Comments on the Course
My Journey in Life: A Student Textbook
for Character Development
(formerly My World & I: The Way of Unification)

"In school we study many subjects - geometric theorems, the laws of physics, literature where we get to know the works of famous writers and poets, foreign languages, and many other things. Of course, they are very important, but there is something more important. It is the ability to determine your place in life, in society; the ability to choose values necessary to reach your goals, to learn to handle your emotions, to overcome temptations, and, most important, to achieve peace and harmony in your heart. This course helped me to deal with these questions more than any other."
A 10th grade student, Moscow

"I have been teaching My World & I: The Way of Unification for 2 years. The children's attitude towards this course is very positive. After studying this course for a year, students gave such answers to the question 'What did I gain from this course?
"I have become more tolerant. There are fewer conflicts in my family.
"It reconciled me with my father.
"I could see that I can change. I thought I was hopeless and deprived of any capability."
T. Akhmadulina
St. Petersburg teacher

"There are chapters in the textbook My World & I: The Way of Unification dedicated to such important moral issues as forgiveness, respect and tolerance, freedom and responsibility, conscience, honesty, friendship, overcoming temptations, creating a family, the ability to love and to be a good friend, learning to accept others and to be accepted.
"The authors strive to show the way to raise up not only a deeply conscientious person, but a person who is successful in all spheres of life: family, vocation, relationships with both friends and those who wish ill, resisting negative influences from the environment and changing one's own bad habits."
I.A. Anosova, Ph.D.
Dean of the Department of Philosophy and Political Science
St. Petersburg University of Culture and Arts, Russia

"The general impression from both a quick and attentive reading of the student textbook is extremely positive. It truly in a very holistic way introduces the reader to the world of fundamental moral and spiritual values. Perhaps this is the first publication of its kind in the Russian language. I haven't seen the publication of anything like it in our country.
"The first thing that attracts the reader is the manner in which the text is written. There is not a single paragraph where the young reader will be offended by an authoritarian direction. Rather, the book is written in the manner of an interesting and thoughtful conversation. The authors write as if they are conducting a dialogue or at least leave space for potential dialogue.
"The methodology corresponds to this approach. Each chapter is followed either by questions under the heading "Something to Think About", suggestions to write something "For Your Journal", or some additional material connecting to was spoken about in the "conversations" with the students in the main body of the text.
"The authors gradually, step by step, introduce the reader to the world of higher values: merciful love, compassion, nobility, righteousness, courage, etc. The authors try to use common sense as the starting point and experiences that the readers may have had to show that these core values of human existence are natural and essential for life."
R.C. Aprysian, Ph.D.
Senior Lecturer, Institute of Philosophy Russian Academy of Science

"From the point of view of experienced teachers and scientific workers in general, who have had more than 35 years of practical experience as teachers, the textbook My World & I: The Way of Unification is a unique event in the field of teaching theory and school practice. The textbook absolutely deserves the highest commendation. This publication of the International Educational Foundation is an altruistic effort directed at supporting humanitarianism by promoting universal values among
youth."
Olga R. Archegova, Robert M. Caniev
Assistant Professors of Education, Vladikavkaz State University, Russia

"Unfortunately the modern concept of education does not give proper attention to the idea of personal moral growth. How does one attain personal maturity? How is happiness achieved? What is the meaning of a decent life? How can one distinguish good from evil? What is morality? In posing these questions the authors of the textbook do not hurry to give ready answers. On the contrary, they aim to stimulate thinking on these questions and to encourage the mind to listen to the voice of one's conscience."
Pavel S. Curevich, Ph.D.
Professor of Philosophy, Moscow Social Pedagogical Institute
Vice-President, Academy of Humanitarian Research

"The authors suggest that norms and values of different cultures and religions not only do not contradict each other but are either fundamentally alike or in many ways complement each other. The textbook invites children to reflect on such important values as goodness, mercy, honesty and conscience."
M. Lutfultoev, Ph.D.
Director of the Scientific Research Institute of Pedaqoqical Science
Dushanbe, Tajikistan

"The book, in agreement with Russian pedagogical tradition, puts priority on moral upbringing rather than on intellectual development. However, teaching about the role of the conscience is presented in detail for the first time in a Russian textbook.
"The fight against the influence of alcohol, nicotine and other drugs on children is one ofthe most acute problems worldwide. The tactfully-presented material on these topics can be considered a triumph of those who are the authors of this textbook."
Molodstova, Ph.D.
Dean of the Department of Social Pedagogy
Taganrog State Pedagogical University
A. Fyodorov, Ph.D.
Professor of Social Pedagogy
Taganrog State Pedagogical University, Russia

"The main moral questions that every person needs to answer in his life is: 'What kind of person am I now and what kind of person do I want to become? The course My World and I: The Way of Unification helps students to answer these most crucial questions.
The course provides students the opportunity for self-improvement based on the ethical experience of humanity. It helps students to form an image of themselves. While studying this course teenagers develop a desire to understand their unique value and their inner world; what does it mean to be a human being.
"I am often rough and nasty", writes one 7th grade student. "I don't like it in myself, but the course is helping me to change.
Before I never thought about the way I act: whether it's good or bad, but now I think of how my actions affect others and what others think of me, writes a 9th grade student in his composition about the course.
When I gave my mom flowers, she was laughing out of joy, writes another 9th grade student. - "This course inspired me to do that."
Larisa Shmakova
School vice-principal, Ryazan, Russia

"The course is an amazing discovery for everybody: teachers, parents and grandparents. It is as important for our children today as the air itself."
Svetlana Smirnova
St. Petersburg teacher, Russia

"This book includes very interesting material that is not traditional for Russian schools. An analysis shows that the authors have a very noble goal: to support the process of students' spiritual development. Taking into account the great vacuum that exists in this area of the school curriculum, the material cannot but attract the attention of both academics and practicing teachers.
"(The book) reflects the realization of two concepts. One, realized in its content and structure, supports the development of the students' personality by means of studying the ethical teachings of the world's religions. The other, realized as a peda¬gogical concept, encourages the process of self-analysis and self-understanding.
"Even more so, the content is so rich and embraces so many different areas that even a mere reading of the book cannot but be very useful for a person."
Y.V. Sokolov, Ph.D.
Professor of Theory & History of Culture
State Academy of Culture, St. Petersburg

"I cannot help but support the idea, proposed by the authors, of the oneness of the four concepts of mature personality, strong family, peaceful community, and creative human activity."
L.Y. Verb, Ph.D.
Professor of Pedagogy St. Petersburg University of Culture and Arts, Russia