Show Reviews Re views views' American Americas Values Values' i American Values was reI reviewed reviewed re- re I viewed before the Davis County County County Coun- Coun ty Board of Education and andt andt t other school officials on Jan f t 5 by Ralph H. H Davis who I f has directed tillS thus program since 1966 t. t THE PROGRAM of American Ameri Ameri- can Values had its origin l during ing 1962 to 1966 when four fow- f school districts in the State of Utah under the direction of E the State School Office developed developed developed devel devel- four fow- programs to enhance teaching of the Great American Ameri Ameri- can ideals and the perpetuation f of an American Heritage rr The rhe Davis District developed I Ir r its program and tested it with Holbrook and Taylor schools The District w was a s funded f through a Federal Grant to become an exemplary center for the Western States to indicate indi- indi l f cate the American Values f F technique to other school districts districts dis- dis r in Utah and surrounding surrounding surround surround- ing ing States r r FOR TWO years Davis DisI District Dis- Dis I conducted internship training for personnel from the west Intensive three day workshops were held in which educators could work the theL thep p L twelve exemplary schools Approximately Approximately Approximately Ap- Ap proximately educators from Utah and the other western western west west- t ern regions trained in these schools With the completion of the exemplary centers center's program in 1969 the District expanded the program to most of its elementary elementary elementary elemen elemen- tary schools Extensive faculty training sessions were held to learn the American Values technique A SERIES OF audio tapes for use by classroom teachers to dramatize certain values in in the lives of children such as honesty and respect for others are being prepared These dramatizations set the stage but solutions to the problems problems problems lems are left for the students to explore Sit Situations may be dramatized dramatized dramatized drama drama- around problems such as controlling the urge to get even for a wrong done or telling the truth about mis mis- behavior and taking the punishment pun pun- or in keeping quiet THE TECHNIQUE of American American Ameri Ameri- can Values is one of organizing organizing ing each and grade class into a city government type of organization with a mayor and city council These students operate their class under under under un un- der a charter which they have written and accepted The school has a Federal organization patterned after the state or national government government government govern govern- ment with executive officers and md a two-house two le legislature Real problems are solved and the due process of constitutional constitutional constitutional law are understood bythe by bythe bythe the students THE TIlE LA LAWS WS are not imag imag- inary They affect the students' students actions and activities at the school The government is thus not a sham structure of make belief but a real l life e simulation of government and politics The program is is not extra-curricular extra but is a part of the regular social studies program of the school |