Give me some sunshine !

This year Amir Khan featured in a wonderful movie ‘ 3 idiots’. People of all age group enjoyed it and it became a super-duper hit film. The movie gives a meaningful message and rightly comments on the weaknesses of the present education system. Some incidences in the movie show that learning and understanding is much more important than simply joining the rat-race and gaining degrees. Teachers expect students to learn and write stereotype answers, than creative writing and thereby snub the child’s creativity and imagination. There is very little scope to check the child’s actual understanding of the concept. He may have many degrees but when it comes to real life problems the so called meritorious child fails to apply his knowledge. So it has to be application oriented teaching and learning then and then only the child will learn something in the real sense of learning. Child will be able to face the difficulties that come across his way, because the child will have that ability & capacity to accept those challenges than giving it up. The film also forced us to see and understand the pressure, tension put upon these small blooming buds given by their parents, relatives, teachers, peer group, society etc. The percentage of suicides in school and college students is more in Maharashtra than in any other state. These all were the victims of unbearable tension, put on them at such a tender age of playing and having fun. That too in a state where the seeds of education were sown by social reformers like Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Savitribai Phule, Dhondo Keshav Karve etc. What dreams they must have seen and what is the present situation in 2010 ? It’s really pathetic to see all such unwanted happenings in our so called educated , cultured society. It’s really a high time for all of us to give a thought on this and extend a hand of help to those kids who really need our help to stand, to walk on the path they choose. Let us give them the required freedom and make them understand their responsibilities, and then see them progressing by shouldering these responsibilities given. Children and college going students have tremendous energy. If they get proper guidance at the time they need, they will really come out with wonders & make us feel proud about them. It is for us teachers & parents to think about them and not to burden them with our expectations. No doubt we have our own dreams but ultimately it is the child’s capacity and his willingness which are more important than any other aspect. Let us be the supporters than the hurdles in their way, their dreams.
We are living in the modern age of IT. We will be fulfilling the dream of our Ex-President Dr. Abdul Kalam to see India as Super Power in 2020. It is so paradoxical to see that when we are trying to be the most developed country in the world, at the same time our young generation is becoming weak psychologically. Why it so happens ? Why can’t they digest a simple failure? Why do they not have enough patience to bear little pain, to accept few denials, to digest some ‘no’s, to face the difficulties? Are we elders not responsible for this? Henceforth at least we have to make them emotionally strong so that they will not shake when they see problems. Let them learn to take their decisions, let them enjoy each colour of life and make a colourful sketch for themselves. Let us not forget that they have their own likes and dislikes. Children definitely learn from their mistakes and become matured. They are smart, wise, what they need is the family support. If they get it, they will never think of adopting unwanted means to achieve their target or ending their lives abruptly leaving behind their relatives in deep sorrow.
Children, learn to see the positive side of each happening in your life. Black clouds do come but we have to see the silver lining around them. Remember, the sun is going to shine again!

Manjiri Ranade
HOD - Dept. of English

Turning Point

5th March 2010 was Rangpanchami – the colour holi. It was a holiday for students but we all teachers were in school, making arrangements of next day's smartclass demo and we got a pleasant surprise. An International fame cartoonist Mr. Mangesh Tendulkar was entering in our school with his wife Mrs. Snehalata Tendulkar. As there were no students in the school, we teachers got an opportunity to spend time & to interact with Mr. Tendulkar. He took everyone to the memory lane and narrated many incidences of his life. He gave some valuable tips to the teachers to strengthen student – teacher relations. The Engineering College incidence was a humorous explosion while the turning point incidence of his life had an emotional edge.
In his opinion parents are hardly spending quality time with their children. It has created loneliness amongst them. If teachers fill this vacuum, children will be more attached to the teachers. Teachers can grab the attention of a child, if they use innovative methods of teaching. Better to avoid age-old boring methods. If student like a particular teacher or hate a particular teacher, he likes or hates the particular subject that teacher handles. Teenagers are creating different sort of problems, so teacher should carefully handle such cases instead of making them more complicated. He said ‘even I used to hate drawing during my school days'.

Mr. Tendulkar shared some of his memories about his own teachers. In his view, we should remember the greatness of our ancestors who invented great things and discovered new lands for us. They did not expect anything in return. Based on their inventions, today our lives have become luxurious. Be it Newton’s laws or Pythagoras theorem, we have to make understand the child the pains these scientists, artists, authors, poets have taken for our civilization.
‘ Teachers will gain respect from children only if they showcase their intelligence & knowledge infront of the students. Kids are becoming more and more intelligent now a days and learning so many things. So many times it becomes a race of intelligence between a student and a teacher. If teachers use intelligence and overtake the student intelligently, only then students will surrender before teachers’ he said.

He advised teachers to gain respect through hardwork , dedication. In this way teachers can create wonders. Two golden words of teachers are more powerful than any other giant forces in the world. He also said ‘teachers are more valuable than any other person in the society. Engineers construct buildings but teachers are the nation builders as they build future citizens.’
Child must understand why he should learn ? What is the importance of education ? Teacher will have to make him realize that the education is the only means through which one can achieve his goal. Education is not just to get success in materialistic world but it helps in our inner growth.
Finally during our interaction I couldn’t resist myself and asked him, ‘ If you hated drawing in your school days, what was the turning point in your life so that you became the world renowned cartoonist ?’ The reply was emotional ----

‘ Throughout my school days I never passed drawing examination. Normally children like to draw cartoons, scenery. I used to hate that object drawing with a bucket, pot, jug and so many such things. Next day there was drawing exam but we didn’t have money to buy a drawing book. My mother collected loose pages, tied with thread and made a book for me. This book was very much precious for me. I drew a clean and neat picture in it and went to my drawing master to show the picture. For him It was hard to believe that it was my drawing. In disbelief my teacher threw this book out of window. I kept my cool, descended down the spiral staircase slowly. It was a rainy season. My book was fallen into a muddy pond. I was in tears. That moment I felt as if my mother is fallen into that puddle. Hurriedly I picked up the drawing book and wiped it with my shirt. I came back slowly with a strong determination that one day I will attain mastery in drawing. I worked hard, untiringly…….. That was the turning point of my life’
Surely we learned so many lessons from the cartoonist who is praised even by our Prime Minister.

Manjiri Ranade
HOD - Dept. of English

Creative Gallery

The idea of Dnayn Prabodhan was floated in 1997. Since that time the focus of the management and teachers was on all round developemnt of children. School has always given a lot of importance to the sports, drawing-craft, music , adventure and many such activities. Even in the ICSE pattern, the Council gives wide scope to these subjects . For these extracurricular subjects we have well set departments.

Every year we organise the inter schoool events like Children Festival, mission Champion and other plenty of interhouse events. In such events we display the drawings & craft items prepared by students round the year. Every year students exhibition cum sale of these items and the income generated through this goes to some social cause. Children get to know the production, sale, event management and finally they get the satisfaction of doing their bit for the society. Our drawing teachers Mr. Shivprasad Yardi is guiding these children all these years. This theme drawing is drawn by Shubham Chandak, for the cause of Global Warming.
We have the plans of setting up a permanent Creative Gallery where students, teachers, parents can display their creations. We assure you to present this gallery soon to the people of Belgaum. Hope to get you soon on this Gallery !

Vijay Rawoot
ADMINISTRATOR

Emotional Passing Out

School life of 12 years. Obviously it becomes their second home. Playing on the football turf for years, climbing the Rock climbing wall during summer camps, attending morning assembly, classroom fights, comments and studies everything is going to end from tomorrow. Just till one day before the function I was bit confused about the behaviour of these students. I started thinking that these guys are loosing respect for their teachers, misbehaving in the bus, becoming aggressive and so on... I was convincing myself that the generation has changed !

But on the passing out day I got to see entirely different picture. Body language of the students was changed. On the first drum beat, the entire environment filled with emotions. Whether it was Principal Mrs. Jyoti Patil's speech or the Chief Guest address by Ms. Pooja Bajaj, all passing out students were listening patiently. I found that the oath taking was not just a formality. Students were serious.
After the National Anthem, slow march began. When they were passing out, the hall was totally silent. Just the choir was audible --- Now is the hour . 23 students of SSLC 2009-10 batch were descending down the steps for the last time in their school life. Assembled parents were in tears though their child was turning into an young man or women. Teachers were standing still as their yet another creation was going out of the school.
Then it was a photo session on the turf football ground and I regained the faith in this generation yet again. I saw these same naughty fellows touching the feet of their teachers. I saw their restlessness to take snaps with the everyone. They wanted to store the memories of the school permanently in the digital format. The idol of Radha-Krishna they presented to the school. From their behaviour the Indian sanskars were clearly visible. To get them on the track, personally most of the time I was very harsh to them. I wanted to keep myself away but suddenly two students came to my office on the ground floor and they forced me to come to the hall to cut a cake. Normally I stay away from all such social affairs but I could not refuse this time. I don't know why?
It was so nice to see that the generation has not changed !

Vijay Rawoot
ADMINISTRATOR

From Classroom to Smartclass

Hi ! Dnyan Prabodhan Mandir - is a school in Belgaum running as per ICSE pattern. We have great faith in the theory that, Nation comes always first. Long back in 1997, when the Management under the Chairmanship of Mr. Kiran Thakur started Dnyan Prabodhan , it was decided to blend Indian Culture and the Modern Technology. All these years walking on these line, our school has produced good handsome young men & women, who are the asset to our society.

When we talk about Dr. Kalam's Vision 2020, we have to remember one thing that, while keeping our values intact, we have to chase a bigger goal. One thing is clear that the tool required to attain this aim is nothing but technology.

The Management of Dynan Prabodhan Mandir has gifted such a great technology to it's teachers & the students to make teaching and learning more colourful and enjoyable.

We are immensely happy to announce that the Secretary of Tarun Bharat Trust Mr. Jagadish Kunte has signed up a contract with the Educomp Solutions Ltd. Its an Internationally acclaimed company that develops educational software. It has a highest data base of 32000 modules. Under this tie-up we are going to convert our all classrooms into smarclasses. Every classroom will be equipped with the latest daylight monitor , a computer and a smart board with the light pen sensor. All the modules will be stored in a server. Teachers of various classes will go to the server rooms before the lessons and select the related audio - visual graphics . As the teacher starts a lesson in the class, information selected in the server will appear on the smart board of her class. Teachers can control the modules in the manner she wants. Because of the audio-visual effects and colourful animations, students enjoy learning & because of the application oriented approach concepts get cleared.

Now-a-days we are busy in demonstrating the smartclass concept to the people of Belgaum.

All are invited !

Vijay Rawoot

ADMINISTRATOR