Friendswood "Virtues Class"

Report on the Friendswood "Virtues Class":

We start our class with a prayer. The kids learnedthe song "Oh God Guide Me" but they also enjoy readingprayers from the inter-faith prayer book.

We then read a quote that I try to tie in withwhatever lesson we're covering for that day. The first week we learned the quote: "Truthfulness isthe foundation of all human virtues." Each child hashis/her own notebook into which he/she copies thequote.

Next we read a story from the "Value Tales" collectionwhich correlates with the Bahai quote. So for the"truthfulness" quote, we read the story of the Apachechief Cochise entitled, "The Value of Truth andTrust." The children listen to the story andafterwards we discuss the importance of whatevervirtue we're learning about for that day.

The kids then write in their journals either aboutsomething in their own lives related to our discussionor about what they learned from the story. One student went home and did some research online about Cochise and shared his report with the class the nextweek.

So far we've read: "The Value of Friendship" (JaneAddams), "The Value of Honesty" (Confusious), "TheValue of Believing in Yourself" (Louis Pasteur).

Three weeks ago, we took a "field trip" to the Bahai Center for the Eric Dozier concert. The kids werethrilled and it was a wonderful learning experience.

Two of my students are also learning how to playguitar. In this way we incorporate the arts into ourlessons.I am very grateful to Baha'u'llah for allowing me tohave the opportunity to share the Bahai Faith withchildren.

It is truly a blessing.

By Marie Ghogomu