Dear Aman,

It must be distressing for you to lose friends and to think that the teachers and students dislike you when you so wish to be liked.

It looks like you are trying too hard to ‘create a good image in the whole school’. Not only is it unrealistic to try and make everyone like you, it also puts people off when you try too hard to impress them. When you create an image, people don’t get to see your true self. If that is the case, people will certainly find it difficult to like or to make friends with you.

On the other hand, it can be quite natural for the number of ‘friends’ to become smaller. As we grow older, our personalities develop and our values get defined. We become more aware of our own likes, dislikes and interests and we are drawn to people with whom we share common things. So, some friends may drift away, while new ones come into our lives. It is said that while we can have many ‘friends’, we can most effectively maintain a very close bond with around five ‘close or best friends’ at a time. So, focus on them.

This is the best time to find your true self and radiate it. Those who are naturally attracted to you will be drawn to you. Let others go with gratitude.

The post I am losing friends appeared first on The Teenager Today.

At the end of my lectures I am often asked questions. I restrict my answers to clarifications on the topic of my lecture. Occasionally, I clarify on topics that were not part of the lecture, but have some indirect connection. For all other questions, I give clever answers, a joke maybe, or simply agreeing with an argument disguised as a question. I see the discomfort that follows. I can see myself being judged as an evader. What many do not realise is that questions that follow lectures are often designed to evoke a combat. And, the combative questioner feels cheated, or tricked, when I do not participate in the game they have created, often unconsciously.

As a mythologist, I am asked to explain the behaviour of certain mythic characters: Why did Shiva behead Ganesha? Why did Ram abandon Sita? Why did Krishna not marry Radha? When I reply, ‘I don’t know’, I can sense the disappointment. What those asking the question fail to realise is that embedded in the question is an answer they expect, something that satisfies their own fantasies. Often, they are not propelled by curiosity. They are seeking affirmation of a conclusion they have already arrived at. You are expected to tick on the invisible multiple-choice answers they present. And when you don’t, they moan.

It becomes awkward when some people assume that I am a defender of a religious order or a particular belief system or even the defending lawyer of a god or goddess in their imagined courtroom. When you simply smile at the assumption, you can see the irritation, even rage. ‘What a cop out!’ I have heard so many times, by people so firmly entrenched in a particular paradigm of their own creation, that any attempt to show them that paradigm or provide an alternative is resisted with a vengeance.

The most embarrassing moment manifests when eager parents encourage their children to ask the most prejudiced questions and seek approval and appreciation or worse, use their children to put me in a spot, and so display their own, or their child’s, cleverness. So, a child asks, ‘So, you think primitive tribes should not be taught science?’ You see the combative spirit in the parents as they wait with bated breath for the answer, totally lost on the kid, but not lost on the audience that suddenly gets excited at the possibility of an ‘Arnab’ moment. Screaming, shouting, disagreements, and drama! Fun! What does one do then? How does one tell a cute, little child that the word ‘primitive’ is condescending and disrespectful to tribes who have lived in harmony with their ecosystem for thousands of years and the Western technocractic capitalistic model of science that fuels the aspiration of his parents has done little to help the planet’s ecosystem. People will hate you for censuring a child. Children are supposed to be adored in public forums. It is the same reason why terrorists often use children as human shields.

A good teacher never answers questions. A good teacher asks questions, not to confuse or confound, but to nudge the student to find his or her own answers, and take responsibility for what he/she discovers or invents. A good teacher presents paradigms that can facilitate the answer-finding quest. A good teacher questions the nature of the question and reveals new frontiers of thought. For the lazy, disinterested in expanding his/her own mind, a pat answer will do, especially if it makes them laugh.

The post When asked a question appeared first on The Teenager Today.

When we talk of polishing GEMS it would categorically mean the focused endeavour of committed individuals towards instilling good values, ethics, morality and spirituality. The early years are with concerted efforts to identify and minimize obstacles like insensitivity and callousness bred by circumstances and influences. As Plutarch is quoted to have said, “The very spring and root of honesty and virtue lie in good education”.

Ethics would thus seem to be the medium to seek to resolve questions dealing with human morality — concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime — and its relevance to the time and generation of today. The importance of developing Culturally Competent Individuals today in this globalized village environment is the success mantra. One cannot initiate this process in the years of formal education as the imbibing of qualities like empathy, interpersonal skills, problem solving and decision-making can be done as life skills education and training the young impressionable minds is easier. This knowledge and acceptance is a continuous process which cannot be initiated in the final years of formal education.

Schools and junior colleges can have a marked impact on students as teaching about different cultures can help students interact with people in a more cooperative spirit and respectful manner. Schools/junior colleges can continuously prod the students on by concerted efforts at role play/dramatization of stories or novels that depict culture and simulation sessions, library sessions groupwise, Skype conversations with students of different culture. Bringing about cultural sensitization through subjects like Social Sciences and Languages works wonders manifold.

During the Independence Day celebrations at our Junior College, it had to be seen to be believed that with just about 3-4 days of practice with teachers and a competitive edge the young girls of Standards XI/XII came up with such innovative concepts of depicting and dancing with patriotic fervour, an ennobling experience when one sees so much of explosive cultural lapses in this WhatsApp and internet era.

At the junior college at J. N. Tata Parsi Girls’ High School & Junior College, we have a confluence, literally of young impressionable girls coming together from different backgrounds and religions but when one witnesses the combined efforts and team spirit within days of their admission it gives a reassuring feeling that the future rests in good hands. We just have to have a focused vision for their progress and not a peripheral one involving just the curriculum aspect, not just exam information, rather building up and transmitting human values and transformation of the human personality.

An example of a curriculum that has GEMS woven through cultural awareness into all disciplines very effectively is the International Baccalaureate. Central to the International Baccalaureate programme is the philosophy of creating an understanding of both home and world cultures. The mother tongue language is mandatory and so is a foreign language. Woven into the fabric of the language programme are translated works of writers from other cultural backgrounds, which encourage students to explore social issues that arise in different countries. All disciplines are designed to explore the home country locale, history, business world, politics as well as of other countries and cultures. At the core of the programme is the IB philosophy which aims at nurturing “… active, compassionate lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.” In an age of conflict and separatism this philosophy has great value.

There should be an activity at least twice a month which revolves around important values like respect for elders, responsibility and spirit of independence. Through moral stories, clippings on notice boards, role play, recitation, skit, bhajans, drama, exhibition, recollections from Stone Age through towards the Vision for 2022, students are made to learn what is meaningful and important to become good human being. This is what would constitute meaningful and progressive education. Here, it would be apt to quote Dan Rather, “… the dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called truth.”

The spirituality is inherent and can be developed by constant exposure to stories and scriptures of all religions being read and participation in the hymn and scripture recital competitions apart from debates and regular exposure through clippings from YouTube about various religions and what they teach. We have regular sessions at our Junior College about events and participation giving platform to different students in inter-collegiate events to promote teamwork and good values. In the Gita Jayanti competitions, where religious tolerance is a focus, all our students (girls) excitedly participate in ‘shlok’ recital, Gita pathan, rangoli making, painting, dance with religious and patriotic fervour and skit on a theme with a social message because I personally believe that if the light of understanding has shone upon my little pupils’ mind then, behold, all things are changed… the future would be in safe hands.

Creativity is the struggle for improvement. Everyone forms their own estimate of themselves and that basic estimate goes far towards determining what they become. You can be more than what you believe you are. All belief helps to make your belief come true. Belief stimulates the power within. (Norman Vincent Peale: Stay Alive All Your Life)
Then it goes without saying that we have to instill that confidence and the urge in our youngsters to believe in themselves and the goodness and positivity that comes from good thoughts, good words, good deeds; the three basic tenets which are the foundation of Zoroastrianism. Readers are Leaders and the students today have to be apprised of the fact that by reading books from different genres is the only way to sensitizing oneself and an in-depth knowledge can then be stored in the mind’s eye for recollection and quote as an occasion arises, at an opportune moment. What goes about comes around. Being spiritual does not mean renouncing the materialistic world and doing penance. It means living a life well. Knowledge is power and that one can go from darkness to light through education which helps to enlighten the mind. One may feel morally alive and ethically bankrupt if the realm of in-depth study is found bereft and devoid of good values. The imagination of the youngsters needs to be polished and good values, ethics, morals and spirituality awakened.

On a concluding note I would say enough of debate on the what and how of education and the Do’s and Don’ts for educators en masse. What is actually the need of the hour is to let the educators speak about how each has utilized the platform given to them by way of their position and share their success stories because I was inspired to read what Alexander the Great had been quoted as saying, “I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well” — a truly Polished GEMS example. Let us determine to polish GEMS with our share of effort without expecting results and awards.

The post Polishing gems appeared first on The Teenager Today.

Madam Grace Pinto is the Managing Director of Ryan International Group of Institutions, the largest singly owned network of K-12 institutions spread across over 15 states and 40 cities of India. Her determination and commitment in pursuing the vision of “Excellence in Education and All Round Development” makes her a stalwart in the field of education in India. She is an ardent supporter of various social causes such as environmental conservation and girl child education. Her contribution to education and social causes has been recognized with national and international honours.

PEARL D’SOUZA had an exclusive chat with Madam Grace Pinto for THE TEENAGER TODAY.

PD: The Ryan Group is credited with being the pioneer in providing all-round exposure to their students and valuable life skills training. What is the guiding ethos for the Ryan Group?
GP: We as a group draw our strength from Christ Jesus and attribute our journey this far to His glory. The organizational vision and our anchorage in Christ compels us to make a continuous effort to make a worthwhile contribution to the lives of thousands of children and staff across the nation. We believe that it is God’s grace and His divine direction coupled with inspiration and relentless hard work that has brought us this far and we recognize we have miles to go to make an impact on generations to come.

PD: You set up the first school in 1976 in Mumbai with merely 35 children and 1 teacher. Today, you cater to over 2 lakh students through over 130 schools. Where does this tremendous passion and drive come from?
GP: Establishing India’s premier education brand and matching it with global standards was no easy task. It involved a vision that has taken the Ryan family from its fledgling beginnings to soar like an eagle. We remain rooted and grounded in Christ who continues to empower and enable us to provide value-based holistic education and develop socially responsible and humane leaders.

PD: You have always encouraged your students to give and reach out. Why is this an important value? How satisfied are you about this value being imbibed in students today?
GP: Teaching the value of ‘giving’ to children is crucial and important in a world where they are constantly bombarded with the concepts of ‘want’ and ‘greed’ being regarded the norm. Our students need to learn to value the blessings they possess in material things and possessions, but more importantly family and friends who challenge them to be better people. We want our children to learn their social responsibility and become agents of significant constructive change in society bringing God’s love to those in genuine need. Over the years we have seen our students grow as responsible adults who continue to contribute to make the world a better place.

PD: How has Ryan International sought to inculcate this value in their students?
GP: The Ryan International Group has in place purposeful activities aimed at the welfare of society. Our schools undertake various projects based on the parameters of environment, education, healthcare, economic empowerment and local community leadership to transform society. Our students are encouraged to support orphanages, societies for the blind, adopt small villages, educate less privileged children and help homes for the elderly in different parts of the country. Recently, through the Ryan Schools’ Food Bucket Challenge initiative, our students successfully collected over 550,000 kilos of food items and distributed it to over 200 NGOs in India.

Read the full article by subscribing to the print or digital editions of THE TEENAGER TODAY.

The post “Be willing learners of life itself”: Madam Grace Pinto appeared first on The Teenager Today.

Dear Kriya, I believe you went to a dance class because you wanted to learn to dance, but soon you forgot about dancing and rather concentrated on the dance teacher! From making him your “friend” you ended up falling “in love with him”. At the age of 16 you are not yet in control of your emotions and feelings and got infatuated with him. Fortunately, that man did not take you seriously and did not take advantage of you. The best thing you can do now is to leave the dance class in order to put an end to this hopeless situation. I am sure that your dance teacher will be happy if you do that.

The post I’m in love with my dance teacher appeared first on The Teenager Today.

In the past, India’s education system took her way ahead of other nations in art, science and literature. But of late, we have lost the edge by our reluctance to adopt new and improved methods of imparting education. Today, new demands at the workplace require persons with multi-faceted abilities to handle knotty situations efficiently. But unfortunately our present education systems do not prepare people to meet these emerging requirements. If at all we excel in some fields, it is because we still have teachers who are visionaries, who think out of the box. Such an approach has always been fruit-bearing because when knowledge is gained in a comprehensive manner it produces optimum results. We have the best example of this in late Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, for whom the source of inspiration was none other than his own teachers in his early school days.

In the book Reignited: Scientific Pathways To A Brighter Future, co-authored by Dr Kalam and Srijan Pal Singh, Dr Kalam reveals the most important event of his life. He says, “My science teacher Sivasubramania Iyer was discussing in our class ‘how birds fly’. He did so with the help of a bird’s sketch with a tail, wings and head and explained how a bird flew. The same day he took us to the Rameswaram seashore where we saw dozens of seabirds flying. My teacher said, ‘Look how the birds are flapping their wings, now see how they change direction using their wings and tail. What is the locomotive force behind this flight — it is the life energy of the bird’.”

Dr Kalam tells us that that one single lecture transformed his life and led him to make a profession out of his passion: rocket engineering and space flight. The rest is history!

Now that was the kind of impact a teacher could make in the life of a student.

The progress of any nation depends on the system of education adopted by it to guide the future generation. India, even though it has one of the largest chains of educational institutes in the world, yet has failed to modernize the education system. Though we have the technology and the know-how which can help us take learning to the farthest and remotest parts of country through e-learning and m-learning, we prefer to sit idly on an unexplored gold mine, simply because we refuse to leave our comfort zones.

Thanks to the hard work of our dedicated, visionary and noble teachers who continue to make a difference in the lives of young minds, India has produced some innovative minds and nurtured exceptional talents who have excelled in different fields of science and technology. THE TEENAGER TODAY salutes all those noble souls who play a great role in forming, nurturing, challenging and inspiring young minds and hearts. HAPPY TEACHER’S DAY!

The post Shri Guruve Namah appeared first on The Teenager Today.