Youth Engagement and Professional Relationships

Masterclass with Sandeep Dutt

Masterclass on work, relationships, and the philosophy of “The Courage to Be Happy.”

Key Takeaways

• Trust vs. Confidence: Work relationships are transactional (confidence-based), grounded in conditions like collateral. Friendships are unconditional (based on confidence) and are rooted in belief in a person’s human worth.

• Work as Survival: Adler viewed work as a survival strategy—a necessary “division of labour” to compensate for human physical inferiority. This makes cooperation a non-negotiable, not a choice.

• Worth is Attitude: A person’s worth is defined by their attitude toward work, not their profession. All work is honourable, as a community’s diversity of roles is its strength.

• The 3 R’s are a Triangle: The relationship between Reading, Reflection, and Relationships is triangular. A strong relationship can spark reflection, which then motivates reading.

Topics

The 3 R’s & The Courage to Be Happy

• The 3 R’s (Reading, Reflection, Relationship) are a core framework for personal and social development.

• The masterclass series, based on Adlerian philosophy, aims to help youth “find their voice” and build identity.

• Key Concepts from “The Courage to Be Disliked”:

  • True worth is self-reliance.

  • All problems and joys are interpersonal.

  • Happiness is an internal choice.

  • Problem behaviour is a “cry for help.”

Trust vs. Confidence

• The book defines two distinct relationship types:

  • Trust: Conditional and transactional, based on collateral (e.g., a bank loan).

  • Confidence: Unconditional belief in a person’s human worth, without collateral.

• Application to Life Tasks:

  • Work Relationships → Trust: Condition-based, driven by vested interest (e.g., a shared company goal).

  • Friend Relationships → Confidence: Unconditional, driven by intrinsic motivation (“I like this person”).

Why Work is a Life Task

• Adler’s psychological view of work contrasts with economic theories.

• Work as Survival: Work is a direct link to survival in a harsh natural world.

• Division of Labour: Humans compensate for physical inferiority by forming groups and specialising. This is a non-negotiable survival strategy.

• Societal Purpose: Society exists to facilitate this division of labour. Living, working, and building society are inseparable.

• Adam Smith’s Economic View: Self-interest drives specialisation (e.g., a bow-maker trading tools for game). This creates a rational economic order where individual pursuits benefit the collective.

The Honour of All Professions

• Worth is Attitude, Not Profession: A person’s value is determined by their attitude and integrity in their role, not the role itself.

• Community Diversity: All professions are honourable because they are necessary for the community. A job’s continued existence proves its value.

• Danger of Judgment: Upholding a “mediocre justice” that labels jobs as good or bad is dangerous. It leads to a uniform, unfree society by failing to recognise the value in diverse roles.

Next Steps

• Sandeep Dutt: Meet an author at the Book Cafe/Brewing Knowledge Group.

• All Participants:

  • Join the Book Cafe/Brewing Knowledge Group for updates.

  • Consider applying to Learning Forward Foundation, which is hiring for its new team.

Notes by FATHOM AI

Love Learning vs Hate Learning

 

Learning Forward Saturday

To read and reflect on Chapter 3 of “Wanted Back-bencher Last-ranker Teacher” by Kavita Ghosh. Narrated by Brinda Ghosh and Sandeep Dutt

Key Takeaways

• Create a “classroom without walls” by replicating the joy and positive social dynamics students show outside. This requires shifting from a rigid, fear-based environment to one that fosters engagement.

• Prioritise patience over perception. Judgmental labels (e.g., “Supriya does not want to study”) are ineffective and disrespectful. Instead, treat students like your own children, focusing on their potential and providing support.

• Understand the neuroscience of stress. Cortisol, the “stress hormone,” blocks memory and learning. Humiliation and fear create “test trauma,” which is a major barrier to student success.

• Make reflection a daily habit. This is the core practice for professional growth, distinct from simple note-taking. Share thoughts in the WhatsApp group to build a reflective community.

Topics

The Problem: A Disengaged Classroom

• The chapter’s protagonist, Roma, observed that her students were happy and well-behaved only outside the classroom.

• Insight: This contrast signals a need to bring the positive energy and social dynamics of the outside environment into the classroom.

The Challenge: Judgmental Attitudes & Poor Performance

• Roma’s class performed poorly on weekly tests:

  • 15 failed math

  • 10 had single-digit science scores

  • 8 performed miserably in social science

• A former teacher, Sumita, dismissed these students with judgmental labels, blaming their personalities and past failures.

• Principal’s Counter-Directive: “We don’t give up on our own children, so why give up on our students?”

  • Principle: Treat all students with the same patience and belief in their potential as you would your own children.

The Solution: Empathy & Brain Science

• Roma’s past as a struggling student provided critical context for understanding her current students.

• Neuroscience of Stress: Cortisol, the “stress hormone,” is released during stress and anxiety, blocking memory and learning.

  • This explains “test trauma” and why fear-based teaching is counterproductive.

• Roma’s Experience: Humiliation from a teacher who publicly shamed her for a math failure created a lasting aversion to the subject.

  • Rule: Never humiliate students or publicly announce their marks.

Logistics & Future Sessions

• Next Saturday (April 4): Guest speaker Rahul Chug (Learn PF app) will present to The Teachers Academy.

• Saturday After Next (April 11): The group will resume reading Chapter 3.

• Reflection: All participants are encouraged to share their reflections on today’s discussion via WhatsApp or email.

Next Steps

• Brinda:

  • Coordinate with Rahul Chug for the April 4 presentation.

  • Share her LinkedIn post on “failure as a great teacher” with the group.

All Participants to share reflections on today’s discussion via WhatsApp or email.

Fathom AI-generated notes, read with care.

Love Learning Vs Hate Learning - Khalid Zafar

A student’s bond with their teacher plays a crucial role in shaping their attitude toward learning. When a child feels connected, they approach learning with curiosity and enthusiasm. But when there is a disconnect, learning becomes a burden, and the classroom turns into a place of struggle rather than growth.    

As a teacher, I have witnessed both sides of this spectrum. There are students who eagerly participate, not just because they love the subject, but because they feel seen and valued by their teacher. On the other hand, there are students who withdraw, who struggle not because they lack intelligence, but because they feel unheard, unnoticed, or unmotivated.  

In my early teaching years, I believed that content mastery alone could make me an effective teacher. However, I soon realized that a teacher's ability to build relationships with students is just as important as delivering knowledge. When a student feels emotionally disconnected, their ability to grasp even the simplest concepts diminishes.  

I have seen students who initially showed no interest in learning but transformed once they found a teacher who understood them. A struggling student does not always need extra homework or stricter discipline; sometimes, they simply need someone who listens, encourages, and believes in them. A simple conversation, a word of appreciation, or a small gesture of support can bridge the gap between a student and their learning journey.  

As teachers, we must ensure that our classrooms are places of connection, where students feel safe to ask questions, make mistakes, and grow. The true success of teaching is not just in covering the syllabus but in ensuring that no child feels left behind. When a student connects with their teacher, learning becomes an exciting adventure rather than a chore. And in that connection lies the real magic of education.

Khalid Zafar 

Sunbeam Suncity 

Hope and Friendship - Rishona Chopra

There is no substitute for correct thinking when a difficult situation is in front of you. You think negatively but try to act according to the spiritual knowledge you have read. That will not make you successful in overcoming the situation. Also, your inner habits of creating thoughts of fear, pessimism, hopelessness and impatience will not reduce, although you may temporarily feel positive based on what you have read or learned.

Hope is important as it changes our negative thinking to positive. Hope is important in the classroom as it helps improve our self-esteem and confidence. Hope rises from expectations. The expectations we have created our hope. We expect to have a good day in school, creating our hope to have a good day.

Sometimes, to be positive, we can think of affirmations:

1. I am a soul full of all qualities and powers... I nourish each cell of my body with my qualities and powers, making my mind and body healthy and filled with positive energy... My complete positivity makes my immune system strong and my life long...

2. I am powerful and pure energy situated at the centre of the forehead...I radiate the beautiful white rays of my purity and power to my physical costume...My entire physical body is cleansed... All my body systems experience good health...

 3. I am a soul with positive thoughts, feelings and attitudes, which make my aura beautiful and radiant...My aura influences my physical body to fill with beautiful vibrations...These vibrations always protect my body...

 4. I radiate my vibrations of peace and stability to everything I eat and the medicines I take for my body...They absorb these vibrations and benefit my mind and body by making them healthy, happy and robust... I always attract positive health help at the right time and in the right way...

 5. I am a blissful being, the child of God - The Ocean Of Bliss...My mental and emotional lightness influences my physical organs and makes them light and relaxed ... Others who meet me and see me get inspired to bring fun and health into their lives

Hope is when I think positive,
Affirmative thoughts, 

Probably in my tough times,

Just want something that rhymes,
With my thoughts,
I just want to untie all the knots.
When hope is heard,
The hard times fly like a bird!
Even in my dream, 
I think of hope's long stream.
The tough times shall pass,
As they soon break like glass.

I would rather walk with a friend in the dark, rather than walk alone in the light.

- Helen Keller

Friends are companions for life, a family that we choose for ourselves. It's, of course, essential to building a good relationship with them, right? Some of us might look at friendship as a bond we share with our best friends, but it is not just a relationship we build with our friends but everyone around us. In the company, there is no jealousy, and there is no expectation. Friendship just exists; it's a relationship you really can't describe.

It implies a friendly and compassionate attitude towards all, and it's essential to have good social skills. Even Swami and Friends, the book is all about friendship.

Friends are something you never know about,
They are like your sibling, no doubt.
Rajam and Mani and their mischiefs,
But they ain't no thief.
They are friends who stay in sorrow,
But make you feel scared for tomorrow.
Yes, they will support you in nothing,
But they will prepare you for everything!
In a classroom, friends are essential,
They will never make you feel unimportant.
A company to make you smile,
A smile that will stretch a mile!

Here is my story full of positivity:
It was a happy morning; I felt blessed. I woke up and meditated. It was my first day of school, and I was so excited. It was not at all difficult for me. I made new friends. The teachers were fun, and I learned a lot of things. I played in the park and did my homework. I was smiling throughout the day and was positive. 

When was the last time we smiled for an entire day with nothing going wrong? Today let us smile and be full of hope! 


Rishona Chopra
Grade VI
Gyanshree School

Courage and Patience - Guneet Kaur

Courage means facing one's fears. It is essential in all spheres of life and leads to a change in oneself, making one stronger. Sometimes one has to get out of one's comfort zone and adjust to a new environment. This, too, is courage. Being honest and believing in one's honesty is also courageous.

Teachers are like mirrors for their students. The students tend to imbibe whatever a teacher speaks through his or her words or actions. Not pretending and being oneself is also courage. A teacher must teach students to accept and be proud of themselves regardless of their weaknesses. They should be cherished for who they are and given the space where they can be more aware of themselves. In no situation should they be afraid or ashamed of accepting the truth about themselves or sharing it with others. Seeking help and shunning one's ego is also courage.  

As teachers, we must ensure that the children feel safe with us. They should be able to have faith in us. Simultaneously, they should learn to believe in themselves. A child asking his or her doubt in class, saying, "I didn't understand", in front of the other classmates, is courage.

Teachers need to be there for the students, make them feel safe and teach them to solve their problems themselves. This way, they will be prepared to bravely face life's challenges. However, if the learners make mistakes in solving their issues, their teachers shouldn't punish them. Instead, as adults, they should stand with them and show them the right path.

Courage also reflects in sharing one's experiences with colleagues or children of how one dealt with a situation. This can also help in inspiring them and getting over their fears. Being silently supportive of our co-workers is also courageous.

Patience is being tolerant and calm in handling situations. It means not getting anxious or annoyed too quickly. It does require a lot of courage to be patient. Not complaining, having a positive attitude, and giving time and space to others all come in the arena of patience.

Patience teaches us to have faith and hope that things will get better. Working with patience leads to growth. On the other hand, losing patience can ruin the task at hand. Most of us end up giving up our patience because of the pressure from society, peers, friends or family. However, if we have the courage and the belief in ourselves, we will not lose our cool, take a stand for ourselves and help to bring about a change.

Inaction should not be misunderstood for patience. Moving towards our goal with perseverance and a peaceful mind, accepting failures as stepping stones to success, and having the will to start all over again with the belief that the result will be favourable is patience.    

The farmer protest in our country is the world's most non-violent and peaceful fight for human rights. The farmers had immense patience and courage that helped them to withstand all sorts of physical, emotional and mental atrocities. They did not get frustrated and were convinced that their voices would be heard one day. 

We often lose our patience when we think we are better than others or deserve much more than others. This attitude leads only to exasperation. Whenever this happens, we should take a step back and introspect. High expectations from ourselves or from others can make us impatient. However, patience helps to increase our power of endurance, persistence and better decision making.   

As teachers, we need to be role models of being patient with our students. Being a good and silent listener and helping the children cope with their worries and hassles will help them become more accepting, contented and forbearing. They will learn to shift their focus from a problem to possible solutions without complaining. This will also teach them to be emphatic.  

Guneet Kaur

Mussoorie Public School

Mussoorie 

Quality - Punita Chouhan

Courtesy: brainyquote.com

Quality is an essential value in our life. It is an important aspect of one’s life. Quality makes a person’s life special because all we know his/her about character, behaviour, and attitude regarding society and nation, such an example was our former President Dr A.P.J.Abdul Kalam.

“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thought. The quality of your thought depends on the people whom you meet in your life.”

For the success of an organization different important elements are required like skills, knowledge, ability, objectives, aims, human resources or power and quality from establishing to control.
Quality is an essential parameter which helps organizations outshine their competitors and survive the fierce competition.

We need friends of good quality in our life. They help us in many ways like they help us to understand the value of time, thing etc, they guide us in a difficult situation. Good quality friends encourage and motivate us.

You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want. It is only possible by your own qualities which make it possible. It develops an attitude of gratitude for everything that happens in your life. So, try to improve your abilities in good quality, which makes you special in others life. Achieving quality can make yourself and others feel good inside.

Courtesy: brainyquote.com  

PUNITA CHOUHAN
The Fabindia School, Bali
pch@fabindiaschools.in

Courage and Patience - Aspiration JMMS

Patience: The quality of being able to stay calm and not get angry, especially when there is a difficulty or you have to wait a long time. 

Courage: The ability to control fear in a situation that may be a dangerous or unpleasant situation. 

Definitions from Oxford Dictionary

 साहस और धैर्य 

साहस वह है, जब हम कोई भी कार्य बिना किसी डर के करने की हिम्मत रखते हैं और अगर हमारे मन में धैर्य होगा तभी हम किसी भी कार्य को साहस के साथ कर सकते हैं।.                   

It was our school trip to Mumbai. The teachers and the students were excited for the trip. We reached Mumbai, it was late in the evening, so we decided to take the children to the park so that they could play after a two-day long train journey. After about 45minutes, we told the children to stand in the line; headcount started. We found that one child was missing, we counted again and again and were tensed. We asked the students whether they knew where their friend is? Some of them said he went to the 

washroom whereas others said he went behind the bushes. 

We all waited patiently but he did not return. Worst he had even left his identity card next to his water bottle, so one can imagine how fearful we were. Now children started to call out his name loudly so that he would hear and come back. Some children started praying to God. The situation became critical because it was getting darker and lights in the park were computerized and it went off. People around us such as the evening walkers, the park guards, vendors who sold golgappa, chat, vegetables etc. became concerned and started helping us in searching the child. Leaving the children with the principal ma’am, teachers went to look for the child in different directions.  We looked for him everywhere, but he could not be found. We called the police but their search was in vain. We, teachers, felt helpless and angry, on our decision to take the children to the park. 

Principal ma’am was composed; she said, “Nothing, wrong will happen, God is with us”. When we all got impatient and scared, she stood firm in her belief and encouraged the children and the teachers to be positive. She was fearless and did not get angry. 

It was 9 pm, we suggested principal ma’am that two teachers with the children should go back to the guesthouse and give them dinner, and others can look for the child. So as one of the teachers reached the park gate, she saw two teenagers with a child holding their hands. Her heart skipped a beat. It was dark; she could not see their faces. She asked her colleague to look closer. The other one screamed with joy. It turned out to be our child. We ran towards his and hugged him tightly. We asked the child where he was in those hours, he told us that he found no one in the park, so he went out of the park looking for us. Those two teenagers were like angels who brought back our child. They found the child wandering on the streets. They helped him to find the way back to the park. On that day, we all witnessed the power of being positive in a negative situation. Ma’am tried to give us emotional courage by being positive. As Abdul Kalam says, “Patience is more than just having the ability to wait. It's about your attitude while you are waiting ". 

Aspiration JMMS@John Martyn Memorial School, Salangaon, Dehradun - Renu Raturi, Sandhya Thadani, Sonali Sharma, Asha Bhandari 

Willpower - Jitendra Suthar

Courtesy: dreamstime.com

Willpower may be an attitude that exists in our mind. Given a troublesome task, if you've got thoughts that it'd not work, then that's what you'll get versus somebody who thought that it'll work. For instance, it is usually the mind's facility within the Olympics games over the athlete's perception of what they will do. With the Gold Medals in their mind, they'll endure the temporary hardship throughout their daily coaching to induce wherever they need to be. Remember, ne'er ever hand over on things that matter.

Many folks don't understand the importance of self-command in life. For instance, you recognize that you simply have a race returning and you'll stop uptake dangerous stuff. Dominant your diet may be a real challenge because it needs determination and harnessing your mental capability to form your material body simply do what you would like through your self-command. Once dominant, your diet becomes a habit, you will not crave for unhealthy food.

There is a link between motivation and self-command as you wish to understand why you would like to resist a particular temptation or work on one thing difficult. for instance, associate alcoholic father need to prevent drinking so that his son wouldn't get older to be like him. The stronger your motivation for doing a particular factor can increase your self-command and stop any harmful behaviour or assist you to overcome any demanding challenges.

Willpower plays a vital role in our life and effort a self-command attitude may be a journey and not a leap. Thoughts aren't facts, by dynamic your thinking, if you'll modify negative thoughts to positive, so a full new world of prospects is disclosed to you.

Jitendra Suthar

The Fabindia School 

jsr@fabindiaschools.in

Happiness And Tolerance - Aspiration JMMS

The first thing one observes in the playground; a boy aged six dancing obliviously to his surroundings. At times boys would kick him to stop him from dancing or pull his shirt, but he does not get bothered.

As one enters class 1, he comes jumping, “Good morning ma’am. My Name is Siddharth Sharma”.

While taking the class, Siddharth was everywhere. Jumping on the bench, drawing on the blackboard, talking non- stop and disrupting the class. 

His energy could not be contained in the class. Siddharth’s classmates also got irritated with him. He was frequently hit and bullied by them. Teachers and his peers were constantly complaining and blamed him if anything went wrong and he was excluded from their games.

We created an action plan along with the parents. Principal ma’am arranged counselling session for Siddharth and for his parents. She along with the specialist helped the parents to understand the ‘Down syndrome’ disorder. A workshop was organized for the teachers on special needs to build up their understanding. In the class, extra help was provided; to support the teacher.

Siddharth’s mother was advised to come to the school, so she can observe the class and help him in the class and then follow it up at home.  

In the class children were told stories on friends, environment, animals, accepting differences and problem-solving etc. they were asked open-ended questions such as, (a) what would you have done in his place, (b) how can you make a difference, (c) what other things can happen. These open-ended statements allowed the children to think and come up with suggestions. More probing questions were asked and they came up with more answers. We related their responses to the classroom situation. Sometimes a child would narrate a specific incident that had occurred with Siddharth and him/ her. It was then discussed in the class and they came up with positive suggestions on, ‘how their responses can be positive and help him’. 

Siddharth was given small responsibilities in the class with supervision. His positive qualities such as friendly nature, sharing ability, dancing, and singing were brought to the attention of the class. Gradually, we started feeling the difference in the class, as the children accepted him as he was.

They started to display acceptance towards Siddharth and gave him space to be himself. 

The teachers’ positive tolerant attitude towards inclusive practice reflected in the teachers’ behaviours and it was passed on to the children. The results suggest that tolerant inclusiveness in the classroom practice influenced happiness of the class as a whole, and as an individual. The children picked up additional values such as to be patient, helpful, problem-solving, understanding, caring and to think differently. It was the collective learning of both teachers and the students in the class. By bringing in inclusiveness in the classroom, the parents, students and teachers learnt to work together.  They participated in the design, delivery and monitoring of education; and inclusive education happened as a shared responsibility.

To be tolerant is a great quality, but to pass this value one needs to set an example.  It has to be a choice made and not a compulsion. It is a teachers’ attitude, which helps children to imbibe this quality. By bringing intolerance; it paved a way for inner happiness and contentment in our class. 

Our journey of making ‘inclusive classroom’ led to instilling patience and generating happiness in us and around us. 

अगर हम  सहन करना सीखे तो अंत में खुशी  पा जाते हैं।

मौन मन की वाणी सीख कर हम खुशी का संसार पा जाते हैं।  खामोशी है जीवन का आईना, जुबा मौन है तो अपनों को साथ खड़े पाते हैं।जीवन में सहन किया कुछ तो, अपने दामन में खुशियां पाते हैं, खुद भी हर्षित होते हैं औरों को भी  हर्षाते है।

एक बार हमारे स्कूल में एक बच्चा दाखिले के लिए आया।वह 9 साल का था। उम्र के हिसाब से उसका दाखिला कक्षा चार में हुआ। वह बच्चा यूपी केकिसी  गांव से आया था, इसलिए उसको ठीक से हिंदी लिखनी और बोलनी नहीं आती थी बच्चा अक्सर खुद को असहेज महसूस करता था, और किसी नाकिसी बहाने से कक्षा से बाहर निकल जाता था। सभी शिक्षक इस बात से परेशान थे, फिर शिक्षकों ने जब उसके पास बैठकर उसका पिछला काम देखातो, पता चला कि बच्चा कक्षा 4 की पढ़ाई के लिए असमर्थ था।

उसकी इस कमजोरी को ध्यान में रखते हुए, हमने कक्षा एक से शुरू किया सबसे पहलेउसको अक्षर ज्ञान दिया फिर, मात्राएं और शब्दका ज्ञान दिया। इस काम से बच्चे को बहुत हिम्मत मिली और पढ़ाई के  प्रति  उसका रुझान बड़ा और धीरे धीरे वह वाक्य बनाने लगा।अब वह बच्चा सभी बच्चों से दोस्ती करने लगा, और बच्चे भी उसकी पढ़ाई में मदद करने लगे। उसकी इस सफलता कोदेखकर बच्चे के  माता पिता बहुत खुश हुए उन्होंने बच्चे पर घर पर भी ध्यान देना शुरू किया। बच्चे में यह बदलता बर्ताव देखकर सभी शिक्षकों और बच्चेके मित्रों को बहुत खुशी हुई। उस बच्चे की सफलता को देखकर शिक्षकों को इतनी खुशी मिली जिसका शब्दों में वर्णन करना मुश्किल है। इसे केवलशिक्षक ही महसूस कर सकते थे। शिक्षक की खुशी का अनुभव जिसका शब्दों में वर्णन करना मुश्किल है। इसे केवल शिक्षक ही महसूस कर सकते थे।शिक्षक की खुशी का अनुभव कोई दूसरा नहीं कर सकता था।

Photos from Madhuban हिन्दी व्याकरण संबोध and use of Google Search. Our story of a child with special needs is original.  We built-up our understanding by reading some articles on the net.

- Aspiration JMMS @ John Martyn Memorial School, Salan Gaon, Dehradun - Renu Raturi, Sandhya Thadani, Sonali Sharma and Asha Bhandari