Good Schools of India
Joy of Learning Weekly #59
Revolution in Education
Celebrating 10 years of the My Good School Retreat
Back in October 2016, The Fabindia School kicked off an exercise to help teachers grow personally and socially. Now, it’s blossomed into a full-fledged My Good School experience for students, teachers and everyone involved. We’re all buzzing with excitement about our upcoming trip to Jaipur, where we’ll dive into reading, reflect and forge some truly meaningful connections!
Mayoor My Good Schools Retreat at Jaipur
The countdown is on! We’re all set to head to Jaipur next week, thanks to our wonderful partners ScooNews and Mayoor School Jaipur. We can’t wait to see you all! #JoyOfGiving #JoyOfLearning #HappyTeachers #MGSRetreat
Coming soon Financial Literacy Program for schools and teachers.
सभी के लिए वित्तीय साक्षरता
Launch at Jaipur on 14th April 2026, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s Birthday. A celebration of a man who despite all obstacles, became a brilliant scholar, earning multiple doctorates in economics from Columbia University and the London School of Economics.
My Good School Retreat is a vibrant celebration of the joy of giving. This four-day event, held in April and October, is organised by GSA member schools and partners and brings together teachers, students and parents. The Retreat explores the origins of My Good School and offers opportunities for service, skill development, sports and study in a residential setting. Since its inception in 2016 at The Fabindia School, it has become a significant event in our community.
My Good School
Sunday morning, reading the “Joy of Learning Diaries” blog, the book “What You’re Looking For is in the Library” by Michiko Aoyama. The session was led by Manisha and Jugjiv, who guided students through Chapter 2, focusing on themes of parallel careers, trust, and overcoming ego. Students from various schools, including Lotus Petal, PYDS Learning Academy, Jodhamal Public School, and Vidya School, participated, with some attending for the first time. The discussion covered key concepts such as the importance of trust in relationships and business, how to turn “don’ts” into goals, and the significance of having the courage of one’s convictions. The session also included a brief Hindi reading from Ruskin Bond’s “The Whistling Schoolboy” about environmental issues in remote areas.
Masterclass with Sandeep Dutt
Reading The Courage To Be Happy by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga
To explore the book’s core argument: shifting from competition to cooperation.
Key Takeaways
Praise is manipulation, not support. It creates a vertical, dictatorial relationship where the praiser judges the praised, fostering competition for approval.
Competition is a “disease” that makes others enemies. It corrupts goals, leading to unfair tactics and a focus on defeating rivals instead of achieving personal bests.
The solution is cooperation, built on “community feeling.” This inherent human need for connection stems from our physical weakness, which forces us to cooperate to survive.
Problem behaviour is a symptom of a sick system, not a bad individual. The focus must shift from treating the individual to fixing the competitive environment.
Learning Forward Saturday
Aloysius Alfred and Rahul Chug of Learn PF.
Introduce the “Productive Failure” (PF) pedagogy and its AI application.
Key Takeaways
PF Reverses Learning: PF flips the traditional model (instruction → practice) to problem-solving → instruction. Students first struggle with a concept in a safe environment, preparing their minds to absorb the formal teaching that follows deeply.
AI as a Scaffolding Tool: Learn PF’s AI is designed to guide students through PF rather than provide direct answers. It uses targeted questions to help them discover solutions, avoiding the “direct instruction” trap that many AI tools fall into.
PF’s “3x Effect”: The pedagogy yields a “3x effect” on learning, improving conceptual understanding, resilience, and the transfer of skills to new contexts—a key goal of India’s National Education Policy (NEP).
Teacher’s Role is Critical: Teachers must create a safe space for failure, guide exploration, and reinforce the value of every learning experience.
गलतियाँ नहीं, सुधार के अवसर - सुनीता त्रिपाठी
सुनीता त्रिपाठी, सनबीम ग्रामीण स्कूल
बच्चों की गलतियों पर चर्चा करें या ना करें — इस संदर्भ में एक छोटा सा लेख
बच्चों की गलतियों पर चर्चा तभी सही है जब उसका उद्देश्य सुधार और मार्गदर्शन हो। यह विचार एक शिक्षक के वास्तविक कर्तव्य को दर्शाता है। एक शिक्षक केवल ज्ञान देने वाला नहीं, बल्कि बच्चों के व्यक्तित्व को संवारने वाला मार्गदर्शक होता है। इसलिए जब भी बच्चे से कोई गलती होती है, तो उसे एक अवसर की तरह देखना चाहिए, न कि दोष के रूप में।
मुझे ऐसा लगता है कि शिक्षक संवेदनशीलता और गोपनीयता बनाए रखते हुए बच्चे को समझाएँ। इससे उसके अंदर सुधार की इच्छा आती है और वह बिना डर के अपनी कमियों को स्वीकार कर पाता है। इसके विपरीत, यदि उसकी गलती को सार्वजनिक रूप से उजागर किया जाए, तो उसके मन में डर, संकोच और हीन भावना उत्पन्न हो सकती है।
सकारात्मक दृष्टिकोण अपनाने वाला शिक्षक बच्चों के मन में विश्वास और अपनापन पैदा करता है। यही विश्वास बच्चों को आगे बढ़ने और सीखने के लिए प्रेरित करता है। एक बच्चा स्कूल में शिक्षक पर विश्वास करता है। एक शिक्षक वही है, जो बच्चे की गलतियों को छुपाकर नहीं, बल्कि समझदारी और संवेदनशीलता के साथ सुधारने का प्रयास करता है, ताकि बच्चा एक अच्छा और आत्मविश्वासी इंसान बन सके।
Key Takeaways
Storytelling is the key to mindset change. Educate Girls uses plays and real-life anecdotes to emotionally engage communities, making the consequences of illiteracy and the benefits of education tangible.
Barriers are complex and require tailored solutions. Poverty (e.g., needing a child for chores) and patriarchy (e.g., safety concerns) must be addressed with practical support (e.g., midday meals, flexible schedules) and empathetic challenge.
Awareness of government schemes is critically low. Many people, including those in urban areas, are unaware of free services like midday meals or Jan Aushadhi stores, highlighting a major communication gap.
Gender bias is pervasive, even in urban settings. Anecdotes from Greater Noida and Noida confirm that the preference for sons and the view of daughters as liabilities are not limited to rural areas.
BOOKS OF THE WEEK
From Fiction to Classics: outgrowing books
Classics are different. They’re not always easy to read, and they don’t always offer an immediate connection. They make me think more, question more, and see things from different perspectives.
I think that’s why my favourite book doesn’t affect me the same way anymore. It belonged to a time when I needed simple, emotionally direct stories. Now, I’m more drawn to books that are complex and a little more demanding. Outgrowing a book feels strange, but it also reflects growth.
Readers do not merely collect books, they evolve through them. Some remain significant, while others gradually lose their relevance. Maybe that’s how reading works.
Read Sneha’s post on Brewing Knowledge.
Social Media Ban for Kids: Protection or Overreaction?
Australia has done it. France and Malaysia have followed. And now, Karnataka has joined the list.
But is banning social media for children under 15 a solution, or just a reaction to a much deeper problem?
This episode of The Education Verdict explores a landmark shift in the conversation: moving from what children are watching to how these platforms are designed.
We dive into the “Attention Economy”—infinite scrolls, intrusive notifications, and algorithms optimised for engagement rather than well-being.
GSA Calendar April 2026
My Good Schools, The Teachers Academy, Meetings and Events: discover the joy of learning and find out more about what is in store in the astonishing April!