My Reflection for the Emerging Literacies Session 18th July 2026

Emerging Literacies Masterclass is hosted every Saturday at 5:30 PM by Sandeep Dutt.

The world has moved from a set menu to a buffet menu. Today, there are countless options before us in all the spaces, be it education, careers, technology, and life itself. But the future does not belong to those who have the most options. It belongs to those who can evaluate, prioritise, and make wise choices. 

In a world of abundance, the ability to choose well is more valuable than the abundance of choices itself. Critical thinking, self-awareness, decision-making, discernment, and adaptability are no longer optional; these are essential life skills.

- Khushi Kumari, Lotus Petal Foundation 

Quick Recap:

The Saturday Emerging Literacy Masterclass, led by Sandeep, focused on a group reading and discussion of Yuval NoahHarari’ss book “21 Lessons for the 21st Century,” specifically the chapter on the crisis of liberalism. Sandeep recapped the previous session and shared updates on the Learning Forward Retreat. The discussion explored the challenges facing the liberal story, including the rise of nationalism, the role of technology, and the concept of a “liberal buffet” where countries pick and choose elements of liberalism. Panellists Gurdeep and Khushi shared their reflections, with Khushi asking about the phrase “people vote with their feet.” Sandeep emphasised the importance of critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and character in preparing students for the future. The session also highlighted the programs under the Good School Alliance, including the Teachers Academy and the Emerging Literacy Project. Dr Deep Khare praised the initiative, emphasising the value of comprehension and reading for understanding. The conversation ended with a reminder about the resources available on the My Good School YouTube channel.

A Liberal Arts Education

Brewing Knowledge Friday, May 9th 2025, reading the book My Good School with Sandeep Dutt.

Quick recap

Sandeep introduced the session, which focused on reading and discussing the book "My Good School: Where Passion Meets Education," and emphasised the importance of learning from the entire environment in their educational approach. The discussion also highlighted the value of liberal arts education, the importance of experiential learning, and the need for a balanced education system that values the humanities and the sciences. The group also discussed the concept of the humanities, the importance of a "Happy Teacher" blog, and the positive impact of weekend classes.

Next steps

• Praveen will search for and obtain a copy of the book "My Good School" for further reading.

• Khushi will invite more friends to join the next session.

• All participants are to join the Saturday masterclass for experiential learning and research.

• All participants must attend the Sunday session from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM.

• Manisha will update the reading sheet on WhatsApp with the new chapters to be covered in the next session.

• All participants are to read "New Teaching and Learning Approaches" and "Freedom to Perform" chapters before the next session on May 16th.

• Praveen will search for and add the relevant blog post link for the next chapter in the shared spreadsheet.

Summary

Reading "My Good School" Book

Sandeep introduces the session, which focuses on reading and discussing the book "My Good School: Where Passion Meets Education," of which he is the author. He explains that they will read one chapter at a time and that the book's content is based on his real-life experiences advising schools nationwide. Sandeep mentions that they maintain a spreadsheet with dates, page numbers, and links to companion articles for each chapter read. He also notes that they expect a student to join the session, emphasising the importance of learning from the entire environment in their educational approach.

Liberal Arts Education's Value Discussed

Sandeep discusses the value of liberal arts education, drawing inspiration from Rabindranath Tagore's philosophy. He emphasises that liberal arts education goes beyond analytical thinking and finite answers, fostering creativity and a deeper understanding of the world. Sandeep highlights the importance of experiential learning, such as through excursions and service projects, in developing well-rounded individuals. He concludes by outlining six benefits of liberal arts education, including teaching students how to think and learn, enhancing wisdom and faith, and contributing to overall happiness and life satisfaction.

Liberal Arts Education Reading Session

Sandeep leads a reading session of a text about liberal arts education. Khushi reads aloud a passage by Thomas Henry Huxley describing the qualities of a person with a liberal education. Sandeep provides guidance on pronunciation and emphasises the importance of clear articulation. The group discusses the meaning of difficult words like "gossamer" and reflects on why good schools should offer quality liberal arts education.

Balanced Education: Humanities and Sciences

The discussion emphasises the importance of humanities and arts education alongside traditional subjects like science and math. Praveen explains how subjects like theatre help students understand human behaviour and emotions, contributing to their development as good humans. Sandeep and Minakshi agree, highlighting that understanding humanity is crucial for all fields, including science and technology. The conversation then delves into the need for a balanced education system that values humanities and sciences, arguing that the humanities are essential for building a just society and developing empathy, compassion, and values.

New Teaching and Learning Approaches

Sandeep announces that next week's session will focus on new teaching and learning approaches, starting from page 94. He emphasises that all sessions are available on YouTube for learning and design purposes. Khushi asks two questions about the meaning of the humanities and the distinction between blue-collar and white-collar workforce. Sandeep explains that the humanities involve understanding humans as part of an ecosystem and respecting all living and non-living elements. He also clarifies that the traditional distinction between blue-collar and white-collar jobs is blurring in the modern age, emphasising providing experiences rather than just products or services.

Humanities and Teaching Approaches Discussion

Sandeep leads a discussion on the humanities and new teaching approaches. He explains the concept of the humanities to Khushi and encourages her to bring friends to future sessions. The group discusses the importance of a "Happy Teacher" blog for sharing ideas and experiences. Sandeep demonstrates how to access previous session recordings and articles on their website. Praveen provides positive feedback on the value-based learning approach of the session. Manisha invites everyone to join the upcoming weekend classes, emphasising the positive impact of Sunday sessions.

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