Discussion of types of values

1. TYPES OF VALUES
Values are acquired in different ways. Learner, the first place where you
learn about values is in your family. Your family is responsible for teaching
you what is right or wrong. For some families children are later introduced
to religionwhich teaches them to differentiate between the right or wrong
behaviour.
 Personal values
 Cultural values
 Religious values
 Political values

2. 2.1 Personal values
 Ideas or principles that are important to you or that you
like as an individual are known as personal values. For
example, as a student your value can be to work hard so
as to pass. You can also choose the value of punctuality,
which would mean that you will always be on time to
school and lessons. Personal values determine your
success in life. If you take values seriously and
implement them they provide great success in our lives.
Whether we are aware of them or not every individual
has a core set of personal values. If you commit to
personal values and apply them in your life you can
achieve a lot of things and be successful.

3. 2.2 Cultural values
 Cultural values refer to a way of life that a cultural or an ethnic group
consider important. They can include customs, attitudes, beliefs and
material things that people own, e.g. cattle.
 Some cultural values include greeting elders, showing hospitality to
strangers and empathy to those in need.
In Botswana some cultural values are cooperation, sharing, respect,
hospitality and consensus. Cooperation as a cultural value is shown during
weddings, funerals and during the loaning of livestock (mafisa) to the poor.
The value of respect in Setswana shows that respect is earned and highly
regarded.
 For example;
 Susu ilela suswana gore suswana a go ilele.
 Maitseo namane ya moroba.

4. 2.3 Religious values
 Religious values are principles and ideas that a
particular religion consider important. Religious values
determine good relationship between followers of
religions and the Supreme Being. Some examples of
religious values may include the following, respect for
life, humility, honesty, trust and cooperation. These
values promote good relationships among followers of
religions and their communities.

5. 2.4 Political values
 Political values determine the way people are ruled or
governed. They are principles that are important in a society or
country. These values help people to live in social harmony
and promote peace. Some of political values include: social
justice, helping the poor, promoting loyalty, unity, and social
harmony. Political values also include improving or taking care
of the environment and making government accountable to the
needs of the people through provision of services.
 Learner note that in Botswana, the five national principles
reflect our political values. They are democracy, development,
unity, self-reliance and botho (being humane). The president Lt
Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama added other values that the
society must observe; these are, discipline and dignity. Other
values can be found in Vision 2016 such as tolerance,
compassion and justice.

6.  2.5 Aesthetic values
 Aesthetic values are creative ideas or actions that are
important in terms of beauty and appreciation of artistic
qualities. Aesthetic values may include beauty of clothes
and nature, creative or artistic pieces of work. For example,
there are people who like gardening hence show their
aesthetic values as they plant different type of flowers in the
garden. Other people may like working with beads or just
plaiting different hair styles on others.
 Learner, as you visit the hair salon you will observe that a
hair dresser uses his/her creative skills to come up with
different hair styles for customers. The way we design our
furniture may also show aesthetic values of the designer.

7.  2.6 Moral values
 Moral values are ideas of right and wrong that govern
people’s behaviour and choices, e.g. compassion, honesty
or kindness. Learner, you may have read newspaper
reports about some individuals, government departments
and private organisations donating clothes or
building houses for poor people. These actions show the
moral values of compassion and caring.
 Our values are what make us desirable. They guide our
choices and direct our lives. You have to choose for
yourself the values that you want to possess and use them
to guide your choice and direct your life.
