“The importance of value oriented education and how it works if received in the right way and at the right age.”

The Human Values: Right Conduct, Peace, Truth, Love, Non-Violence

The EHV Program is based upon these Five Human Values which also underpin all the world's major religions. Hence the Program is Multi-Faith, but also Non-Religious, and so has the advantage of being beyond boundaries of race or creed, and can be taught to all.

It may not be possible to make small children understand the essence of EDUCARE. They are too young to understand it. It can be introduced at the college level. However, at school level, we can cultivate good thoughts and good habits among students. We can also inspire their young hearts by narrating the stories of great persons of their respective lands, and exhorting them to follow the ideals set by them. For example, the life of King Harishchandra is a great ideal in adherence to truth for someone from East Indian background.
Mahatma Gandhi is an international figure to inspire. 

This is a very important for us to reform ourselves before we try to reform the students so that they will attract the attention of others with their behaviour. 

If the parents do not know about Sai Baba who is the founder of this program, SSE child will be our spokesperson to influence their parents and bring about a good change in them. But when they see the good behaviour of their children because of the practicing of the principles taught by Sai Baba, Parents will naturally change their minds. Students can also tell their parents that all their good behaviour is because of their joining the Sai Spiritual Education (SSE) classes. This will also attract other children to the SSE.

The above values are specific because they are in line with a human being's make up. They are also heavily interrelated (e.g. right conduct is action with love, and according to conscience) and give rise to many related values under each main heading.

Before we address Educare we must understand the relationship among Religion, Spirituality and Educare according to our founder beloved Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

First and foremost, we have to understand what Religion is - 
'Religion is realisation.' Only when you realise the truth about yourself, you will understand what religion is.

Spirituality is recognizing oneness of all beings. To recognise unity in diversity is spirituality. The questions and doubts arise when you see multiplicity in unity. Religion is realisation of your Self. Spirituality also is discovering who you really are.

The next aspect is Educare. How can we call ourselves educated if we do not understand what educare is? The word 'education ' is derived from the Latin root 'educare'. While education refers to collection of worldly facts, educare is to bring out from within. 'Education' is for 'Jeevana Upadhi' or Livelihood. 'Educare' is for 'Jeevitha Paramaavadhi' or the ultimate goal of life. 

It is easy for us to recognise things outside us and difficult to look within. There are many things inside us, which are not manifest. When you join the three letters G, O, D, we get the word GOD. When you look at the letters individually they have no meaning of their own. Our effort lies in putting together these letters to get the meaning. This is educare. Educare means to bring out from within. The Atma or soul is our innermost reality. That is what educare should bring out. Therefore, there is actually no difference among the three - Religion, Spirituality and Educare.

The regular education enforces its rules, therefore it is 'FORCE', but Sai's method is from the 'SOURCE'. Sri Sathya Sai Education imparts Human Values.  Follow these values, and at the same time pursue regular education. But do not split them into artificial divisions.

Sri Sathya Sai education imparts practical knowledge, while the regular education teaches only bookish knowledge. But do not ignore bookish knowledge also, because the former grants us spiritual happiness and the latter, worldly happiness. Regular education gives us the means of livelihood whereas Sri Sathya Sai education leads us to the ultimate goal of life. The two constitute the two sides of the same coin.

The child must be groomed well right from the beginning itself. Just as speed-breakers control the speed of vehicles on the road to ensure safety, so too restrictions must be enforced upon children's freedom for their safety. The child should be given freedom in areas related to right conduct and must be punished when it errs. When the parents give freedom to their children, they should watch carefully as to how the children behave. It is then that the child will tread the right path. The first responsibility rests with the mother for the child to tread on the right path.

It is in order to ensure that unlimited freedom is not given to children that the institution called school has come into existence. It is here that teachers should strike a balance between freedom and restriction in student's life. The SSE teachers advise the student regularly that his conduct will be responsible for the name he earns for his parents and the school in which he studies.

How do you motivate children in educare program?

How can we attract children of non-devotees to SSE program?

Let us take for example the good practice of the students chanting a prayer ('Brahmarpanam') before partaking of food. Even the parents will be surprised at their devotion. If children explain to the parents the meaning of the prayer saying, "Food is given to us by God. Therefore, we must offer it to Him before partaking of it. Then the food becomes blessed and will not be tainted by impurities." Thus even the parents will learn to pray. This is the way to bring the parents on the right path through their children. Whatever we do, we must do it properly. This is how we train our students so that they will attract others and be an example to them.