drug Abuse in Adolescents here.

• Unfortunately, some parents might inflict pains on their wards or children because of the values they have placed in certain traditional practices. Some may even choose to iron the breasts of a developing teenage girl, in the name of tradition.
  Please read on Harmful Traditional Practices in Nigeria here.

Examples of negative values includes:

1. Pride
2. Anger
3. Covetousness
4. Sloth
5. Envy
6. Unfair Criticism
7. Discrimination
8. Laziness
9. Despair
10. Gluttony
11. Lust
12. Frustration
13. Malice
14. Self Disbelief
15. Selfishness
16. Depression
17. Lies
18. Stealing
19. Trouble Making
20. Gossip
21. Backbiting
22. Hatred on another person

Please read on Adam and Eve's Disobedience with its Consequences here.

Note: We should NOT emulate negative values, no matter where we find ourselves. Negative values have rendered the lives of many useless.

3. Intrinsic Values

A value that belongs naturally to somebody or something is said to be intrinsic.

As an instance, an old man is expected to be respected by his great grand children.

The value of respect (in the above instance) is attributed to the old man because of his age and status. In this case, his age and status are considered as intrinsic values because that's his personality and nature.

Also, education has got intrinsic values which are hard-work, diligence, dedication, frequent reading and doing of assignments.This is so because the aformentioned values are all required to succeed academically. (You must give them a very high priority because you value education).

Please read on Consequences and Solutions to Illiteracy here.

Values and Norms

Different societies have got their own values which may also be referred to as norms.

Norms are standard behavior accepted by the society; and is meant to guide the conduct of all its members at all times.

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The United Kingdom, for instance have got their societal values (norms) which are beneficial to the British people.

The Chinese have a great norm and this is why you probably may have seen them place value in their manner of eating with certain "tiny sticks".

In a multiethnic country like Nigeria, different ethnic groups have got separate values even though the people live in the same country. For instance, a kind of cloth termed “agbada” is of value in the South West region (Yoruba Land) of Nigeria

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Note: Recall that culture is a way of life of the people; and the values of each culture are set up in various rules and regulation guiding the people.