Reflections: Masterclass- Saturday 7th December 2024

Chapter 4- System error

1. What are your key takeaways from today's chapter?

2. What are your thoughts on the education system in India?

3." Our system encourages copying and memorizing - this practice discourages original thinking."- Comment

4. "We kill 3 things-curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking." - What's your opinion on this?

5. What are the pros and cons of Pastoral care according to you?

Meeting summary for (12/07/2024)

Quick recap

This meeting focused on discussing the Indian education system, its challenges, and potential improvements. The participants explored various aspects of education, including the importance of critical thinking, creativity, and pastoral care, as well as the need for better teacher training and more diverse learning environments. They also addressed administrative matters such as audio scripts, attendance, and reflection questions for the teachers involved in the program.

Next steps

• Manisha to organize a monthly Hindi session for the Teachers Academy.

• Teachers to submit reflection questions and comments on the chapter discussed via WhatsApp, email, or the website www.happyteacher.in

• The Century School to join My Good School program on Sundays.

• Manisha to share timing details for the monthly Hindi session.

• Teachers to write a few lines of reflection on the chapter and send it to Manisha.

• Manisha to post the next chapter name below the notes for download.

• Teachers to use the WhatsApp community more effectively for conversations, dialogues, Q&As, reflection, and building relationships.

Summary

Education System and Original Thinking

Sandeep led a discussion on the importance of education and the need for change in the current system. He emphasized the need for original thinking, creativity, and critical thinking, which are currently discouraged in the education system. He also highlighted the issue of students being unable to adapt to the Western style of learning when they go abroad. Sandeep discussed the merits and demerits of the Central Board of Secondary Education and the various State Boards, and suggested that the International Baccalaureate (IB) system could be a better alternative. He also mentioned the need for more IB schools to be on board. The discussion was based on the book "The Man Who Saw Tomorrow" by Shomie Das.

Indian Education System's Challenges

Sandeep discussed the Indian education system, highlighting its prescriptive nature and the emphasis on memorization over curiosity and inquiry. He mentioned that there are 69 boards in India, with the majority focusing on selling certificates and marks. Sandeep also shared his concerns about the selection of books and the setting of exam papers, citing an instance where he was asked to set an exam paper with a question that was rejected because it was not in the traditional format. He suggested that the education system needs to be more application-based and conceptual, rather than just relying on memorization.

Shomie’s Educational Philosophy

Sandeep discussed the educational philosophy of Shomie Das, emphasizing the importance of understanding over memorization and the value of liberal arts education. He compared the CBSE and ICSE syllabi, noting that ICSE has a stronger English syllabus and a more advanced approach to mathematics and sciences. Sandeep also highlighted the importance of reading and the role of humanities in a well-rounded education. He concluded by stating that liberal arts education is essential for today's world and has been championed by notable figures such as Rabindranath Tagore and Aurobindo.

Education System Shift and Teacher Role

Sandeep discussed the need for a shift in the education system, emphasizing the importance of skills and knowledge. He highlighted the need for a diverse and inclusive learning environment, connecting schools across different spectrums. Sandeep also discussed the role of the government in education, noting that it should take the lead in producing good teachers and setting up teacher training institutes. He mentioned that the government should allocate more resources to education to provide quality education. Sandeep also shared an anecdote about his interaction with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, where he discussed the shortage of good teachers. He concluded by emphasizing the importance of a good teacher in shaping students' lives.

Pastoral Care in Indian Schools

Sandeep discussed the importance of pastoral care in schools, emphasizing its role in fostering an environment that supports the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social development of every student. He highlighted the challenges faced by teachers in Indian schools, particularly in managing large class sizes and dealing with children with learning difficulties. Sandeep also shared insights from his mentor, Princey, a former principal, who stressed the need for teachers to understand and support each child individually. The discussion concluded with Sandeep expressing concern about the consequences of neglecting children who need hand-holding.

Nurturing Children's Unique Abilities and Interests

Sandeep discussed the importance of understanding and nurturing children's unique abilities and interests, using the example of Gillian Lynne, a renowned choreographer who was initially diagnosed with ADHD. He emphasized the need to move away from corporal punishment and instead focus on providing the right inputs and stimuli for children's development. Sandeep also criticized the way history is taught in India, suggesting that it should be more engaging and not just a chronology of events.

Challenges in Education and Teaching Profession

Sandeep discussed the challenges faced by teachers, particularly in pastoral care and government schools. He highlighted the importance of individual attention and the need for more residential schools. He also shared anecdotes about his former teachers, emphasizing their dedication and commitment to their students. Sandeep stressed the need for more good teachers and addressed the skewed gender ratio in the teaching profession, attributing it to the focus on engineering and professional career paths. He concluded by praising the dedication of his former teachers and the importance of empathizing with each other's challenges.

Upcoming Chapter and Masterclass Discussion

Sandeep initiated a discussion about the upcoming chapter and encouraged participants to share their thoughts. Manisha, the host, then briefed the teachers about the weekly masterclass and reflection questions. She also encouraged them to share their thoughts via WhatsApp or email. Sandeep then discussed the importance of attendance and the use of a meeting room passcode. Manisha ended the conversation by encouraging everyone to write a few lines for the next chapter and to reach out to her with any questions or concerns.

Next week - Chapter 5: System Reset

I am looking forward to seeing your thoughtful reflections!      

Email your reflections to mk@learningforward.org.in

AI genereted summary, be mindful of errors and ommisions, please.

Unity and Caring - Byju Joseph

Our life is full of adversities. So survival becomes more complex. There are many circumstances in

our life where we need to stand together to achieve certain things. Sometimes we may think that we are capable of handling the situations ourselves but that may be much easier to accomplish in collaboration with others. Thus comes the feeling of togetherness which is unity. It means to be joined with each other having the feeling of oneness.

Unity is very important in a family, in a society, in a workplace or in a country. Each human being is entirely different from each other in belief and opinion. This makes it more difficult to be united. But there is a chance to be united if different people have common aims. Friendship is a factor which helps different people to remain united. We all need to have the acceptance of our differences and more understanding and love for others.

In our country, we have different languages, different religions, different cultures and different traditions. Even though we are Indians and that spirit is our strength. If we are united no one can defeat us. We should work together for the betterment of our citizens and our country. This unity must be properly utilized for the development of the country in all areas. 

We know that Britishers came here for trading only. But gradually they came to know about the lack of unity among the kings who were ruling here. They utilized that occasion tactfully and they started to engage in politics. Finally, they succeeded in achieving their goal. They carelessly utilized our resources. Later on, the dedicated action of our leaders helped to keep the Indians united and that unity only helped us to send Britishers back to their country. Dedication and caring nature of our leaders as Indians helped to build unity among people and thus their attempts lead to success.

Caring is a feeling of concern, an act of protection and an expression of love. In fact, it is an emotion that we carry in our mind and heart. We care about others, anything that really matters to us or something we value. It can be a good or a bad thing depending upon the circumstances. For instance, caring about a person to help them out is a wonderful thing that gives us satisfaction. Caring connects different people to each other. As a parent, we do care for our children. As a teacher, we take care of our students. We take care of others as brothers, sisters, friends, doctors, nurses etc. it is entirely divine that always provides positive energy.

Being educators we are familiar with the unity among students. The unity among students is very strong because it is formed from deep affection and friendship. Parents, teachers and students should always be united and do caring for each other to create a better learning atmosphere. All educational institutions aim for maximum possible learning outcomes which come in reality by hard work, dedication, unity and caring. All educators have the responsibility to make understand the importance of unity and caring among their students and promote them.

Byju P. Joseph

The Fabindia school

bjh@fabindiaschools.in

Freedom and Peace - Nikita Rajpurohit

Freedom is when we have a free mind and we are not the slave of any other decisions. It helps us to

act without any fear or constraint. It means the liberty of opinion, expression or the power to act, speak and think freely. Every individual has the right to express freely their opinion on all the questions which are concerned with his or her life.

Peace is a value which helps us to stay calm and silent in an adverse situation without getting panic. True inner peace is independent of external conditions and circumstances. It confers tranquillity, inner harmony and balance. Peace is a very necessary part of humankind because it gives us the capability of good decision making and keeps us relaxed even when the situations don't turn up well. A state of inner peace eliminates anxieties, fears and worries. It also removes negative thoughts, stress, lack of satisfaction and unhappiness. 

Peace and freedom can be said to be interconnected with each other. Let's take it this way, if a person has a freedom of expressing himself, he would be in a peaceful state of mind because there's nothing hammering him inside. He can let everything out. So it is very important to give freedom to our students to express their opinions or views to have a peaceful mind, which would help them to explore their talents without any pressure and make good decisions. 

Nikita Rajpurohit

The Fabindia School

nra@fabindiaschools.in

Quality and Love - Rectifier BHIS

"The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavour."-Vince Lombardi

Quality education nurtures a love for learning and in turns earns quality life,

Tom is a renowned stage artist. It wasn’t so easy for him to act on stage. During his school days, Tom was not academically good and also stammered in front of all his classmates. He was commonly referred to as dumb by his classmates.  To add to his problems his brother, Harry was very bright and gifted and is too actively participate in all inter-school competitions and was well known in school. As usual, Harry was elected for a major role in drama and Tom was asked to be backstage during rehearsals.

In speech and drama class, Mrs Rita, their new teacher was directing students to act and deliver dialogues for the competition while Tom was standing aside and enacting and delivering the dialogues with students during their rehearsal. Tom, was continuously observed by Mrs Rita.

Mrs Rita asked him to come up and say the dialogue and act. But Tom refused and said that he couldn't. "Of course you can," Mrs. Rita responded encouragingly. "Young man, come up here; speak and act for me."

“But I can’t “insisted Tom and said “I am misfit for everything.”

At that point, Mrs Rita stepped out from her desk and looked at Tom straight in his eyes.

"Don't ever say that again," she told him firmly. "Someone else's opinion of you does not have to become your reality. “This words of Mrs Rita echoed in Tom’s ears and helped Tom regain his confidence.

Not only did Mrs Rita encouraged Tom to participate in drama but also helped him overcome his stage fear. Tom won the best actor award and also a lot of laurels for his school.

Tom never forgot those words of Mrs Rita and spent the rest of his life overcoming incredible odds and pursuing his goals with intense passion.

Time and time again, thanks to Mrs Rita, that one teacher's powerful revelation, Tom has lived the phrase and now a national awardee for stage shows.

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams
And live the life you have imagined.

Remember that quality of life is determined by the quality of thoughts.

"You are the finest, loveliest, tenderest and most beautiful person I have ever known and even that is an understatement."-F. Scott Fitzgerald

Listen to the story

Rectifier @ Billabong High International School, Thane

-Pallavi Harkare, Mahalakshmi Iyer, Prerna Khanna, Priyanka Iyer, Rajeshri Mohite, Kalpana Dodia

Friendship - Monika Vaishnav

We have some relation by birth which we don't have to create and have a strong bonding with them naturally.  But there is a relation we make which is based on love, care, understanding and trust are called friendship.

In my opinion, friendship is a pure relationship between two people which is beyond selfishness.

A friend is a person with whom we can share anything, which we can't share with anyone else. Friendship is not just about having fun or sharing happiness with each other, it's about standing by each other and supporting each other whenever it is needed and must correct each other whenever he or she is doing wrong and helps to show the right path.  It is the only relation which does not see the differences in religion, caste, financial status etc.

When we have friendship with someone, we should accept him with his weakness and strength too because nobody is perfect in this world. A friend is one who doesn't afraid to stand by you even if hundreds of people are against you. People must have enough faith in each other that no one can create misunderstanding between them. Friendship brings sweetness in life. It can make us laugh at a difficult time. When I see children, I feel they love to come to the school because of their friends, they play, eat, study and laugh together. They won't like to come to school if they don't have their friends there.

Monika Vaishnav

The Fabindia School

Sharmila Vijayvargi: SPEAKING

Speaking is sharing of thoughts, ideas and knowledge verbally.  Speaking adds value to our expressions and improves our communication skills. A good orator is always a treat to the ears.

Speaking, alike reading helps to organise our thoughts and communicate well and thus leading to better expressions. Speaking improves pronunciation, brings clarity of words and helps in understanding different sounds.

Speaking has a positive impact on your personality. It helps in communicating with peers, groups, students and everyone around. Speaking does not mean using only one language. Like reading, speaking in multiple languages makes one an effective communicator. Speaking is expressing feelings and thus should be done in the language in which one is most comfortable.

Speaking helps children learn better and faster because of the practices and approaches adopted by educators/teachers for pre-schoolers including saying aloud songs, rhymes, the story actually leads to powerful learning.  Learning through speaking at a young age helps the child has a clear speech which ultimately leads to better and effective communication.

Speaking has a lot of benefits. It helps children put out their opinion and suggestions during discussions. Organising activities such as debate, extempore helps bring about clarity and coherence of thoughts in children leading to better communication. Speaking helps students develop a habit of reacting and asking questions and builds critical thinking. It also helps shy and introvert students come out of their comfort zone and speaking leads to develop listening skills simultaneously.

Sharmila Vijayvargi

The Fabindia School, svi4fab@gmail.com