Harnessing the Formative Potential of Literary Texts in Cultivating Values and Attitudes in Primary School Students

Abstract

Education through and for values is an indispensable process in shaping the human being: only through the assimilation of values does an individual become a fully developed human entity. The issue of values education is highly relevant and represents an essential component of modern education. Education itself is a supreme human value, enabling individuals to access knowledge and become agents of their own transformation. The process of forming attitudes and values is complex and can be achieved through personal reflection, as well as through the provision of models and authentic experiences. This study explores the integration of values education into the teaching of Romanian language and literature at the primary education level, demonstrating that literature constitutes a fundamental tool for cultivating values. Through literary texts, students analyze various moral situations, develop empathy, and enhance their capacity for reflection, while internalizing attitudes and values. Carefully selected literary texts function as true “moral laboratories,” in which young readers experiment with different ways of being, assimilating essential values and attitudes such as kindness, fairness, honesty, responsibility, and courage. Thus, by designing and following well-structured pedagogical stages, the reading experience can be transformed into a solid foundation for the child’s moral and cultural development.