EXPERIENCE OF RAISING MEANING OF LIFE VELUES IN SECONDARY AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE USA

Abstract

The article presents for the first time the experience of raising meaning of life values in secondary and high school students in the United States of America. Today, the theoretical and methodological principles of raising the meaning of life values in secondary and high school students in Ukraine remain a poorly-studied problem, while in America they are well developed. The main attention is paid to the analysis of the US pedagogical experience on the basis of humanistic ethics, in contrast to autocratic and technocratic concepts (J. Krishnamurti), in the context of moral education and character education (H. Brimi T. Dowd, M. Josephson, V. Peter, Fouts), global understanding of the meaning of life and the problems of modern teenagers (R. Paloutzian and C. Park), ethical education and raising children in ethical awareness, ethical and critical thinking (R. DeHaan, L. Elder, K. Narayan, R. Paul, R. Sternberg ), deviations and deformations in the sphere of life (J. Kristo, T. Lickona). Most of the current programs to raise the meaning of life in the United States are: Life promotion, “Togethertolive”, “Laws of Life essay program”, “Ethics inactionsaward”, “YouthEthicsinService (YES)”, “ReasoningwithEthics”, “Life Planning Education” based on the provisions of the Aspen Declaration and Model Standards for Academic, Social, Emotional and Character Development and aimed at the development of the student’s sphere of life, the ability to set a high goal and achieve it with moral means, overcome difficulties, and realize the meaning of life. The US experience shows a serious attitude towards this problem by the state and civic organizations to create conditions for teenage and youth children, in order to help them understand themselves, the essential forces, the meaning of life through participation in different programs, and the formation of the necessary vital competencies and skills to understand their own life, positive motivation for self-realization, understanding of their moral needs, making informed decisions and choosing means to fulfill their vocation of life program. Participation of children in health-saving, social, educational (moral, ethical, corrective) professionally directed programs involves the active role of the teacher and respect for the inner world of the pupils. The programs cover children of different age groups, different attitudes towards life and various problems in the life-long dimension. The main emphasis is on critical thinking, the coherence of their abilities, desires and needs, the ability to withstand pressure, overcome difficulties and remain in any circumstances. Many years of experience in the United States in introducing educational programs can form not only knowledge and notion of pupils in secondary and high school about the meaning of life, but also the necessary competences, skills that will be useful in adult life. These programs are promising in Ukraine, subject to their modification and adaptation to Ukrainian realities.