Pomaria School has its foundation set in strong moral values, which are reflected in the value programmes that we teach, and our four cornestones;
How Cornerstone Values Work
The composition and operation of each cornerstone value is the key to understanding its function and connection to good character. Each cornerstone value, like all virtues, comprises three parts which are functionally related:
- Moral knowing
- Moral feeling
- Moral behavior
Respect
High regards for people, places and things, we well as yourself.
Integrity
Being honest, and fair, determine between right and wrong.
Empathy
Ability to place one’s self in another’s position, and understand or share their feelings.
Duty
An obligation to do what is right or what you ought to do, with or without others knowing.
For a cornerstone value to be put into practice, each of these three parts must be practiced, each of these three parts must be active. If we are to display the cornerstone value of empathy for example, we must first understand what empathy is and what it requires of our relationship with others.
Cornerstone Values determine behaviour.
Cornerstone values build character, and this in turn produces behavior that benefits the individual, others, and the community. More over, these values prevent harm to both individuals and society, they are the essence of healthy relationships, and they build a sense of community. In short, they enhance the wellbeing of all.
Cornerstone values such as respect, integrity, duty and empathy have only positive and constructive outcomes.
And they reproduce themselves as they are practiced. They are given as they are gained and gained as they are given., for example integrity is returned as trust, respect as loyalty; duty as courtesy, gentleness and empathy as helpfulness
Cornerstone values are universal moral values on which all can agree and on which character is cultivated and built. It is this quality of “ being” as opposed to “having” that distinguishes cornerstone values from subjective preference values.
Cornerstone values exist and are recognizable. Individually distinct, they work in unity by mixing, merging, blending, overlapping and fusing. They are harmonious and have no hierarchical order.