Values Education

A multitude of complex and contentious legal issues face individuals and groups alike in Australia on a day-to-day basis. By notion, Legal Studies is then intended as an opportunity for students in their senior years of schooling to develop knowledge and tangible skills, as well as shape the values, attitudes and beliefs necessary to enhance their awareness and ability to actively participate as informed, proactive and critical members of society (Queensland Studies Authority, 2007). To effectively navigate the legal and moral mindfield that beckons, it is vital for students to be informed about their rights and responsibilities within legislation (Eekelaark, 1992). Essential to the progression of students through the syllabus is the concept of Values Education, which when taught in conjunction with Productive Pedagogies models in the classroom describes explicit or implicit school-based activities which promotes a student’s knowledge and understanding of values, which develops the skills and dispositions of students so they can enact particular values in their everyday lives as individuals and members of the community (Queensland Government Department of Education and Training, 2004).

In Queensland, Legal Studies consists of six prescribed sections of study throughout Year 11 and 12: “The legal system”; “Crime and society”; “Civil obligations”; “You, the law and society” (renting and buying; family; jobs; sport; environment; consumers; technology; rights and responsibilities – at least two units to be chosen); “Independent study” and “Law in a changing society” whereby students collect, organise, analyse and synthesise relevant information and evaluate its quality and validity across a variety of sources (Queensland Studies Aut...

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...ueensland Government Department of Education and Training (2004). Productive Pedagogies. Retrieved from Queensland Government Department of Education and Training website http://education.qld.gov.au/public_media/reports/curriculum-framework/productive-pedagogies/pdfs/prodped.pdf

Schultz, J. (2004). The Place of Values in SOSE Inquiry: An example related to the topic of Reconciliation. The Social Educator, December 2004, 15-23.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (1998). Learning To Live Together In Peace and Harmony: Values Education for Peace, Human Rights, Democracy and Sustainable Development for the Asia-Pacific Region. Bangkok, TH: UNESCO Principal Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.

Woodgate, R., Black, A., Owens, B., Biggs, J. (2011). Legal Studies for Queensland Volume 1 (6th Ed.). Brisbane, AU: Legal Eagle Publications.