Good Schools of India
Joy of Learning Weekly #57
Read And Lead
Brinda Ghosh reads from the book Every Last Girl by Safeena Husain and analyses the chapter on barriers to girls’ education.
Key Takeaways
Education is the key to empowerment. The story of Vibha, who completed 12th grade through bridge courses and KGBV after being out of school at age 9, proves that targeted interventions can transform lives. Her father, Dinesh, now advocates for education, stating, “The world today is built for the educated.”
Girls’ education is blocked by three “margins”: Physical (remote villages, long walks, impassable rivers), Economic (poverty forcing families to prioritise boys’ education), and Social (caste/religion-based exclusion).
Gender is the multiplier of disadvantage. It amplifies all other barriers, as revealed by the shocking prevalence of negative names given to girls (e.g., 1,516 named “Dapu” or “fed up”), which reflect a mindset viewing girls as a liability.
Every Thursday at 5:30 p.m., a meaningful reading session takes place, open to all. Narrated by Brinda ma’am, we come together to read Every Last Girl by Safeena Husain. These sessions are not merely about reading a text, but about collectively engaging with ideas, emotions, and lived realities.
Reading helps us understand,
But reading together helps us feel.
See you again, Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
Copies of Every Last Girl are available at English Book Depot, Dehradun.
River Weaves: Brocades of Banaras
Brewing Knowledge Friday
Discussing the challenges and revival of Banaras Handloom Brocades with Chandra Jain, an author and textile revivalist.
Key Takeaways
Handloom as Indian Identity: Handloom is the “essence of Indian identity,” embodying self-reliance (
swadeshi) and a zero-carbon, eco-friendly production process.Endangered Banaras Brocade: The Banaras brocade tradition is endangered by a lack of market demand, which devalues the craft and forces skilled artisans to take on other work (e.g., rickshaw pulling).
Revival Strategy: Revival efforts focus on reintroducing natural dyes to combat pollution and health risks, and on educating consumers to create a market for high-quality, sustainable handlooms.
Consumer Action: Consumers must shift from fast fashion to valuing handlooms as art, creating demand that enables artisans to earn a dignified livelihood and pass on their skills.
BOOKS OF THE WEEK
The 5 Stages of Problem Behaviour
Masterclass with Sandeep Dutt
To analyse the five stages of problem behaviour from The Courage to be Happy by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga.
Key Takeaways
Problem behaviour escalates through 5 stages, each driven by a goal to secure a “special position” and rooted in a “love-starved” feeling.
Rebuke is ineffective; it often reinforces the behaviour by fulfilling the student’s goal of being recognised, even when it’s negative.
Intervention must match the stage: early stages respond to respect, while late stages require professional help.
The teacher’s role is critical for prevention, as most problem behaviour stops at Stage 3 (Power Struggle).
Student Engagement and Classroom Behaviour
Learning Forward Saturday
To reflect on managing classroom “war” and fostering “peace.”
Key Takeaways
Distinguish “Notes” from “Reflections”: Reflections must be personal experiences and feelings, not generic theory. This distinction is critical for collaborative learning.
Engage Bored Students with Differentiated Learning: Boredom, especially among high achievers, disrupts learning. Differentiated teaching provides customised challenges to keep all students engaged.
Be “Friendly,” Not a “Friend”: Maintain a professional boundary to preserve respect and authority. A teacher’s role is a guide (
marg-darshak), not a peer.Make Every Student Feel Valued: Simple actions like noticing absences or giving small responsibilities build trust and create a supportive environment where all students feel seen.
नए शिक्षक के लिए कक्षा में बच्चों को संभालने पर एक चिंतन - सुनीता त्रिपाठी
जब कोई नई शिक्षिका कक्षा में आती है और बच्चे डरे हुए, मासूम और संकोची होते हैं, तो सबसे पहले शिक्षिका का कर्तव्य होता है कि वह बच्चों में विश्वास और अपनापन पैदा करें। छोटे बच्चे अक्सर नए व्यक्ति से घबरा जाते हैं, इसलिए शिक्षिका को कठोरता के बजाय प्यार, धैर्य और मुस्कान के साथ बच्चों से बात करनी चाहिए।
Read the full post at www.HappyTeacher.in, The Teachers Academy Blog.
Reflections on Reading, Relationships, and Human Behaviour - Sunbeam School Ballia
In today’s session, we first shared our written reflections and then interacted with Mr Jugjiv Singh Sir, who shared his thoughtful ideas. He read the story What You Are Looking for Is in the Library. It was an amazing and knowledgeable story, and we read it with great interest. One thing that I like most about the Good School Alliance is that every participant, along with all the members, participates enthusiastically and gives their best to make this class informative.
Many students were new to this wonderful session and unfamiliar with the class. Manisha Ma’am explained a lot about the class to them. In the other session, we had Manisha Ma’am, who always takes the initiative for Hindi reading. We started with her quiz and then read a story by Ruskin Bond. This was also a very interesting and informative session.
I thank every member of the Good School Alliance for taking the initiative for this reading class.
Thank you.
Talat Bano
Read the reflections on the My Good School Blog.
My Good School
Sunday School, where we celebrate the joy of reading!
My Good School, which opened on 1st October 2021, has been consistently providing Sunday morning access to its members of the Good Schools Alliance. Promoting reading nurtures a world that pauses before judging, listens before reacting and seeks to understand first. Let us ignite a love for stories and build empathy in every individual.
Imagine children missing out on the joy of reading! It is not merely about reduced reading; they lose a vital tool for empathy. Books enhance imagination by exposing readers to the lives, feelings and challenges of others. They foster connection and understanding by helping us accept emotions not our own. Without this, caring for those different from us becomes more difficult.
At the My Good School Sunday reading session, new participants were introduced to the program’s structure and activities. Manisha explained that Good Schools Alliance (GSA) follows a monthly calendar with simultaneous reading of English and Hindi books, focusing on “reading, reflection, and building relationships.” The session included reading from “My Family and Other Animals” by Gerald Durrell, discussing spring-season observations, including flowers such as roses, marigolds, and water lilies, and reviewing previous session reflections. New participants, like Sanaya from Gyan Anant Vidyalaya, were welcomed, and the session concluded with instructions for submitting reflections through teachers to be shared in the Joy of Learning Diaries.