WFWP Canada explores Educating with Values in Bilingual Webinar
The Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP) Canada held a cross-country, bi-lingual webinar on April 25, 2023 called “Educating with Values - The Role of the Family in Education'' from 7:30 - 9:00 PM EST. There were 35 people in attendance. The Event featured three speakers with expertise in the area of teaching and
counselling children and families. WFWP Canada President Lilly Tadin opened the webinar with a call to find a solution to improving
family and values education.
“If parents and schools are working together
they can be very powerful….they can elevate
the moral life or our society with those values.” - Caroline Olusoji Keshinro [Masters in Counselling Psychology and Evangelist in Christ’s Apostolic Church Worldwide]
Miss Keshinro learned very quickly how important the family was in her education when the government in Nigeria removed her from
private school and placed her in public education.
“There were no qualified teachers”.
Her father made the most of the limited time that he had to teach her at home and this gave her an advantage over other students from class. She was able to find support from home.
“Families are the game changers” - Caroline Olusoji Keshinro
Caroline attributes failure in school as being frequently brought on by parents who are not involved in their child’s education and who are not interested in the academic life of their children. This, she says, results in a new generation that has little interest in studying.
The problem, she states, is that a number of African parents do not have formal education. And for those that do, many are present in the house but absent from the student’s life because they are constantly on social media which pulls their attention away from their children and makes them less present in their children’s lives.
Caroline suggests a three pronged approach as a solution to this problem:
Parents need to be educated and aware about child neglect and the effects it has on the development of their children.
Families need advocates for them around the world. They should be encouraged to have a relationship with God because this will have a positive influence on their lives.
These affected families need prayers for their well being.
Christine Ranisavljev [Retired Secondary Science Teacher, Toronto District School Board] was influenced by the actions of her elementary school music teacher who went beyond the call of duty to enrol her in the Claude Watson School for the Arts in middle school. These actions touched Christine’s heart because she was given a wonderful opportunity to learn about the arts that her own parents could not provide. It was that event that changed her entire life trajectory and fostered the realisation that her teacher was investing in her beyond her paid duties. This act made Christine realise the higher quality of being where a teacher or parent invests in another individual because they want to raise them up above themselves.
Christine says to get the greatest result from the interaction between the teacher and the family both have to be exceptional at taking ownership and never being dismissive of their responsibilities. She suggested developing a high quality relationship with your child’s teacher where you show appreciation for the efforts being made as this can replenish an individual that gives of themselves daily.
Christine says the greatest issue facing the students in the community she served was tackling the defeatist mindset. Students need to be challenged and deal with their failures. This, she says, is the best way to learn. The family should be the place for support and encouragement and allow for failure to be used as a learning tool.
“ Imagine the world that a valuable family creates, then make that vision your reality.” - Christine Ranisavljev
Paule Blaine-Clotteau [Executive Director of Maison des Parents du Québec] works for an organisation that provides support to families that are struggling with their Psychological needs of air, water, sleep, food, clothing and shelter. Their goal is to provide enough support to get them to fulfil their needs for safety like employment, resources, health and property.
Her organisation provides activities such as music, art therapy and psychodrama to attract parents who are desperately seeking their needs of safety and security. Paule notes that immigrant families in this situation are willing to do so much for their children because they want better lives for them than what they themselves experienced. She says the change in culture is very difficult for these parents.
“Parents must be vigilant with their children. Smart phones should not be babysitters.” - Paule Blaine Clotteau
The event concluded with a question period and an invitation to future events:
May 28 2023 - The Mother-daughter relationship organized by WFWP Toronto Chapter
Park Clean up WFWP Ottawa Chapter, May 27 2023
Park Clean Up WFWP, Toronto Chapter, June 3rd 2023
June 4 - Peace Road event in Toronto organized by UPF and supported by WFWP, Canada
