Before We Accompany Our Students, Have We “Come Home” to Ourselves?

Every morning, teachers walk into the classroom carrying more than a lesson plan. Ideally, a teacher arrives feeling ready and energized. But there are days when discomfort from exhaustion, or a mind full of worries from home or from a traffic jam on the way, follows them into the classroom. Children can usually sense this even before the lesson begins. This was one of the concerns shared by participants at the Living Values Education (LVE) Workshop in Ubud, on 18-20 September 2026.

Eight participants, made up of teachers, principals, and facilitators, were invited to step away from their routines for a while and return to a place of calm, so they could reconnect with the essential things that motivate them in their roles. In the Values Awareness session on the first day, educators explored and reflected on the personal values they hold and want to bring to life. They also saw that, like all people, they share many of the same values.

On the second day, participants practiced skills for creating a values-based atmosphere, such as active listening, giving appreciation, and resolving conflict. They discovered that when personal values meet these skills, the result becomes the foundation for a values-based learning environment for their students. They also recognized the need to keep their inner state steady, by deepening their awareness, multiplying their patience, and staying open to forgiveness. In this way, every educator can radiate positive qualities and live out their values, even in the most difficult situations. As one participant put it:

“In a world that is increasingly not okay, it is very important to have love in it. With love comes empathy and compassion, which touch the emotional side of us.
What if love doesn’t work? Increase the dose.”
— Veronika Nariswari, Founder and Teacher at Spring School

For the participants, LVE does not replace the programs their schools already run. Rather, it is a way to express the values they believe in through everyday practice. They believe what they gained from the workshop can help educators settle themselves before accompanying their students, and that the benefits reach beyond students to parents as well.

On the third day, participants brought together the knowledge and skills they had gained into a Follow-Up Plan, both personal and group-based, created together with fellow educators. One of the strongest impressions of the workshop was that everyone was willing to share and listen to one another in an atmosphere of acceptance and empathy. One participant described the experience as “coming home to yourself.”

“I really enjoyed the sharing in every session. We get to hear other people’s perspectives without being judged.”
— Wisnu Saputra, M.Pd., Principal of Win School (pp)