The HDC in Kenya, A Teacher’s Perspective
Mr. Zachary, a teacher at St. Catherine Primary School in Kenya, shares the impact that the Human Dignity Curriculum has had on his own teaching and in the ways it has helped him to inspire virtue and character growth in his students.
“Most of the children have improved and developed a positive attitude as they relate to each other in various activities in school,” he says, “I’ve seen the difference in the way that they play together as well as their learning in the classroom through peer teaching.”
The HDC starts at a particular point–the value of each individual life–and from there, expands into the cultivation of virtue and the importance of pursuing excellence.
Mr. Zachary shares that he believes that character and virtue education in children should start as soon as possible. “Right from the beginning,” he states, “the children ought to understand the value of life at a very early stage. The children have really helped to teach me some values that help to develop good morals such as respect, love, responsibility, and justice.”
Ultimately, one of the foremost goals of education is the flourishing of the human person, and Mr. Zachary states that teachers have a responsibility to foster that flourishing and personal growth as much as possible.
“I teach because it is a call. The Human Dignity Curriculum has helped me to really internalize and reflect on what my role is as a teacher. One of the most important parts of teaching to me is to mold character and foster growth in virtue, and the HDC gives me the tools to do just that.”
The implementation of the HDC at St. Catherine Primary school began in October 2019, with the help of the Mercy Education Office, and will continue helping to foster virtue and excellence well into the future.
By: Breck Giltner
Date: January 4, 2021
