Promoting acts of kindness in schools

PUPILS at Pei Tong Primary School can get stars for acts of kindness such as helping teachers carry books.

In a project that received $3,000 from the Singapore Kindness Movement (SKM) to produce a Kindness Passport, pupils receive badges for every 25, 30 or 35 stars collected.

Value education coordinator Nusraat Ali said: 'I've received feedback that pupils are smiling and greeting people more. Thirty per cent of our pupils have already got the full number of stamps and 20 per cent are halfway through.'

The SKM is setting aside up to $50,000 next year for teachers and students in primary and secondary schools to generate acts or ideas that promote kindness. This is the first time its Seed Kindness Fund is supporting projects beyond those in universities and tertiary institutions since 2009.

The amount set aside for tertiary and university proposals is $25,000 a year.

The SKM now funds about two to three university or polytechnic projects yearly. Since 2009, nine schools have been beneficiaries.

For primary and secondary schools, funding for student-led initiatives will be capped at $1,000 each, and at $3,000 for teacher-led ones.

Schools can submit proposals all year round, at least a month before the start of the proposed project.

Over the past few months, however, the SKM has already tested several ideas at various schools.

Woodgrove Secondary School, for example, produced a kindness-related skit and musical based on the themes of respect for parents and self.

Students from Springfield Secondary School received a doodle journal jointly created by teachers and the SKM - in which they can draw and write their thoughts about kindness.

Student Sterling Goh, 13, said: 'I like the journal, especially the pages on anger management. I used to get angry, for example, when people took things from me, but now I follow the steps and I manage to stay calm more easily.'

Feedback from schools involved has been positive.

Ms Anjali Muthiah, a teacher at Woodgrove Secondary School, said: 'It's very important to inculcate kindness in children, but pages and pages of notes or text won't drive the point home.

'Getting them involved in this way is much more effective.'

SHULI SUDDERUDDIN, The Straits Times, 28 Oct 2011