I can go on about the engaging and eye opening discussions that the Alive to the World programme has started in my Standard 2, 3, 4 and 5 classrooms but this is not my main motivation to teach this programme. My real motivation is knowing that the programme is geared towards helping students to become critical thinkers, helping students to understand they have the opportunity to value being a well rounded human, helping students to see the attractiveness and worth of living virtuous lives regardless of their family background, sex or religious beliefs.
And the students are responding…they look forward to hearing about Alive and Charlie and tend to be quite objective when they criticize the bad choices that these characters make. They aren’t afraid to state the truth and to call Charlie and Alice “out”. On the otherside, those with differing opinions on what I would call obvious answers, tend to catch me by surprise albeit in a good way. It’s encouraging to hear the students voice their opinion infront of their peers or have those “aha” moments when they have discovered a new way of thinking.
Yes there are those who tend to raise their hand to state their opinion on every matter (who want to give their two cents) but once in a while the “silent ones” open up and say something profound. Though they may be silent, it seems like they are thinking about what is being said and why wouldn’t they! They have the opportunity to discuss “taboo” topics, to rationalize “accepted customs” , to think about the “why” behind their parents instructions and decisions. The students are allowed to talk about things they really should talk about in a healthy environment centered on the golden rule.
I am proud to say that I teach Alive to the World and ironically I am jealous of my students who have the opportunity to sit and participate in these classes.