I follow educational news from across the country very closely to understand the ground reality, But I often wonder if it really is, the ground reality. In the past, I have read several articles about a child collapsing and dying due to the negligence of the school authorities, a child loosing his eyesight due to a punishment, a principal running away from the police to avoid arrest. It really hurts me when I read something like that. Not just because of what happenned, but the manner in which the media highlights the illnesses in the schooling system. My big complaint against mainstream media is the amount of television prime time and newsprint that is devoted to highlight these incidents. Why don't they devote a fraction of that to highlight the good that schools are doing? I promise you that, for very one teacher or principal who is in a bad light by the media, I know of a few thousands principals and teachers who have dedicated their entire life for the sake of education. But that is the way of the world, and that is our modern media for you.

Mentor firmly believes there is a lot of good that is happenning out there in the schools, which need to be reinforced. We are earnestly striving to bring in focus, the people, the work, the efforts, the passion and the energies that are fuelling the educational system in our country. This, we believe will be a much needed positive stroke taht will encourage more good in the future.

It's New Year time for new resolutions. I for one, made a resolution in the beginning of this year taht I would start writing. I am quite pleased with myself, that I have made some progress in this direction. I am sure a lot of you have given up on the habit of making a New Year resolution. Especially for you, I want to sign off with a lovely prayer that inspired me to make and keep resolutions. Have a wonderful new year 2008!

God we be granded
The serenity, to accept the things we cannot change
The courage, to change the things we can
And the wisdom, to know the difference!