Character building part of school curriculum

Character building part of school curriculum --- San Francisco Tzu Chi volunteers have had a long and strong relationship with John Muir Elementary School, where they have been teaching the students the value of humanitarianism, beginning with the importance of charity work. In our next story, we take a look at another school, Lytle Creek Elementary in Los Angeles, to see the kind of positive influence Jing Si aphorisms have had on its pupils.

Incorporating Tzu Chi's human education
Tzu Chi volunteers are teaching Lytle Creek's students what is otherwise missing in a regular school syllabus: fostering a grateful heart for their teachers.

Tzu Chi volunteer, Lin Huiling:
"One of Tzu Chi's most important principles is putting things into practice. Based on that, our five-phase Jing Si aphorism curriculum aims to teach children the skill to turn knowledge into wisdom, and apply that in their lives."

Positive role models for kids
For the fourth year now, every week the local Tzu Chi education development team convenes a curriculum meeting with the school. Lytle Creek Elementary has long been a stalwart supporter of Tzu Chi efforts, and in that regard it stands as a true success story among the schools in San Bernardino.

Lytle Creek Elementary School principal, Edward Gomez:
"Kids should get it in the primary grades, in the upper grades, hopefully with our positive relationship that we have with Tzu Chi, at some point they can be continued in that way because there is a great need for that, for kids to have positive role models."

Nurturing humanity in children
Tzu Chi's unique character-building course has been officially incorporated into Lytle Creek Elementary's curriculum. Starting with teaching just one grade to now three, the course is much appreciated by the school.

Lytle Creek Elementary School principal, Edward Gomez:
"It's very self-sacrificing, and Tzu Chi has been a tremendous asset to Lytle Creek, and we are very very thankful."

Tzu Chi volunteer, Lin Huiling:
"If we could train local teachers to become part of us, it would benefit many in the long run. As with our bilingual kindergarten, we hope to nurture both linguistic skills and humanity in our pupils."

Passing on the value of humanity
The local Tzu Chi educational development center is also in charge of the curriculum for Tzu Chi Academies across the US. The main goal is to promote character-building in children.

Tzu Chi-US Education mission CEO, Mu Citao:
"When you encounter a challenge, it might dawn on you that yes, you have learned before how to cope with this kind of situation, and go on and deal with it."

For San Francisco Tzu Chi volunteers, it is their lifelong mission to pass on the value of humanity and promote the importance of morality from school to school.