As SYAN focuses on Education in Human Values in this issue, our staff spoke with Bea Flaig, Chair, Advisory Board to the Sathya Sai Education in Human Values Foundation of the United States, to find out exactly what SSEHV is, how the program is evolving in the United States, and where we are headed. Below are highlights from the conversation. But, as Bea observed, many changes are on the horizon, so stay tuned for new details in future issues of SYAN.

It is 18 years since American devotees began working on a program to take Swami's education program into the mainstream community. It is a tale of quiet patience and slow and steady progress. "That's the way Swami wants us to work," said Bea.

While many devotees are impatient to start taking Sri Sathya Sai Baba's name and teachings out into the public schools and community service projects, she stresses that there is a procedure that needs to be followed. Several years ago a Sathya Sai Education in Human Values Curriculum was created for schools. This book offers value-based lessons for Early Childhood through Middle School. Its counterpart for the community at large is awaiting Sai Baba's approval.

Those who have become trained as Sathya Sai Education teachers will find many common elements in the SSEHV program. The major distinction is that SSE is meant for the children of Sai devotees. As such it imparts religious instruction and students are taught about Swami as the Divine Incarnation

SSEHV, on the other hand, is a character development program, which concentrates on the five human values of Truth, Right Action, Peace, Love and Nonviolence. Sai Baba is referred to as an educator, with reference to His schools and universities worldwide. The five basic values are explored through many sub-values, and one must be constantly aware of their inter-connectedness. For example, the sub-value, discipline, may be used under Right Action (Dharma) or Peace (Shanti).

With this focus on character development, which has even caught on in American public education now, the question may arise as to how SSEHV is different from other such programs? Bea Flaig explained that Swami's guiding philosophy is that "we are all born with innate human values. So, we are not pouring them in, but awakening what is already there in the children. We are not teaching, but developing what is inherently there."

The SSEHV program includes five teaching techniques: Silent Sitting/Tuning In; Quotation or Thought for the Week or Prayer (where it is permitted); Storytelling; Group Activities and Group Singing. In order for each lesson to be fulfilled, children must put the value that was discussed into practice, therefore a Life Application always follows.

Every Region of the Sai Organization, USA will soon be holding Sathya Sai EHV workshops. The first such workshop was held recently in Region 9. The workshops will present an introduction to the philosophy, methods, teaching techniques of SSEHV as well as parent and cultural awareness for schools and the community. The idea is that participants will go back to their own centers and design their own proposals for formal SSEHV projects. The proposals would be sent for approval to the local team of trainers, who would forward it to the national-level Foundation.

So, what can a young adult who is eager to get started do until then? For starters, a brochure with the basic facts about the program is available through the Sathya Sai EHV Foundation at the same address as the Tustin bookstore. The bookstore also carries the school-related SSEHV manual. (It is listed as Item BC-007, Sathya Sai Education in Human Values - Teacher Manual, cost $20.) Also, the Foundation is working to put up information on the Internet, which will be accessible through a link on the main Official International Sri Sathya Sai Organization website.

For many devotees this sounds like too many formalities, but Bea Flaig replies to such concerns with another of her own. "Because we are using His [Swami's] name, we have to do it correctly." And, as a voice of patience she speaks with the authority of experience as she observes that it took 12 years just to compile a School Curriculum manual that Swami would approve.

She observed that she has heard of many service projects by Sai youth that lend themselves to imparting the human values. They include computer skills courses, after-school tutoring projects, lessons by teachers in their own classrooms - even something as simple as offering a sweet smile is EHV work.   

Sathya Sai Book Center of America
305 West First Street
Tustin, CA 92780
Phone: +1 (714) 669-0522