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Inside this issue: Oct 09
Give Non Violence
a Chance1
Celebrate a Clean
& Safe Diwali2
Be a Smart
Study Student3
Teacher as a
Channel of Care 4
News: Value Edu-
cation Teachers5
Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter October 2009
ValuesValuesValuesfor thefor thefor the YatraYatraYatra
Creating Non Violent School Zone
GIVE NON-VIOLENCE A CHANCENon violence is a powerful and just weapon which cuts without wounding
and ennobles the man who wields it. It is a sword that heals. There is nolonger a choice between violence and non violence- there is only a choice
between non violence and non existence.Martin Luther King, Jr.
On the value of non-violence there is no definitive word for it. The concept has been praised byall major religions, yet while every language has a word for violence, no word expresses the ideaof non-violence except to describing it by what it isn't: not violence. But when non-violencebecomes a reality, it is a powerful force.
Violence, anywhere, in any form, is reprehensible-especially at home and in the workplacebecause this means we are committing violence against people we are expected to love, honorand respect. If we do not hesitate to violate the people we are closest to, why would we hesitateto harm those we don't know? Salvation lies in changing the self before we attempt to change thesociety. To quote the Father of the Nation We must be the change we wish to see."
Modern society is plagued by violence-at home, at work, in the streets, in schools. In fact, anywhere there is an assembly of more than two people there is, unfortunately, the distinct likelihoodof violence breaking out. So much violence is an indication of our deteriorating human relationships, as well as the stress under which we live and work.
2nd October - the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi has been declared as 'International Dayof Non-Violence'! This is in recognition of his major role in promoting peace and non-violencearound the world. Non-violence in its dynamic condition means conscious suffering. It does nomean meek submission to the will of the evil-doer, but it means the pitting of one's whole shouldagainst the will of the tyrant. Non violence has the potential to empower citizens, thwart coupsoverthrow dictators and defend nations.
Everyone knows the central ontological question: Why is there being, being rather than noth-ing? But there is another central philosophical question which the human race has been unableto answer: Why is there violence, violence rather than non-violence?
When once asked if non-violent resistance was a form of direct action, Gandhi replied: ...It isthe only form. He said it was the greatest force...more positive than electricity, and morepowerful than even ether. Gandhi believed non-violence could be put into practice at every leveof human experience. Nonviolence for him was not just a political tactic but spirituality and a wayof life.
We are living today in an era where social, cultural and political spheres are void of spiritualityBut Gandhis non-violence still offers us an ideal that may uphold. Gandhi remains the propheticvoice of the 21st century and his non-violence urges us to continue struggling on behalf of whawe view as right and just. It is revealing that in a world where there are calamities such asterrorism, poverty, illiteracy and fanaticism, history can still be made out of choices. The choice onon-violence is ours.
Only a non-violent society can work its way up to creating the institutions ripe for developmentand lead to inter-cultural and inter-religious harmony. The time has come for humanity to renewits commitment, politically, economically, and culturally,tothewisdomofnon-violence.Values for the Yatra invites its readers to make non violence a reality today. It calls us to renew oucommitment and make non violence that powerful force that Gandhi and Mandela wanted it to
be. However, this change has to come from with each of our beingswhich cannot be learnt by staying at home or without humility.
Gandhi said, There is no hope for the aching world exceptthrough the narrow and straight path of non-violence. If we wantto reap the harvest of coexistence in the future, we will have tosow seeds of non-violence. Sixty years after Gandhis death, we
face a choice.
Mrs. Jyoti Shetti introducing
the film God lives in the
Himalayas
Fr. Ian Doulton, SDB
addressing the Value Educa-
tion Teachers
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ValuesValuesValuesfor thefor thefor the YatraYatraYatraArchdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter October 2009
CELEBRATE AN ECO-FRIENDLY DIWALIDiwali is known as the 'festival of lights'. Diyas (clay lamps) are lit tochase away the darkness of ignorance and welcome the bright lightof enlightenment. However, in our zest to celebrate this festival,there is a tendency to go overboard. Carelessness during Di-
wali celebrations can have a detrimental effect on the environmentand endanger your own safety. The environmental and health haz-ards caused due to present form of Diwali celebration doesnt meansto stop celebrating the festival. But definitely the way of celebratingthis auspicious festival can be changed. Listed below are few environmentfriendly tips to celebrate Diwali 2009.
Instead of individual celebration prefer community celebration. With theincreasing trend of gated community all the families of the community cancelebrate Diwali in the common space. This will ensure reduced cost of celebration;paper pollution in a limited space and as compared to individual celebration, com-munity celebration will cause less air and noise pollution.
Even while celebrating commonly make sure that you limit your celebration fora limited period of time. Your celebration can last for maximum 3 to 4 hours.
Before selecting the place for common community celebration make sure that itis far away from hospitals. Instead of selecting crowded areas it is better to opt foran open ground.
Instead of selecting traditional chemical crackers this Diwali go for eco-friendly
crackers. Eco-friendly crackers are made up of recycled paper and the soundproduced by these crackers is under the decibel limit defined by the PollutionBoard. These crackers produce paper fluffers and different color lights instead ofsound on bursting.
Instead of electric illumination go for traditional lightening of earthen lamps ordiyas. This will not only enhance the beauty of your house but will also cut downthe enormous electric consumption. Though earthen lamps need oil but the quan-tity is less and it gives light for at least 3-4 hours.
Cut down your shopping list and avoid purchasing unwanted and unnecessarythings this Diwali. Excess consumerism is directly related to the consumption ofraw material used to manufacture those things. Excessive consumerism increasesthe undue pressure on the natural resources.
Instead of buying one-time use items go for recyclable things. Secondly while
cleaning your home for Diwali instead of disposing things it is better to give it tounder-privilege people.
Celebrate Diwali 2009 with a different meaning. You can celebrate this Diwali withpoor and under-privilege children. Share your Diwali crackers, sweets and happi-ness with poor children.
Celebrating Diwali does not mean completely giving up the things you love. How-ever, it is time to go back to the traditional Diwali celebrations of thepast. Not only will you be helping to save the environment but also
you will understand better the true meaning of Diwali.
http://www.indiaparenting.com/indianculture/festivals/diwali/diwali003.shtmlhttp://www.indiaparenting.com/indianculture/festivals/diwali/diwali003.shtml8/9/2019 Values for the Yatra Oct 09
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ValuesValuesValuesfor thefor thefor the YatraYatraYatraArchdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter October 2009
Smart Goals areS = SpecificM =Measurable
A = Achievable
R = Realistic
T = Time bound
First Things First
Schedule your prioritiesand
Prioritize your schedule
Believe that you can!!!
Be positive in yourapproach to Study
Focus of KEYwords/ Dates
Mind mappingsaves time andhelps in revision
Develop supermemory throughassociation
Know your formulaeand principles BUTknow how to applythem correctly
Exam is a journeyyou need to preparefor it!!!!!
Exams are to find outHOW much you know,NOT how much youdont know.. All the BEST in your Exams.
SMART STUDENTS use the following strategy and make it a winning formula . Try these 9 points ...
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20PointstoCareAbouttheAdolescentStudent1. Avoid discouragement because the feelings of inferiority which all humans
experienceinoneformoranother,mustbeovercomeifwearetofunctionwell.
2.Workforimprovement,notperfection.
3.Commendeffort.Oneseffortismoresignificantthanonesresults.
4.Separatethedeedfromthedoer.Onemayrejecttheyoungstersactionwithoutrejectingtheperson.
5.Buildonstrengths,notonweakness.Amisbehavingyouthhasthepowertodefeattheadult.Givetheyoungster
thecredithe/shedeserves.
6.Showyourfaithintheyoungster.Thismustbesincere,soonemustfirstlearntotrusthim/her.
7.Mistakes
should
not
be
viewed
as
failures.
We
need
to
take
away
the
stigma
of
failure.
Failure
usually
indicates
lackofskill.Onesworthisnotdependentonsuccess.
8.Failureanddefeatwillonlystimulatespecialeffortwhenthereremainsthehopeofeventualsuccess.Theydo
notstimulateadeeplydiscouragedchildwhohaslostallhopeofsucceeding.
9.Stimulateandleadtheyoung,butdonottrytopushahead.Lettheyoungstermoveatonesownspeed.
10.Remember thatgenuinehappiness comes from selfsufficiency:Youngpeopleneed to learn to take careof
themselves.
11.integrate theyoungster into thegroup.Treating theyoungsteras something special increaseshis/herover
ambition.Anoverambitiousyoungsterwhocannotsucceedusuallyswitchestotheuselesssideoflifewiththe
privatelogic:IfIcantbebest,Illatleastbetheworst.Evenmoreserious,he/shemaygiveupaltogether.
12.Stimulating
too
much
competition
usually
does
not
encourage
much.
Those
who
see
ahope
of
winning
may
put
forthextraeffort,butthestressisonwinningratherthanoncooperationandcontribution.Thelesscompeti
tiveoneis,thebetteroneisabletowithstandcompetition.
13.Praise isnotthesameasencouragement.Praisemayhaveanencouragingeffectonsomeyouth,but itoften
discouragesandcausesanxietyandfear.Somecometodependonpraiseandwillperformonlyforrecognition
ineverincreasingamounts.Successaccompaniedbyspecialpraise fortheresultmaymaketheyoung fearI
canneverdoitagain!
14.Success isbyproduct.Preoccupationwiththeobligationtosucceed is intimidatingandtheresulting fearand
anxietyoftencontributeto failure. Ifone functionwiththeemphasisonwhatcontributiononemaymakeor
howonemaycooperatewithothers,successusuallyresults.
15.Helptheyoungsterdevelopthecouragetobeimperfect.Weshouldlearnfromourmistakesandtakethemin
ourstride.
16.Dontgiveresponsibilityandsignificanceonlytothosewhoarealreadyresponsible.Givingopportunitiestobe
responsibletoanyoungsterwhoisdiscouragedmaymakeitworthwhileforhim/hertocooperate.
17.Solicitthehelpofothermembersofthegrouptohelpadiscouragedyoungsterfindhis/herplaceinusefulways.
18. Remember that discouragement is contagious. A discouraged youth tends to discourage his/her
teacher/leader.
19.Avoidtryingtomendonesownthreatenedegobydiscouragingothersorbylookingdownonthem.
20.Overcomeyourownpessimismanddevelopanoptimisticapproachtolife.Optimismiscontagious it
notonly encouragesyoubutthosearoundyou. PRAYFORYOURSTUDENTS.Itisthebiggestsecretto
buildingacaringattitudetowardsthem.
ValuesValuesValuesfor thefor thefor the YatraYatraYatraArchdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter October 2009
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PAVING THE VALUED PATHNatasha Almeida
September 15- 16, 2009, marked a major event for the Archdiocesan Value
Education Centre (AVEC), headed by Fr. Glenford Lowe, as 88 teachers from
51 ABE schools of Mumbai attended the Value Education Seminar 2009, held
at Don Bosco Youth Services, Matunga.
Preparations for the seminar began during the early weeks of August. The fi
day saw a total number of 41 teachers from Central Suburbs, Borivli, Andh
and Bandra deaneries. Whilst 47 teachers from North Mumbai, South Mumb
and Kurla deaneries attended the seminar on the second day. By way of t
seminar AVEC aimed to motivate schools through the teachers to become mo
Educational Living Environments of which values must be seen to lie not on
at the heart of the educational content, the what of education, but also at t
heart of the educational process, the how, the way in which education is conducted.
Over two days the value education teachers enjoyed sessions by Fr. Ian Doulton and Fr. Glenford Low
Both the days saw Fr. Boniface D'Souza deliver the welcome address. Fr. Ian in
his session dealt with the Approach, Focus, Method and Goal of Moral Science,
Community Living and Value Education. He mentioned the importance of
drawing out values from the child and not teaching them but educating them.
Throughout his session Fr. Ian stressed that the value is not important but the
person is and that the goal of value education is the Education to Becoming. In
the second half of his session he underlined the role of a Value Educator. He went
to explain how value education goes on constantly: the four walls of the classroom are not the limit.
Fr. Glenn explained to all present the aims and goals of AVEC. He made the teachers aware of the lon
term plans that AVEC has in store for the schools and how the teachers can help in making Value Educ
tion as the guiding ethos of education.
After a sumptuous meal, a movie named God Lives in the Himalayas was screened. The film, opened r
cently at the Cannes film Festival and selected in various international film f
tivals, delved deep into the minds of four children who live in the HimalayMountains. The four of them have questions for God, questions that have
mained unanswered since the evolution of man. The film focuses on the ep
journey of these children who defy all odds to get their questions answer
The second day of the seminar was graced by the presence of the directo
writer-producer of the movie Mr. Sanjay Srinivas.
At the end of both the days, the teachers had an open forum discussion about taking the sessions ahead
the schools and their principals. The motivated teachers promised not to look at value education as ju
another subject in the curriculum but to synergize their efforts and resources to lead the children on t
valued path.
ValuesValuesValuesfor thefor thefor the YatraYatraYatraArchdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter October 2009
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