Wednesday, October 5, 2011

TEACHER'S DAY FOOD OF THOUGHT!



The Value of Teachers
􀀁􀀁􀀁􀀁􀀁􀀁􀀁􀀁􀀢􀀁􀀵􀀦􀀢􀀤􀀩􀀦􀀳􀀴􀁳􀀤􀀳􀀦􀀦􀀥􀀁
I believe that teaching is more than a job - more than a profession It is a VOCATION.
I believe that my vocation as a teacher is of supreme importance in the training of the
human soul for an eternal destiny.
I believe that on God’s part there is nothing, accidental in the case of each student
who enters my classroom.
I believe that without daily prayer for patience, strength and the guidance of the Holy Spirit,
I cannot hope to fulfill my high calling.
I believe that a teacher must love youth and believe in the essential integrity
and sincerity of youth.
I believe that teaching is more than instruction - it is also guidance and friendship.
I believe that the person taught is of vastly more importance than the subject taught.
I believe that I should be guilty of a grave injustice were I to discriminate against a student
because of race, colour or creed.
I believe that I own the same professional interest towards students of all intellectual levels.
I believe that if I reproach a students for lack of intelligence, I shall be reproaching
the Creator who so endowed him.
I believe that favoritism in the classroom can never be tolerated or condoned.
I believe that justice to myself as a teacher and to my students demands that I make adequate
preparation for every class.
I believe that tangible proofs of gratitude from students should never be expected.
A teacher’s rewards are all in the future.
I believe that youth is extremely sensitive and can be deeply wounded by public posting of
gratitude or other indiscriminate comparisons.
I believe that firmness and patience are the most effective weapons
against the misconduct or insolence of youth.
I believe with Father Faber that . . . a small kindness is taller than the highest wrong.
I believe that penalties must be determined by charity and with regard for the
students present and future reputation.
I believe that no injury on the part of a student is beyond the forgiveness of the teacher.
I believe that loyalty to my school, to my students, and to my fellow teachers forbids
the publishing of their shortcomings except to a competent authority.
I believe that appreciation and encouragement of my students and fellow teachers
will do wonders for their morale as well as my own.
I believe that I should never cease to increase in the knowledge of my subject,
and to improve in my teaching techniques.
I believe that my students shall pass through my classes but once. If there is anything
therefore, that I can do to help them live useful lives , let me not delay it nor neglect it . . .
for they shall not pass my way again
( Agnes Immaculata SND, U. S. A. )
Values for the Yatra
Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter SEPTEMBER 2011
Values for the Yatra
Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter SEPTEMBER 2011
Diamond Value: CUT -
The Value of Discipline
The Value of Diamond increases when it is perfected by the right CUT.
Diamond cut is perhaps the most important to understand how this quality affects the properties
and values of a diamond. A good cut gives a diamond its brilliance, which is that brightness that
seems to come from the very heart of a diamond. The angles and finish of any diamond are what
determine its ability to handle light, which leads to brilliance. Cut requires careful DISCIPLINE!
A Diamond Valued Student is one who is ready to undergo the grind of Discipline. Discipline is
never the enemy of freedom. Educators play a vital role in enabling students to ‘embrace
Discipline’ as part of the growing up and learning process. "Without discipline, there's no life at all.”
quoted Katharine Hepburn, while Bertrand Russell put it plainly, “Right discipline consists, not in
external compulsion, but in the habits of mind which lead spontaneously to desirable rather than
undesirable activities.”
Most of us would stand by the old adage, ‘Spare the rod and spoil the child.’. Many of us have
been victims of an educational system that was repressive in its approach. The Cane did the trick!
Today, the approach is different, and thank God, a lot more humane in its approach. Education is
about bringing out the best in every student. Only in an environment of Caring and Personal
responsibility, will an educator be able to enable a student to embrace Discipline as a necessary
ingredient for personal maturing. Today, CARE has to do the trick! Cane days are gone forever.
Education is the result of true freedom and discipline has to foster this freedom of mind and intelligence..
When the psychological space around the students is one of fear, control, repression and
punishment then the student is forced to retrieve into a shell of self protection. The student begins
to ‘Conform to Rules’ rather than to ’Commit to the Values’ behind the rules. Educators are value
gurus; they have to provide a psychological space that is wholesome, caring, expressive and free.
Tagore poetically prayed, “Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high…”
Where there is no love, put Love
Where there is fear, put Faith
Where the head is held low in shame, put Hope
Believe that as an educator you are part of a child’s story, a story to Greatness…
and may you be always remembered as part of that great story…...Glenford Lowe
Today CARE has to do the trick! Cane days are gone forever
Values for the Yatra
Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter SEPTEMBER 2011
THE EDUCATORS’OATH
I solemnly pledge to dedicate my life to the science of teaching.
I will give to those who are or have been my teachers the respect and
gratitude which is their due.
I will practice my profession with conscience and dignity; the well-being of
my students will be my primary concern always.
I will honor the position of parents and uphold public trust.
I will maintain by all the means in my power the honor of my profession.
I will respect the privacy of students.
I will teach toward meeting the individual needs and abilities of students.
I will accept all engaged in education and regard all as my colleagues.
I will not permit considerations of religion, nationality, race, party politics,
social standing, or the monetary rewards received from my labors to
intervene between my duty and my students.
I will maintain utmost respect for human dignity and human values,
and I will hold human caring and consideration as the fundamental value in
the student-teacher relationship.


COMPETITION ? EDUCATION: FOCUS ON WHOLISTIC GROWTH?
Rank, Division, Marks, Prestige Doing the best with the gifts you have
Intelligence, appearance, social
background of student
Character of student
Getting ahead of others, no
matter the means used
Helping all to move ahead together
Studies before all else Life and how to live with character
Examination-Oriented Self-assessment & Self– evaluation
Conformity to rules and
regulations
Freedom to be creative and expressive.
Fun enhances more learning.
RESULTS IN
Parental and Social Pressures
leading to tension
Relaxed atmosphere and cooperation
from parents
Selfishness to get ahead. My
students my pride!
Community and Group
consciousness.
Materialistic Value Judgements Human Value Judgements
Child’s standing depends on his
academic performance
Child’s standing depends on who he /
she is, on personal value
FINAL PRODUCT
An insecure person dependent
on factors outside his/her
control
A secure person, who value depends
on himself/herself
A Person who will function only
when rewarded
A person who functions for a job well
done
A conformists to rules and
regulations in order to be
rewarded
A person whose first loyalty is to his/
her own values and creativity.
A human stereotype/computer A human person with integrity
Few, since here we produce
Machines
Many, since here we develop free
human beings
Building a Valueless society Creating a Value based society
RISKS TAKEN
Reflective Moments for Students
As a Student, how would you Value Discipline and its role to build Self-Discipline in you…


Values for the TEACHER


21 PERSPECTIVE STATEMENTS on DISCIPLINE as a DIAMOND VALUE A D U
1. At home, my parents have disciplined me with care and understanding.
2. Since my parents were treated badly in their childhood, they treat me the same.
3. I believe that school rules and regulations are necessary for an educative environ-
4. When it comes to breaking the rules, my teachers are partial and favour some.
5. I believe in rules only if I am ‘rewarded’ for keeping them.
6. It takes ‘corporal punishment’ for me to abide by a school rule or regulation.
7. I know the school rules and regulations and aware of the consequences, if broken.
8. I dislike any forms of discipline in school or home. I want to be free!
9. I believe that Discipline is not the enemy of freedom. Discipline helps me to grow.
10. I cannot forgive my teacher even when he/she punishes me justly.
11. My only memories of school days are times when I was punished and humiliated.
12. “Do what you want, as long as you do not get caught” is acceptable for me.
13. Great leaders are born through discipline and character. I model my life on them.
20. I believe that the discipline I receive today, forms me for greatness and maturity
21. Even if discipline hurts me today, I know its fruits in the future will be sweet!
18. I am happy with those teachers who are timid and afraid to demand from students.
19. I love my school, it does not sacrifice discipline for popularity and poor performance
16. When I make a mistake publicly, I would appreciate being corrected privately.
17. My best teachers are those who are strict and demand quality performance.
14. I appreciate parents and teachers who help me to take responsibility for my decisions
15. It is not easy to forgive those who, in the name of discipline, use corporal punishment


A LETTER TO THE TEACHER FROM THE PARENT!
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Respected Teacher,
My son will have to learn I know that all men are not just, all men are not true.
But teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero;
that for every selfish politician, there is a dedicated leader.
Teach him that for every enemy there is a friend.
It will take time, I know; but teach him, if you can,
that a dollar earned is far more valuable than five found.
Teach him to learn to lose and also to enjoy winning.
Steer him away from envy, if you can.
Teach him the secret of quite laughter. Let him learn early that the bullies are the easiest to tick.
Teach him, if you can, the wonder of books.. but also give him quiet time to ponder over the
eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun, and flowers on a green hill –side.
In school teach him it is far more honourable to fail than to cheat.
Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if every one tells him they are wrong.
Teach him to be gentle with gentle people and tough with the tough.
Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd
when every one is getting on the bandwagon.
Teach him to listen to all men but teach him also to filter all he hears on a screen of truth
and take only the good that comes through.
Teach him, if you can, how to laugh when he is sad. Teach him there is no shame in tears.
Teach him to scoff at cynics and to beware of too much sweetness.
Teach him to sell his brawn and brain to the highest bidders;
but never to put a price tag on his heart and soul.
Teach him to close his ears to a howling mob… and to stand and fight if he thinks he’s right.
Treat him gently; but do not cuddle him because only the test of fire makes fine steel.
Let him have the courage to be impatient, let him have the patience to be brave. Teach him
always to have sublime faith in himself because then he will always have sublime faith in mankind.
This is a big order; but see what you can do. He is such a fine little fellow, my son.
Values for the Yatra
Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter SEPTEMBER 2011
Educators in facilitating CHOICES
Education is not about teaching ‘Answers’ to students’ questions.
Education is more about enabling students to make RIGHT and LOVING RESPONSES
to everyday situations.
Value Education is an Education to CHOICES based on values.
Doris Day sang ‘Que Sera Sera, whatever will be will be, the future is not ours to
see, Que Sera, Sera.’…Education must be that window to the future!
Education that does not prepare our young minds and lives for the future, is no
education at all. Education is always a ‘present-based’ yet ‘future-bound’ adventure.
Tomorrow’s fruits come from the seeds we plant today.
CHOICES can be made only when one has all the alternatives in hand. If a child is
surrounded only by ‘filth’, you cannot punish the child for sitting in that filth. The
child has simply seen no better alternatives to choose from.
As Educators, we journey along with our students in the school of life. As Valuegurus,
we have an obligation to help students see the various choices in hand and
to effectively know the consequences that each choice offers.
Helping your STUDENTS to Make Good Choices at School / home
The key to helping your student make good choices at school is ‘to train him up in the way he should go and when he is
old he will not turn from it’. Ha! Don't we wish it was that easy? Even with the best upbringing students don't always
make the best choices. Shoot, adults don't always make the best choices either. So what can teachers do to tip the
scales in the student’s favor?
1. Talk Talk Talk. Even if your student goes into silent mode, keep talking with your student.
2. Lead by example. You can't expect your students to behave in a manner contrary to your own.
3. Depending on the situation, you may want to share some of your own examples of what happened when you didn't
make good choices.
4. If your student mentions that so and so was caught with drugs or misbehaved with others at a party – don't immediately
condemn or judge those people. Use their poor choices as a springboard for open dialog.
5. Make it easy for your student to be honest with you. Reinforce that no matter what, you still love him/her.
6. Remind him/her that you'll be more disappointed if he/she lies to you, rather than by some behavior he/she chose
to participate in.
7. Accept that your student may make some poor choices. Let that experience be a lessons learned for both of
you. Examine what led up to that decision.
8. Denial is not a river in Egypt. If you have blinders on, it's time to take them off. No student is perfect. Look for
warning signs.
9. Don't give your student too many liberties. Respecting one’s privacy is one thing, but you still need to be the
second parent. Once your student moves out of the school, you won't have the same authority and opportunity you
do now.
10. Give your student unconditional love. When storms come, don't waste oxygen with should haves and could
haves. There's no point in playing the "it's all my fault" card. What benefit will that pity party bring?
If your student thinks he/she needs to be perfect, examine where that thought pattern originated. Some make poor
choices because they rebel or because they don't feel they can live up to mummy's and daddy's expectations.
All you can do is your very best. You need to be able to look yourself in the mirror and know that
you've provided your child with all the tools she needs to be a happy, well balanced teenager.
Values for the Yatra
Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter SEPTEMBER 2011
Best Three in each category to reach
the AVEC Office before
26th September 2011. Winners will be
declared in the October issue.
Fr. Glenford Lowe sdb, Director of AVEC
Wishes to thank you all for your prayerful support for a
successful Renal Donor Surgery on July 26, 2011 at the
Hinduja’s Hospital..
Fr. Lloyd Rodrigues, the recipient , is also responding well.
Do continue to keep us in your prayers for a speedy recovery ..
THANK YOU and GOD BLESS YOU ALL