Cover Story - Marching towards the impossible

MENTOR profiles a school of limitless possibilities, a house of ‘Virtue and Labour’, a sanctuary of learning and knowledge, a school that is striving for the unreachable as supported by the thoughts and vision of Brother. George K.J., the Principal of Montfort School…..

A residential institution with a glorious history dating back to 1st June 1917, Montfort Anglo-Indian Higher Secondary School has chronicles of achievements over decades. A legendary school, an insight into which gleams through the history of ideas, vision and hard work of its pioneers weaves gradually into a cyclic poem penned through decades by the Brothers, Staff and Students of Montfort School.

We are concerned - THE CHARM AND THE CHALLENGE

“The goal of education is to help change the world, to make it less oppressive, less unequal and build greater equity and justice and better and wider access to all facets of life.”
“Inclusion is an everyday practice. It is about each individual, respecting each child, being empathetic, involving parents and teachers, and not just about placing students with disability in the classroom.”

These few excerpts from the poem ‘Children learn what they live’ holds true when we speak about moving towards inclusive education. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (2001), children and adolescents constitute 40 to 44% of the Indian population, while 12.8 % of these suffer from disorders in behaviour, learning and development. Children have rights to survival, protection from diseases and development of self, education, participation and expression of a holistic life. In spite of these fundamental rights, disabled children, those with learning disabilities, autism, mental retardation, illnesses, AIDS, poverty, malnourishment, aggression and social and emotional difficulties face the risk of exclusion from the education system at any point of time.

2nd October is not only a time for us to introspect and gain a new zeal to fulfill Gandhiji’s dear agenda for the emancipation of the downtrodden and ensure social justice to the vulnerable and weaker sections of the society but also a time for us to make our lives meaningful. Dr. N.N. PRAHALLADA from the Regional Institute of Education pens his thoughts on Gandhian values to MENTOR…

On Gandhi Jayanti we should ask ourselves to what extent we fare following Gandhian values in our day-to-day life. The present crisis is no less serious than that of a war. The acts of violence and indiscipline have stunned the nation. The burning and looting of shops, social injustice forced upon humanity and the likes have caused the deepest damage to the innocent and poorer sections of the community. There is a growing shortage of basic necessities of life. The act of terrorism is on increase, serial blasts in Bangalore, Gujarat and in Pune and New Delhi indicates violence is gaining momentum. Positive steps and strict action needs to be taken to quell terrorism from the country. Here I quote Gandhi – “I cannot teach you violence, as I do not myself believe in it. I can only teach you not to bow your heads before any one even at the cost of your life”.

Priya R Pillai works as a librarian in Bombay Teachers Training College, Colaba and is rather strong in her thoughts on the importance of library in an academic institution. MENTOR features this piece on the successful functioning of a library in a school coupled with the importance of a librarian in a School…

“The school library functions as a vital instrument in the educational process, not as a separate entity isolated from the total school programme but involved in the teaching and learning process.” (IASL: International Association of School Librarianship)

“The school library provides information and ideas that are fundamental to successful functioning in our increasingly information and knowledge-based present day society. The school library equips students with lifelong learning skills and develops their imagination, thereby enabling them to live as responsible citizens” – reads the mission statement in IFLA UNESCO Manifesto. It is clear from both these quotes that a library should have these facilities for its students, teachers and other supporting staff.