14. Thus we ’nurture’ them!

When ‘Models of Teaching’ was introduced in the BEd Curriculum of Calicut University Teacher Educators were on the look out for illustrative examples, particularly for explaining ‘Nurturant’ effect.

One of the best examples I came across was given by a Clinical Psychologist- cum- Teacher Educator. He narrated the following ‘very short’ story that appeared in a Malayalam daily:

The car screeched to a halt near the gate. The glass lowered and the mistress of the house spoke to the servant:
‘Has sonny woken up?...Give him the medicine kept on the table .. Put him to sleep…’
Years later… from the US, a telegram arrives:
“Let Mum’s funeral ceremony be as grand as grand can be . Don’t forget to send me the video”!

The son’s success in getting a job in the US and his conduct on the occasion of the funeral is an example of ‘Nurturant effect’!

Don’t you think this is a typical example….?

13. Improving reading habits of school children

The apparent casuality of a large-scale media explosion, particularly in India seems to be the reading habits of students . How can we over come them ?

* In addition to instructional sessions on motivating students to read we should :
•Help learners improve their concentration.
•Conduct awareness generation sessions on methods of reading.
•Develop a culture of reading as a good past time in campuses.
•Provide incentives for those who read at least a book a week.
•Identify the impact of environment on reading habits and take appropriate steps.
•Acquaint with the family background of the students to render extra help to
students hailing from illiterate families.

Would you, dear reader, like to add anything to the list?

12. And now....S Q

And now …Spiritual Intelligence (SQ)!!!

It is defined as the growth of human being by moving in life through a direction and purpose, being able to heal the resentment and by considering oneself as an expression of higher reality.

The signs of high SQ are :

* Flexibility
* Self-awareness
* Ability to face and use suffering
* An ability to work against convention
* A tendency to prove and ask fundamental questions
* Desire and capacity to cause as little harm as possible
* Ability to see connections between diverse things (Think holistically)

11. Life and Learning

Christmas or Diwali, an earthquake or tsunami, a birth or death in the family / community , an accident or a social problem are all fine learning points which children can observe and learn from…. Teachers can tap the inner responses of pupils to these in the classroom and deal in turn with their joy, sorrow , fear and anxieties … THEN & ONLY THEN does learning become part of LIFE !!!

10. The Spirit of Life Skills

The other day I had delivered a lecture on Life Skills to a group of newly recruited college teachers. I dealt with several life skills they require to succeed as a Lecturer!
But I wonder, how far I have succeeded in driving home something which I felt deeply about Life:

“ It is extremely difficult to wean our mind away from the attractions of wealth, material enjoyment, self esteem and fame. But by constant endeavour, determination and developing dispassion it becomes possible to discipline our mind to avoid the pitfalls of such lures. A contented man is internally poised and will be able to achieve great results….”

-Something I read in Bhavan’s Journal years ago

9. Views on Teacher Training

Justifying the need for restructuring the BEd. Curriculum in 2005, the Dean of the Faculty of Education of the University of Calicut observed: “Teacher entering the world of education needs to appreciate the complexities of teaching. Developing successfully as a teacher requires acknowledgement and appreciation of all the policies and issues in education in addition to the practical skills and personal direction…”

Around the same time Ahalya Chari in Wake Up India Oct-Dec 2005, wrote

“Teacher education is first and foremost a human activity, a religious commitment, meaning by ‘religion’ not a dogma but a sensitivity to life, to its interconnectedness and to the sacred. We need hearts and not heads in our schools today.”

Any comments???

8. Freedom for Children!

Many teachers dread the very idea … for, children might misuse it…

But suppose they are made to see it as a space for expressing him/herself

without fear,… asking questions,… sharing problems and,… trying to be

treated as an accepted member of the community…

wouldn’t that be worth giving?

Well… what do you think?