This Handbook provides a comprehensive look at the educational scope of life and values that characterize 21st-century Asia, as well as those values shared across cultures.
Some values are deeply resonant with the region’s past while others reflect modernity and the new contexts in which Asian societies find themselves. Exploring these values of different types and the way they are constructed in Eastern and Western contexts, the contributors delve into the diversity of religious, moral and social education to promote greater understanding across cultures. While a range of values is identified here, there is no single set of values that can be applied to all people in all contexts. The time has long gone, even for single societies, when values can be imposed. Yet this Handbook emphasizes both the extent and importance of values to individuals and their societies—how they respond to these values may provide the key to better and more caring societies and to better lives for all.
Academics and teachers will find this Handbook resourceful because it raises important theoretical issues related to social values and their formation in distinctive contexts and provides novel insights into the diverse educational landscape in Asia. Policymakers and educators will also find this text helpful in learning to think about new ways to improve the quality of people’s lives.
"1. Searching for Peace and Harmony in a Troubled World: Life and Values Education in Asia Introducing the Handbook Section 1: Asian Contexts for Life and Values Education 2. Section Overview: Asia: Diverse contexts, multiple values 3. Contexts and orientations in life education 4. Virtues in education East and West: Virtue ethics, care ethics and Confucianism 5. A philosophy for children approach to cultivation of humility in Confucian contexts. 6. Responding to diversity: Values and education for a pluralistic state Section 2: Religions and Religious Education 7. Section Overview: Religious diversity in multiple contexts 8. Conspicuous morality and hidden religiosity of the Confucian education revival in contemporary China 9. Daoist knowledge and ‘perfect-person’ education. 10. Rethinking Islamic education in Muslim modernist discourse 11. Marxism and religious education in China Section 3: Life and Values Education in Greater China 12. Section Overview: Life and values education in Greater China 13. Life and Values Education in Mainland China 14. Life and Values Education in Taiwan China 15. Life and Values Education in Hong Kong 16. Career and Life Development in Greater China: A Hong Kong Case that Brings East and West Together Section 4: Moral Education 17. Section Overview: Moral education, ethical principles and character 18. Christianity and moral education in Asia 19. The opportunities and challenges of Chinese ethical criticism and its implications for moral education 20. Integrating law-abiding awareness into moral education in Hong Kong 21. Cultivating moral values in Singapore's early childhood landscape: Who, what and how? Section 5: Citizenship Education 22. Section Overview:Citizenship education, global citizenship education and multicultural education 23. Citizenship education discourse in Mainland Chinese discourse (2000-2020) 24. Preparing younger generations for a global future: Reorienting citizenship education in Pakistan. 25. Multicultural education in Indonesia – Reflections, concepts and constructions 26. Schooling and parenting citizenship: Parents’ views on citizenship education in Kazakhstan Section 6: Global Citizenship Education 27. Section Overview: Global citizenship education: Perspectives from Asia 28. Teaching beyond resilience: Pedagogies for critical global citizenship in the Philippines 29. What kind of global citizenship for Japanese higher education? Five ethical priorities 30. Global citizenship education in Western Asia: The Case of the Gulf Cooperation Council Nations 31.The contested terrain of global citizenship education in postcolonial India 32. Global citizenship education in Indonesia: A millennial volunteerism practice to affirm civic virtue Section 7: Positive Education 33. Section Overview: Positive education in Asia 34. The influence of gratitude on students’ interpersonal relationships, school resilience, and school well-being: Insights from Asian education contexts. 35. The impact of grit on Chinese students’ achievement motivation, academic achievement, and subjective well-being 36. Positive futures: Locus-of-hope and positive education in Asia 37. Promoting character strengths in the early childhood setting: A scoping review 38. Character strength-based interventions in educational settings: Promoting Chinese students’ mental well-being Section 8: Character Education 39. Section Overview: Framing and reflections on character education in Asia 40. Virtues and the aim of Japanese character education 41. Character education in Taiwan -Transformation of character and moral education during Taiwan’s transition from authoritarianism to democracy: Challenges and possibilities 42. Integrating citizenship education and character education through the framework of global citizenship : The South Korean case Section 9: Spirituality Education 43. Section Overview: Spirituality education as engagement with life 44. Struggling to fit it all in: Sense of hope, life meaning and satisfaction of low-income single mothers of young children with special needs in New Zealand 45. Spiritual education, local wisdom, and wellbeing in Bhutan - What it means for young people 46. Spiritual education in Islam: An overview of the Ismaʿīli concept of Taʿlīm- The teaching of the infallible Imam 47. Implementing contemplative education for enhancing spirituality in Hong Kong schools Section 10: Education for Sustainability in Asia 48. Section Overview: Environmental education for schools and beyond 49. Education for sustainability in Japan: Progress and way forward, 50. A case study on the implementation of problem and project-lased Learning (PBL) in Chinese environmental sustainable development curricula 51. An account of environmental education in Hong Kong - The role of non-formal and informal education Section 11: Intercultural and multicultural education 52. Section Overview: Intercultural and multicultural education policies and praxis in selected Asian countries 53. Multicultural education in Japan: Historical legacies and ongoing challenges 54. Education beyond ethnic and religious divides: A critical analysis of education policies in Bangladeshi primary and secondary education 55. The past, present, and future of multicultural education in Thailand: An intersectionality perspective 56. Multicultural education for “ethnic minorities” or all students? Values and responses to diversity in Hong Kong 57. Unity in Diversity! The problematic of multicultural education in postcolonial India Section 12: Peace Education 58. Section Overview: Peace education in Asia 59. ""No More Wars"": Peace education in Japan 60. Peace education in Korea 61. The idea and practice of peace education in China 62. Peace-loving and anti-violence in educational institutions: Character education through peace in Indonesia"
John Chi-Kin Lee is President of the Education University of Hong Kong. He is also UNESCO Chair in Regional Education Development and Lifelong Learning and Chair Professor of Curriculum and Instruction. He is the Editor of International Journal of Children’s Spirituality, Executive Editor of Teaching and Teacher Education as well as Co-Editor for the Routledge Series on Life and Values Education. Kerry J. Kennedy is Professor Emeritus, Advisor (Academic Development) at the Education University of Hong Kong. He is also a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of Johannesburg and Editor of Routledge’s Schools and Schooling in Asia Series, the Asia Europe Education Dialogue Series, the Perspectives on Education in Africa Series and Springer’s Civic and Citizenship Education in the 21st Century Series.
Reviews for The Routledge International Handbook of Life and Values Education in Asia
"“In a world increasingly fraught with conflict and division, “THE ROUTLEDGE INTERNATIONAL HANDBOOK ON LIFE AND VALUES EDUCATION IN ASIA"" offers a beacon of hope and inspiration. This timely manuscript, edited by John Chi-Kin Lee and Kerry Kennedy, delves into the rich tapestry of life and values across and beyond Asia to explores how they can serve as a foundation for a more peaceful and harmonious future. The significance of value education, particularly in the context of Asia's diverse cultural heritage, cannot be overstated. Vibrant ancient philosophies and modern values have long emphasized the important themes like ethical conduct, character education, and respect for nature. These values provide a strong life and value compass that can guide individuals and societies towards a more sustainable and equitable world. Lee and Kennedy astutely recognize that peace and harmony in Asia cannot be achieved solely through political and economic cooperation. It requires a deeper understanding and appreciation of the shared cultural and spiritual values that bind the region together. By nurturing a sense of shared humanity and fostering respect for diversity, value education can play a vital role in building a more peaceful and mutually beneficial future. Meanwhile, the book goes beyond simply advocating for a return to traditional values. It also recognizes the need to reimagine our futures together, incorporating the principles of inclusion, multiculturalism, and sustainable development education. This requires an open and continuous dialogue that engages diverse voices and perspectives, allowing us to collectively envision a future that is both ecologically sustainable and socially equitable. This handbook is a powerful and timely contribution to the discourse on education and its role in building a shared, sustainable future. It is a must-read for anyone concerned about the future of our planet and the well-being of its people. This book offers a compelling argument for why value education is not just a luxury, but a necessity for creating a peaceful and harmonious future that leaving no one behind.” Professor Shahbaz Khan, Director for UNESCO Regional Office in East Asia “The Handbook on Life and Values Education in Asia, meticulously compiled by Drs. John Chi-Kin Lee and Kerry J. Kennedy, is a groundbreaking and timely publication that presents a thorough and detailed examination of this vital area of education. Comprising 12 comprehensive sections and 62 insightful chapters, this compilation reflects the collaborative efforts of numerous esteemed authors, collectively offering an essential resource for educators, scholars, and policymakers in Asia and beyond. Delving into critical themes, ranging from Asian Contexts for Life and Values Education to Peace Education, the Handbook provides a comprehensive and nuanced exploration of the diverse approaches to life and values education that are essential for navigating the complexities of our world in the region. The handbook is notable for its extensive coverage, thorough analysis, and focus on practical implementation. It offers an extensive and intricate analysis of the field by addressing both the distinctiveness and diversity of Asia. Additionally, it goes beyond theoretical concepts to offer practical strategies for achieving a sustainable and peaceful future. This influential work enhances our knowledge of education and provides guidance for promoting harmony, understanding, and lasting peace in Asia and other regions.” Professor Kyung Hwan Mo, Chair, Department of Social Studies Education and Director, Centre for Multicultural Education Research, Seoul National University"
