Good Schools of India
Joy of Learning Weekly #38
Special Edition
Discover Opportunities at Good Schools Alliance
Empowering every individual
At Good Schools Alliance, we empower young people and promote personal and social growth. GSA members have open access to My Good School every Sunday on Zoom, and attend the My Good School Retreat, and benefit from mentoring and coaching to build a culture of trust and learning. We aim to strengthen school collaboration to enhance educational quality and foster service and generosity.
The Teachers Academy, an affiliate of Learning Forward, welcomes all schools to sponsor teachers for Rs 3000/- annually. Teachers can also join us on Zoom on Saturday for support in personal and social development.
Our Programs are open to GSA members and non-members. Individual students can join My Good School on Sundays for just Rs 2500/- per annum and invite their siblings and parents.
Speaking with Deeksha at the Sunbeam School Ballia, Sandeep shares the making of My Good School and the whole story of his mission and vision.
My visit to Ballia evokes the journey ‘Bali to Ballia’, which began in 2012 at The Fabindia School in Rajasthan and reached the far east of Uttar Pradesh. This journey feels like time stands still. The small towns, villages, and hinterland are poised to become centres of innovation. However, we are not investing enough in their development. How will we prepare our young people for the global landscape? Nonetheless, encounters with individuals like Kunwar Arun Singh in Ballia and William Bissell of Fabindia in Bali inspire me with hope and the spirit of possibility.
Sandeep Dutt
New India Education Summit 3.0
ScooNews and Ravi Santlani, beyond imagination! We finally bridged the North-South divide! One India One Alliance, Good Schools Alliance. All thanks to Ravi Santlani. We formally welcome Priya Dixit, Prabha Dixit, and their wonderful school Akshar Arbol International School (AAIS) Chennai to the Good Schools Alliance! #HappyTeachers #JoyOfLearning #JoyOfGiving
The YES Way: Building Schools Where Youth Engage Society
In this engaging session, Sandeep Dutt, Founder of Good Schools Alliance, shared insights from over four decades of working with young people and educators across India. Discover The YES Way - a framework where Youth Engaging Society (YES) becomes the heartbeat of school culture. Explore how good schools empower students to excel in Service, Skill, Sport, and Study, and how mentors can nurture identity, empathy, and leadership among youth.
Thank you, ScooNews and Ravi Santlani for the spark within! Every teacher is a lighter indeed, with matchsticks to light a million sparks #HappyTeachers. The Appreciation Box inspired by the Sivakasi Fireworks art is a brilliant way to light the lamp of knowledge #HappyTeachers
Read And Lead - Happiness and Unhappiness
Read And Lead, reading the book The Courage to Be Disliked. The meeting focused on a reading in a dialogue format similar to a radio play. Sandeep Dutt (Philosopher) and Gurdeep Kaur (Youth) discussed the structure and key messages of the book, including Adlerian psychology concepts and the idea that people can change by choosing to do so rather than being controlled by their past. They explained that the dialogue between a philosopher and a youth explores themes of freedom, happiness, and taking responsibility for one’s choices. The session aimed to encourage participants to engage with the material and consider how to apply these ideas in their own lives.
Adlerian Psychology and Personal Growth
Sandeep and Gurdeep discussed Adlerian psychology and the concept of nihilism, exploring how emotions and past experiences do not necessarily control human behaviour. Sandeep emphasised that people can change their values and goals, contrasting Adler’s teleology with Freudian aetiology. Gurdeep expressed a desire to change personality, but Sandeep challenged to accept oneself and focus on personal growth rather than seeking external changes. They agreed to continue their philosophical dialogue to gain a deeper understanding of Adler’s ideas.
Debating Happiness and Unhappiness
Gurdeep and Sandeep debated the nature of happiness and unhappiness, with Sandeep arguing that people choose their own unhappiness rather than being born into it. At the same time, Gurdeep maintained that some people are inherently unhappy due to their circumstances. Sandeep introduced the concept of “agathaum” from Greek philosophy, which means beneficial rather than morally good, and suggested that people engage in harmful actions for personal benefit rather than out of pure evil desire. The discussion concluded with Sandeep challenging Gurdeep to explain how they chose their own unhappiness, leading to a heated exchange about the nature of philosophical debate.
Join us every Saturday at 5:30 PM, for the live experience, find out more at www.DilJeeto.com
✨ REFLECTION ✨
Session 02 of the Book Reading:
The Courage To Be Disliked 📕🔖
by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga*In this session, we delved into The First Night: Deny Trauma 🌙✨—a profound exploration of how to liberate ourselves from the shackles of the past. Through the timeless wisdom of Socrates and Adler, we were challenged to ask ourselves: Are you truly comfortable in your own skin? The session brought to light a striking truth—unhappiness is often a choice we make unwittingly, and many resist change simply out of habit or fear. It became clear that our lives are not dictated by past events but are forged in the crucible of the present moment.⭐ The session was not merely an intellectual exercise; it was a rich tapestry woven with philosophical insights and an enriching vocabulary that broadened our horizons. 🏷️⭐ A highlight was the dynamic dialogue between a Philosopher and a Youth, brilliantly enacted by Sandeep Sir and Gurdeep Ma’am—injecting life and warmth into complex concepts, making the experience both enlightening and engaging. 🎬🌷💎🪩 My Takeaways 🪩This journey gifted me with far more than new words—it bestowed a treasure trove of reflection-worthy concepts. 📎🔖 I realised that self-acceptance does not equate to complacency; rather, it is the fertile soil from which personal growth must spring. 🤍⚡There’s no need for comparison or pretending to be someone else. The real victory lies in boldly stepping into the world as my authentic self. 😃✨
I close this reflection with heartfelt gratitude to all mentors and fellow participants. Special thanks to Sandeep Sir for inspiring me to embark on this empowering reading journey—the most rewarding investment of time yet. 🎀💌📍With sincere regards,
Khushi (A little reader with an insatiable thirst for knowledge) 💎🤍
- Khushi Kumari (8A) , Lotus Petal Foundation
Learning Forward Saturday - ECD
Early Years and early teachers - 8th November 2025
The meeting focused on a workshop session where teachers were encouraged to maintain visibility and engage in peer-to-peer learning activities, with discussions about compensation and the importance of self-care in teaching. The group explored educational resources and activities for children, including storytelling exercises and the use of various platforms for creating and sharing stories across different languages and reading levels. The session concluded with participants being assigned specific tasks related to creating storybooks and incorporating interactive elements into teaching to enhance student engagement.
Lessons of Heart and Humanity - Sunbeam School Ballia
Today’s session of My Good School was truly enlightening and left an indelible mark on our hearts and minds. We were privileged to have Mrs Brinda Ghosh, ma’am, share with us the poignant tales from The Inner Life of Animals, illuminating the often-overlooked struggles animals face as they grow old. Her narrative not only sensitised us to their pain but also kindled within us a deeper sense of empathy and compassion.
My Good School
We discussed the upcoming reading session featuring stories from “The Door to Door Bookstore” and other literature, exploring themes such as brooding, detective novels, and mystery stories, and discussing vocabulary and character motivations. Later reflected on recent stories about empathy and kindness, planning future sessions with Kartik Bajoria’s YES program on communication.
Books of The Week
Nainital: Through Memory, Stories & History by Janhavi Prasada
From 1841, when Peter Barron first discovered Nainital to the present day, the town has evolved – its colonial quiet now alive with the rhythm of cafés and crowds, its cycle of change woven with the nostalgia of those who call it home. In Nainital: Through Memory, Stories & History, writer Janhavi Prasada captures this delicate balance, offering an account of her hometown that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant. Enriched by fellow Nainital native Digvijay Singh’s evocative illustrations, this ode to the town paints a portrait of a place that is at once rooted in memory and timeless in spirit.
Brewing Knowledge Friday, 8th of November 2025, hosted by Neelashi Mangal for The English Book Depot. Reading Kamala Mukunda’s book, What Did You Ask At School Today? The group explored connections between learning styles and model development, including discussions about moral reasoning and the influence of education on children’s behaviour. They examined cultural differences in teaching moral values and debated the effectiveness of different teaching methods, including positive reinforcement and punishment. The conversation concluded with insights about adapting teaching approaches to other cultural contexts and the development of moral reasoning through various theoretical frameworks.
