Good Schools of India
Joy of Learning Weekly #55
Key Takeaways
The “Performance Culture” is eroding genuine childhood. Parents are pushing kids into manufactured achievements (e.g., fake NGOs, paid-for books) to build college admissions portfolios, replacing authentic experiences with a constant online “show.”
A critical reading crisis is emerging. Teenagers are losing the ability to read deeply and are relying instead on social media for information. Parents are often the root cause, as children rarely read if books aren’t visible in the home.
Effective communication is the only Solution. The book’s graphic novel format is a deliberate tactic to meet teens where they are. Key strategies include respecting teens’ choices and using their own digital tools (such as Reels) to bridge communication gaps.
The creative industry struggles with typecasting. Author Pooja Marwah and actor Himani Shivpuri shared how they must actively fight being “boxed in” by their initial successes to maintain artistic freedom.
My Good School
The Sunday School session focused on discussing educational reforms, particularly the role of exams in the learning process. Brinda shared her experience with a successful exam-free education system from her early teaching days, while students expressed their preference for continuous assessment over traditional exams. The group then read and discussed books “My Family and Other Animals” and “The Whistling Schoolboy”, exploring themes of curiosity and learning through nature. Maira presented a book review of “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, sharing insights about building positive habits through small, consistent changes. The session concluded with a quiz about reading habits and the importance of books in personal development, followed by Manisha reading an excerpt from the Hindi book in its original language.
We are thrilled to celebrate 600 videos on our YouTube channel—the best creative commons resource for schools in India! #JoyOfLearning #JoyOfGiving #HappyTeachers
My Good School started on October 1, 2021 and has been a Sunday tradition ever since, dedicated to reading, reflection and building strong connections.
A big thank you to Jugjiv Singh, Brinda Ghosh, Manisha Khanna and all the wonderful people at the Learning Forward India Foundation who continue to serve with a smile, whether we have exams or not.
• At your service since 2012
Sandeep Dutt, founder of Good Schools Alliance and My Good School. Empowering thousands of teachers and positively impacting the lives of over a million children
BOOKS OF THE WEEK
The Daughter of Kumari by Jeyamohan and Suchitra Ramachandran
Everyone Must Read
How can we celebrate Women’s Day when a substantial journey remains before every girl can attain literacy? We can achieve progress when everyone commits to reading and leadership. #JoyOfGiving Join us every Thursday at 5:30 PM via Zoom. Open to all.
Read And Lead
To launch a new “Everyone Must Read” session, reading *Every Last Girl*.
Key Takeaways
New Format Launched: “Brewing Knowledge Thursday” is a pure reading session, distinct from the Sunday discussion format. The goal is to encourage reading for its own sake.
Book’s Core Strategy: Every Last Girl details Educate Girls’ “curb cut effect” strategy: designing for the most marginalised girl (“Antimbala”) creates benefits for all children, including boys.
Founder’s Motivation: Safeena Hussain’s mission is rooted in her own childhood trauma and a 3-year education gap. A 2004 trip to a Himalayan village—where women pitied her father for having only a daughter—was the catalyst.
Proven Impact: Educate Girls has mobilised over 2 million out-of-school girls and supported learning for 2.4 million children, demonstrating the power of community and government partnerships.
Thinking In Paragraphs
Reading trains the mind to stay with complexity long enough for it to clarify itself. And in doing so, it reshapes how we understand the world.
To think in paragraphs is to become less reactive and more reflective. It is to approach disagreement with context rather than volume. It is to recognise that most truths are layered, not linear. The discipline of moving carefully from one idea to the next begins to seep into how we form judgements, how we speak, and even how we listen.
In a culture that rewards brevity, thinking in paragraphs is an act of depth. And depth, more than speed, is what endures.
- Sneha, at The English Book Depot, writes a post that will help you reflect on the art of reading and why we must read.
Rigorous Education and Student Empathy
Masterclass
To discuss Adlerian psychology concepts from The Courage to be Happy.
Key Takeaways
Empathy is a Skill: Defined as imagining another’s life to understand their perspective, not merely agreeing with them (sympathy). It requires horizontal relationships built on mutual respect.
Teleology Over Aetiology: Adlerian psychology asserts that present goals, not past causes, drive behaviour. The past is a subjective narrative constructed by the “self now” to justify current choices.
Change Requires Courage: True change is difficult because it requires “death” of the old self. People resist this by affirming their current state and retroactively justifying their past to avoid the unknown.
Respect is Contagious: Educators must model respect to teach it, fostering a “contagious” effect that builds a community where others adopt the same attitude.
War vs. Peace: Reading Chapter 2
Learning Forward Saturday
To read and discuss Chapter 2 of Wanted Back Bencher & Last Ranker Teacher by Kavita Ghosh.
Key Takeaways
The Brain’s Limits: The brain has a finite capacity for information. Overload prevents processing and memory formation, while physical movement is essential for oxygenated blood flow to the brain.
Respond from Intellect, Not Gut: Counter-aggression escalates problems and fulfils a student’s desire for attention. A calm, intelligent response maintains teacher control and de-escalates conflict.
Proactive Engagement: Roma de-escalated a chaotic class by proactively engaging students with compliments and small acts of care (e.g., clipping hair, offering tissues) and by building rapport before entering the room.
Turn Disruption into Dialogue: When a student made a provocative comment, Roma didn’t punish the student. Instead, she used it to spark a relevant discussion on relationships, connecting it to the day’s poem.
Join us online; we read on Zoom from Thursday through Monday each week.
Open To All:
Brewing Knowledge: Thursday 5:30 PM - 6:15 PM.
Brewing Knowledge: Friday 5:30 PM - 6:15 PM.
Limited Capacity Event:
Sandeep Dutt’s Masterclass on Saturday, 5:30 PM - 6:15 PM.
Good Schools Alliance Members:
The Teachers Academy: Saturday 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM.
My Good School: Sundays 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM.
GSA Squad Meeting: Mondays 5:30 - 6:00 PM.