Dear Readers

Welcome to the February 2005 issue of the email newsletter.

This month:

• Shrewsbury's Human Values Summer
  
• Values Alive Hove Revisited

  
  
  

• Your Help Needed!
  Would you like to help out at a Values Alive Event?
• The Volunteer's View: Throwing Stones at a Blind Man
  Louise Collins recounts her experiences of teaching SSEHV in a London primary school
• Training Update
• Story: The Special Friend
  This month's story includes a group activity for the classroom.
  

If you have any feedback about this newsletter, or if you'd like to share your experiences of SSEHV, please write to us.

Kind Regards,
The Newsletter Team

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Shrewsbury's Human Values Summer

Three free human values education events are taking place in Shrewsbury this summer, giving people of all ages a chance to explore and truly experience the universal values of love, truth, peace, right conduct and non-violence.

From 24th-27th July a five-day Values Alive Event is taking place for children. The event is free to attend and runs from 10.00am-3.00pm each day. Activities will include singing, drama, games, sports, silent sitting and story telling, all with a human values theme. Parents are also invited to attend a free SSEHV Parenting Workshop from 9.30am-5.00pm each day, with free additional childcare for children attending the Values Alive Event each day. There is also an SSEHV Foundation Course taking place in Shrewsbury from 7th-12th August. If you would like to participate in any of these events, please contact Margaret Harris on 01743 873650.

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Values Alive Hove Revisited

An afternoon of fun and creativity for the local community was held in Hove on October 30th 2004.

Values of peace and non violence were celebrated through themes of self-esteem and kindness to animals. Gloria Macari, professional entertainer and local mum, came along with her daughter and friends to perform and lead human values songs. Visiting children enjoyed making up actions to go along with the words. The values were brought into awareness also through storytelling and silent sitting. There was an opportunity to paint an animal mask and create a bird of peace, and families could relax together around the play-dough table. Free refreshments were provided and grateful thanks go to all the volunteers who brought together their skills to make this event a success. Over thirty people attended, and many stayed for the whole afternoon which ended with peace dancing led by local artist, Vicky Angelica.
A good time was had by all!

Plans are now being made for Values Alive Hove, Saturday 30th April. Please contact Nikki Johnson on 01273 691924 for more information.

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Your Help Needed!

We are currently recruiting volunteers to help at two Values Alive Events planned for later this year.

A five-day SSEHV holiday school will be held by the sea at Broadstairs in Kent from 30th May to 3rd June, and another five-day event will be held at a school in Brent from March 26th-30th. SSEHV-trained volunteer teachers and classroom assistants are needed, as well as people to help with administration, registration, first aid, refreshments, IT and other activities both before and during the events. If you would like to work with children in an uplifting and supportive environment and if you're able to give between one and five days of your time this summer, please do get in touch. We are particularly keen to hear from people who have specific skills to offer such as sports, drama, art and crafts, martial arts, etc. but the only essential requirements are enthusiasm and a commitment to practising and propagating human values.

Even if you don't live locally, it is usually possible to arrange accommodation with other volunteers. If you haven't yet completed the SSEHV Foundation Course but would like to get involved, please do let us know. We may be able to organise training for you before the Values Alive Events take place, or to assign you a non-teaching role if you prefer.

For more information about the Broadstairs event, please contact Carole Alderman (Tel +44 (0)20 8429 2677). For the Harrow event, please contact Joyce Power (+44 (0)20 8723 9916).

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The Volunteer's View: Throwing Stones at a Blind Man
by Louise Collins

The Sathya Sai EHV programme was introduced at a State Primary School in Battersea, South London, in July 2002.

In the Spring term the class of ten and eleven year old boys and girls covered some lessons on Right Conduct. The picture of two cherries reminded them to use their hands to do whatever felt right. The silent sitting, stories, songs and activities were used too.

One child, who in the beginning had been disruptive in the silent sitting, was encouraged by his teacher to share with the class how the sessions had come to influence his behaviour and decision-making to the point that he refused to be violent in a particular circumstance in his life. He told the class that he had been playing outside in his council housing estate when some boys had thrown a stone at a blind man going by. They then suggested he join in and gave him a brick to throw. He said he did not want to, so one of the boys punched him. He responded to the punch by dropping the brick on the ground and walking away.

"As the child told us his story it was clear to see how happy he was with his choice," recalled his teacher.

At the end of two terms, the form teacher asked her class to volunteer views on the weekly session. The following comments were offered by five children:

"Thank you for listening to me."

"Thank you for not making Tuesdays boring!"

"Thank you for teaching me silent-sitting."

"I now enjoy sitting on the friendship bench in the playground, being quiet."

"I can control my temper more."

The form teacher later mentioned that the children's comments were genuine, as her pupils were not the type to say what they did not mean in order to please!

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Training Update

All SSEHV courses are free to attend, although a photocopying deposit of £10 may be required at registration. Details of all our training courses, together with contact information and dates can be found on our website at www.ssehv.org.uk, in the Training section.

Forthcoming SSEHV courses are:

SSEHV Parenting Workshop, Croydon, Surrey
16th April 2005
30th April
7th May
14th May
Sessions run from 9.00am - 4.00pm
For further information or to reserve a place, please contact Bina Valsan (0208 688 4598)

SSEHV Foundation Course, Croydon, Surrey
21st May 2005
28th May
4th June
11th June
18th June
25th June
2nd July
Sessions run from 9am-4pm (apart from Session 1 which is from 8am-3pm).
For further information or to reserve a place, please contact Bina Valsan (0208 688 4598)

SSEHV Intenstive Foundation Course, Shrewsbury, Shropshire
24th-28th July 2005
For further information or to reserve a place, please contact Margaret Harris (01743 873650)

SSEHV Parenting Workshop, Shrewsbury, Shropshire
7th-12th August 2005
For further information or to reserve a place, please contact Margaret Harris (01743 873650)

SSEHV Intensive Foundation Course, Pinner, Middlesex
August 2005
For more information or to reserve a place, please contact Pamela Nash (01784 244494)

If there is no course scheduled in your area but you would like there to be one, we can arrange one as long as there are a minimum of ten people who would like to attend. Please contact Pamela Nash for more information.

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STORY

The Special Friend

Janice was one of the best students in her class. She went to school everyday and received high marks in her work. She played the flute in the school band and never missed a practice. Janice was very popular and had many friends.

At the weekend, the girls took turns having sleep-over parties at their houses. Sometimes their mothers took the group of friends out for pizzas, and occasionally to the movies. They had many fun times together.

School had just begun for the New Year. Janice and her friends were just beginning in the 5th form. On the first day back at school, Janice was aware that there was a new girl in her class. "This girl must have just moved to our town. I wonder where she lives?" Janice thought.

As she watched her, Janice noticed that the girl walked with a very noticeable limp. She was very quiet and kept herself to herself. Everyone seemed awkward about approaching her; no-one was willing to speak to her.

At lunchtime, when Janice was with her friends, they began whispering about this person they didn't know. Their voices got louder and louder until at last Megan said, "Look at that new girl. She must be retarded."

Some of the group giggled and then Cindy responded, "Yeah, she looks really weird, kind of creepy."

Ashley grimaced. "Maybe there is something wrong with her whole family. I don't want to hang around with her, and I don't want her to be part of our group."

"Right, yeah!" the girls all agreed that the new girl could not be accepted as part of their group.

Janice felt uncomfortable with the decision. She thought that perhaps they were all being too harsh.

The next day at school, the children all came into the classroom. Janice's friend Megan sat at her desk and stuck her foot out into the aisle just as the new girl, Sarah, came limping past. Sarah tripped on Megan's foot and came crashing to the ground between the desks.

Janice watched from the other side of the room as no one got up to assist Sarah. Sarah slowly pulled herself up to her feet and stumbled to her desk with tears in her eyes. She sat down without saying a word.

Sarah's teacher walked rapidly over to Sarah's desk, and asked "Sarah, are you all right? Are you injured at all?"

Sarah, biting her lip and without looking up said very quietly, "No I'm okay, thank you, miss." And the teacher continued to explain what she had been teaching.

At lunch time in the cafeteria, Janice's friends once again made rude and critical comments about Sarah, this time using slightly louder voices. Janice was becoming more and more uncomfortable about the situation. Sarah was sitting all alone at a table which was close enough for her to hear. As the negative comments from the girls continued, Sarah slowly got up from where she was sitting and walked out of the cafeteria looking very unhappy.

The unkind behaviour of the group continued for the next couple of days. At the end of the week the girls were planning a sleep over party for Friday night at Megan's house. Janice had been looking forward to it. They usually stayed up playing all kinds of games and eating crisps. Sometimes they watched a video. There was always a lot of fun and laughter. But now she wasn't sure if she wanted to go. She was feeling sad about the way the group were treating this new girl who they hadn't taken the time to get to know at all.

All of a sudden Janice knew what she should do. The next morning she arrived at school earlier than usual. She waited in front of the school until she saw Sarah walking towards the school. She appeared to be walking slower than usual. Her head and shoulders were slumped in a dejected manner.

As Sarah got closer, Janice walked over to meet her. Janice stepped up to Sarah who momentarily looked startled, and said, "Hi, I'm Janice. I'm in your class."

"Yes, I've seen you. I'm Sarah," came the reply in a slurred voice.

"Can I walk into class with you?" asked Janice.

"Well yes, if you want to," said Sarah with hesitation in her voice.

As they began to walk together Janice said gently, "I know some of the girls have been hurtful in what they've said and done. I feel really sorry that you've been treated that way. I saw you sitting by yourself at lunch. Can I sit with you at lunch today?" As she spoke, Janice noticed that Sarah had beautiful blue eyes.

Sarah stopped and looked into Janice's face. "Yes," she replied smiling. "That would be nice. I'll save you a seat."

Janice had never seen Sarah smile before and she felt a glow of satisfaction inside.
At lunch time Megan came over and ignoring Sarah said to Janice, "Janice what are you doing sitting over here? I thought you were going to eat with us. We're your friends."

"I'm eating with my new friend," Janice replied. "But we'd be happy for you to join us, wouldn't we, Sarah?" Without replying, Megan just turned around and walked away.

After school, Janice and Sarah walked home together. Shortly after Janice arrived home the phone began to ring. Each of her other friends called wondering what she was doing with the new girl who was so strange.

"Sarah's not strange. She has cerebral palsy. Her brain didn't get enough oxygen when she was born. She can't change the way she looks or talks, but she is a very nice person. She likes the same things that we do. She listens to a wide range of music. She's really fun to talk to. She likes sleep over parties and pizzas and games. And she needed to have a friend. I can introduce her to you if you want." Janice told them.

On Friday morning on her way to school Janice met up with Sarah again. They walked to school together and agreed to meet in the cafeteria for lunch. As Janice and Sarah were eating together one by one the other girls joined them. Janice introduced each one to Sarah. They all had a great lunch together, talking and laughing. After school, Megan saw Sarah leaving and ran up to her. "I'm having a sleep over party at my house tonight. Would you like to come? It starts at 6.30. If you would, ask your mum if you can and I'll get my mum to ring to let her know what we'll be doing."

Sarah looked at Megan with a smile. "That would be great. Thanks for inviting me."

Questions
1. What name shall we give this story?
2. What did Janice and her friends like to do for fun?
3. What good values and qualities did Janice have?
4. Why did Janice's friends make fun of Sarah?
5. Why didn't Janice like the way her friends were treating Sarah?
6. What did Janice decide to do?
7. What did Janice's friends decide about Sarah?
8. How did you feel when you heard this story?
9. What does this story mean to you?

Group Activity
Divide children into groups of four. Each child is to speak to everyone in the group, one at a time, and tell them something positive about that person.
Examples:- "You have very pretty eyes."
"You are kind to others".

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