The Advantage of Being Systematic

Living here I'm witnessing first hand the disadvantages of being unorganised. Not that there is utter chaos or mismanagement, but if only we could be a little more systematic and organised, we could achieve much more. Ad hoc decisions, plans, and actions leave a bad taste if not immediately, certainly in the long run. The most important thing that is at stake is time. We loose such an amount of time for sometimes such a silly thing as finding a piece of paper... merely because we have not learnt the art of putting it in the right place at the right time. Then there is the consequent loss of energy, resources and ultimately peace of mind.

The Value of Patriotism

The other day we celebrated the Independence day in the school with a solemn march past, drill, a couple of interesting cultural programmes and of course, a string of talks and messages. During the staff evaluation that followed, I made an intervention: As educators we need to set imparting values as targets not success. Children are sharp and they are quick to grasp what our emphasis is on. They naturally and unconsciously pick up that. If our success indicators are smooth running of the programme, a grand show, a big round of applause... then they learn to work towards these. On the other hand, if my emphasis is on values and principles and more specially on children themselves, and if I am willing to sacrifice success for even one child, then they learn that people are more important than programmes. That I am esteemed more than an event.

On further reflection, I asked myself, what patriotic value did we impart to the children on the occasion of the independence day? That patriotism meant merely a day of celebration? Nothing before or nothing after? That they learnt a form of discipline, by way of standing in a straight line, marching to a beat, performing a particular exercise or dance... basically a discipline; yeah, that is true. But I ask again, is that all we educators are capable of imparting? I tried to view it from the child's mind: patriotism means honouring the national flag on August 15 – the rest of the year it is rotting in some cupboard pushed around in the corners. Patriotism means singing Vande Mataram and marching left-right-left – what about love of country or countrymen?

Blessings come as opportunities

That God does not offer ready-made packages of wisdom or talent or anything for that matter is something that I learnt from a movie: Evan almighty! It is there that I began to realize that when I pray for courage, God does not swell my chest or strengthen my muscles; rather He offers me possibilities, occasions to be courageous. When I pray for love, He does not send some nice goody-goody feeling into my heart; rather He brings people into my life whom I can love and receive love from.

I told the boarders last night the same. God or Mother Mary is pleased with our fervent prayers, especially the ones we are offer privately at their feet in all earnestness. However, do not expect God or Mother Mary to do what you are supposed to do. They offer us chances, possibilities, opportunities to bring to fruition what we ask for. Asking God to help me study is not going to be answered if I squander all the many opportunities that come my way by way of study material, time for study, luxury of facilities for learning... Similarly Mother Mary is not going to score a goal in the football match on my behalf and make my team win... however hard I pray. She rather offers me the chances to learn football all along and the possibility of shooting goals during the game. To ask for help and then totally act indifferent to the opportunities that flood by is an act of foolishness.

My learning at Punganur

It has been two and half months since I set foot in Punganur. As I reviewed my own stay here to see what are the three most important discoveries I've made which have helped me see things differently, I realized the following:

1. Children are much MUCH more enthusiastic and eager to learn than the Brothers! It is too evident to miss. 
2. I have been enjoying the luxury of free time – plenty of it. Devoid of a full time responsibility, I have lots of time for myself. This has given me the possibility of indulging myself in all sorts of handiworks, manual labour and maintenance works. It has also challenged me to make the best of the available unstructured time. 
3. This period of stay and interaction with the children has taught me that some of the ideas and principles I lived by and taught others are not that easy to practice in reality. They truly are ideals... but true all the same!

It's Change...

(A rather amusing poem from one of the text books of our school children)

Mum, I don't want to go to school today,
'Cause I fear our world is in decay.

I feel my teachers are part of the plot,
I'm the only one who sees through the rot.

Scientists are cloning pigs and sheep,
Saying, it's change – a quantum leap.

Biologists are making stem cells grow,
Saying, it's change – the way to go.

Geologists are finding cracks in our earth,
Saying, it's change – predicting its birth.

Archaeologists are digging up fossils and ones,
Saying, it's change – time for clones.

Yes, scientists are causing me great concern,
Giving us kids too much to learn!

 - Emma Gorrie

Latin and the Romans

Here's a short poem found on the last page of a Latin textbook... of course, written by a very bereaved soul:

Latin is a dead language;
As dead as it can be.
It killed the ancient Romans,
And now it's killing me!

A Nation's Strength

Not gold, but only men, can make
A people great and strong
Men who for truth and honour's sake
Stand fast and suffer long.
Brave men who work while others sleep
Who dare while others fly -
They build a nation's pillars deep
And lift them to the sky. 

 - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Seeking guidance

Accepting to talk to someone at their request is risky business! You never know what they wish to speak about and where you'd end up the whole conversation. But it is always a great GREAT help to the one seeking to speak to someone, if only I am sensible and willing to listen with a patient ear. I've had one such experience today. The person started with something very much on her mind right now, these past couple of days. Call it divine inspiration or whatever, when at a particular point I expressed my sincere observation about the person. She completely broke down and what followed next was anything but close to what we began talking about! She shared a particular painful experience she did undergo quite a while ago which she realized is the cause of her strained relationship with someone else. Once this was acknowledged, the initial matter was not the primary focus at all! From my little experience, I desisted offering a solution or a remedy; least of all offer a pious suggestion or activity! I merely let her speak and when she felt she was done, I merely shared with her one of my own past experiences asking her to see if there was anything that she would like to try from what I shared. Uff!

Makes my vague aspiration to equip myself with some counselling and spiritual direction skills more formidable...!

Text books

Going through the textbooks of the children, I am very much surprised at the content. It is hard to believe that these are books formulated, promulgated and endorsed by the government. The content is really really beautiful. Furthermore the method and the mode suggested therein is something very very educational. It really makes learning a great adventure and joy. There are exercises, reflective questions, activities, surplus questions for further investigation or research, different type of ways of revising the lesson, separate sections for improving writing, reading, vocabulary, grammar, general knowledge...

In short, an ideal tool for making education a joyful experience and at the same time an enriching time for life. (However, am sad to also note that all this fun is spoilt by the workbooks being supplied by the school itself! They have all the answers, to every question asked in the textbooks. They simply drain the fun out and make the students mere robots left to study the already given answers by heart! What a shame!)

Enjoying a refreshing break!

Am presently at Don Bosco School, Punganur enjoying a very refreshing break from all the formation "nightmares"! At Punganur there is a school, a boarding for boys, a Parish and large plots of fields.  However, am very much involved in doing all the good I can wherever and in whatever way I can.

Fortunately or unfortunately, there is no net connection in the house and I have to come to town to access the net. So enjoying also a break from the cyber world too!

However, my string of reflections (heartstrings), keep on growing.  I'll post them when I have a handy access to the internet. Till then, God bless!