CSC–COA–DBM Joint Circular No. 1, s. 2025: A Complete Guide for Government Agencies and Public Schools

Recognizing moral issues is only the first step. In this lesson, you will practice making decisions that show respect and responsibility in everyday situations. You will learn how to pause before acting, consider the effects of your choices, and select actions that protect dignity and fairness. By practicing these skills, you can build trust, strengthen relationships, and become more confident in making ethical decisions.

• Subject: Values Education 8
• Grade: 8
• Day: 2 of 4

🎯 Learning Goals

By the end of the lesson, you will be able to:

1. Explain how respect and responsibility guide moral decisions.
2. Apply a simple decision process to choose respectful and responsible actions.
3. Demonstrate one respectful response in a challenging real-life situation.

🧩 Key Ideas & Terms

• Respect – showing care for the dignity, feelings, and rights of others.
• Responsibility – being accountable for actions and their effects.
• Decision-making – choosing actions after thinking about options and consequences.
• Consequences – results of a decision, both short-term and long-term.
• Self-control – the ability to pause and think before acting.

🔄 Quick Recall / Prior Knowledge

1. Name one moral issue you recognized yesterday.
   Show Answer

   Answers vary; examples include cheating, bullying, or dishonesty.

2. Which value helps you think before acting?
   Show Answer

   Examples: responsibility, respect, or self-control.

📖 Explore the Lesson

Focus on how respect and responsibility shape good decisions.

Checkpoint 1: Respect in Decision-Making

Mini-goal: Understand how respect influences choices.

Respectful decisions consider how actions affect others. They avoid harm, humiliation, or unfair treatment. When you act with respect, you protect relationships and build trust.

Mini-summary: Respect means choosing actions that protect dignity.

• How does respect affect your words?
  Show Answer

  It helps you speak kindly and avoid hurtful language.

• Give one respectful action in class.
  Show Answer

  Listening when others speak.

• Why is respect important online?
  Show Answer

  Online actions still affect real people.

Checkpoint 2: Responsibility and Consequences

Mini-goal: Connect responsibility with outcomes.

Responsible decision-making means owning your actions and their consequences. It involves thinking ahead and being willing to correct mistakes.

Mini-summary: Responsibility means owning actions and outcomes.

• What happens when responsibility is ignored?
  Show Answer

  Problems and harm may increase.

• How can you fix a poor choice?
  Show Answer

  Apologize and change behavior.

• Why think long-term?
  Show Answer

  Long-term effects last longer than the moment.

Checkpoint 3: A Simple Decision Process

Mini-goal: Practice a pause-and-think strategy.

Use three steps: Pause, Think of options, Choose the most respectful and responsible action. This helps avoid impulsive decisions.

Mini-summary: Pausing leads to better choices.

• Why pause first?
  Show Answer

  To avoid impulsive actions.

• Why list options?
  Show Answer

  It helps compare consequences.

• What guides the final choice?
  Show Answer

  Respect and responsibility.

💡 Example in Action

1. You are angry and want to send a harsh message.
   Show Answer

   Pause and choose respectful words.

2. You made a mistake in group work.
   Show Answer

   Admit it and help fix it.

3. A friend pressures you to break a rule.
   Show Answer

   Refuse politely and explain your choice.

4. You see someone being left out.
   Show Answer

   Include them or seek help.

5. You forgot an assignment.
   Show Answer

   Be honest and accept consequences.

📝 Try It Out

1. Write one respectful response to criticism.
2. Describe a responsible action at home.
3. List two consequences of acting without thinking.
4. Explain why pausing helps decision-making.
5. Identify one value you want to practice today.
Show Answer

Answers will vary but should reflect respect and responsibility.

✅ Check Yourself

1. True/False: Respect considers others' feelings.
   Show Answer

   True

2. Which value involves owning actions?
   Show Answer

   Responsibility

3. Why pause before acting?
   Show Answer

   To think clearly.

4. Give one example of a respectful choice.
   Show Answer

   Listening without interrupting.

5. True/False: Consequences only matter later.
   Show Answer

   False

🚀 Go Further

1. Keep a one-day decision journal.
2. Role-play a respectful refusal.
3. Create a reminder card for responsible choices.
Show Answer

Teacher guidance: Focus on real-life practice.

🔗 My Reflection

Write 6–8 sentences describing a decision you made today. Explain how respect or responsibility guided your choice.