Values for the Yatra

Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter October 2009

GIVE NON-VIOLENCE A CHANCE

“Non 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 no
longer a choice between violence and non violence- there is only a choice
between non violence and non existence.”Martin Luther King, Jr.

Mrs. Jyoti Shetti introducing On the ‘value of non-violence’ there is no definitive word for it. The concept has been praised by
the film ‘God lives in the all major religions, yet while every language has a word for violence, no word expresses the idea
Himalayas’
of non-violence except to describing it by what it isn't: not violence. But when non-violence
becomes a reality, it is a powerful force.
Violence, anywhere, in any form, is reprehensible-especially at home and in the workplace,
because this means we are committing violence against people we are expected to love, honor,
and respect. If we do not hesitate to violate the people we are closest to, why would we hesitate
to harm those we don't know? Salvation lies in changing the self before we attempt to change the
society. To quote the Father of the Nation “We must be the change we wish to see."
Fr. Ian Doulton, SDB
Modern society is plagued by violence-at home, at work, in the streets, in schools. In fact, any-
addressing the Value Educa- where there is an assembly of more than two people there is, unfortunately, the distinct likelihood
tion Teachers of violence breaking out. So much violence is an indication of our deteriorating human relation-
ships, as well as the stress under which we live and work.
2nd October - the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi has been declared as 'International Day
of Non-Violence'! This is in recognition of his major role in promoting peace and non-violence
around the world. Non-violence in its dynamic condition means conscious suffering. It does not
mean meek submission to the will of the evil-doer, but it means the pitting of one's whole should
against the will of the tyrant. Non violence has the potential to empower citizens, thwart coups,
overthrow dictators and defend nations.
Creating Non Violent School Zone 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 unable
to answer: “Why is there violence, violence rather than non-violence?”
Inside this issue: Oct ‘09
When once asked if non-violent resistance was a form of “direct action”, Gandhi replied: “...It is
Give Non Violence the only form.” He said it was the “greatest force...more positive than electricity, and more
1
a Chance powerful than even ether.” Gandhi believed non-violence could be put into practice at every level
of human experience. Nonviolence for him was not just a political tactic but spirituality and a way
Celebrate a Clean 2 of life.
& Safe Diwali
We are living today in an era where social, cultural and political spheres are void of spirituality.
Be a ‘Smart –
But Gandhi’s non-violence still offers us an ideal that may uphold. Gandhi remains the prophetic
3
Study’ Student
voice of the 21st century and his non-violence urges us to continue struggling on behalf of what
we view as right and just. It is revealing that in a world where there are calamities such as
Teacher as a 4 terrorism, poverty, illiteracy and fanaticism, history can still be made out of choices. The choice of
‘Channel of Care’ non-violence is ours.
News: Value Edu-
Only a non-violent society can work its way up to creating the institutions ripe for development
5 and lead to inter-cultural and inter-religious harmony. The time has come for humanity to renew
cation Teachers’
its commitment, politically, economically, and culturally,ԝtoԝtheԝwisdomԝofԝnon-violence.
Values for the Yatra invites its readers to make non violence a reality today. It calls us to renew our
commitment 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 beings
which cannot be learnt by staying at home or without humility.
Gandhi said, “There is no hope for the aching world except
through the narrow and straight path of non-violence.” If we want
to reap the harvest of coexistence in the future, we will have to
sow seeds of non-violence. Sixty years after Gandhi’s death, we
face a choice….
 Values for the Yatra
Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter October 2009

CELEBRATE AN ECO-FRIENDLY DIWALI

Diwali is known as the 'festival of lights'. Diyas (clay lamps) are lit to
chase away the darkness of ignorance and welcome the bright light
of 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 environment
and endanger your own safety. The environmental and health haz-
ards caused due to present form of Diwali celebration doesn’t means
to stop celebrating the festival. But definitely the way of celebrating
this auspicious festival can be changed. Listed below are few environment
friendly tips to celebrate Diwali 2009.
• Instead of individual celebration prefer community celebration. With the
increasing trend of gated community all the families of the community can
celebrate 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 for
a 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 it
is far away from hospitals. Instead of selecting crowded areas it is better to opt for
an 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 sound
produced by these crackers is under the decibel limit defined by the Pollution
Board. These crackers produce paper fluffers and different color lights instead of
sound on bursting.
• Instead of electric illumination go for traditional lightening of earthen lamps or
diyas. This will not only enhance the beauty of your house but will also cut down
the 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 unnecessary
things this Diwali. Excess consumerism is directly related to the consumption of
raw material used to manufacture those things. Excessive consumerism increases
the 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 to
under-privilege people.
Celebrate Diwali 2009 with a different meaning. You can celebrate this Diwali with
poor 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 the
past. Not only will you be helping to save the environment but also
you will understand better the true meaning of Diwali.
 Values for the Yatra
Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter October 2009

SMART STUDENTS use the following strategy and make it a winning formula . Try these 9 points ...

Smart Goals are

S = Specific
M =Measurable
A = Achievable
R = Realistic
T = Time bound
First Things First
Schedule your priorities
and
Prioritize your schedule

Believe that you can!!!

Be positive in your
approach to Study

Mind mapping
saves time and Develop super
Focus of KEY helps in revision memory through Know your formulae
words/ Dates and principles BUT
association
know how to apply
them correctly
Exam is a journey…
you need to prepare
for it!!!!!
Exams are to find out
HOW much you know,
NOT how much you
don’t know….. All the BEST in your Exams….
 Values for the Yatra
Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter October 2009

20 Points to “Care‐About” the Adolescent Student 
1.  Avoid  discouragement  ‐  because  the  feelings  of  inferiority  which  all  humans      
experience in one form or another, must be overcome if we are to function well. 
2. Work for improvement, not perfection. 
3. Commend effort. One’s effort is more significant than one’s results. 
4. Separate the deed from the doer. One may reject the youngster’s action without rejecting the person. 
5. Build on strengths, not on weakness. A misbehaving youth has the power to defeat the adult. Give the youngster 
the credit he/she deserves. 
6. Show your faith in the youngster. This must be sincere, so one must first learn to trust him/her. 
7. Mistakes should not be viewed as failures. We need to take away the stigma of failure. Failure usually indicates 
lack of skill. One’s worth is not dependent on success. 
8. Failure and defeat will only stimulate special effort when there remains the hope of eventual success. They do 
not stimulate a deeply discouraged child who has lost all hope of succeeding. 
9. Stimulate and lead the young, but do not try to push ahead. Let the youngster move at one’s own speed. 
10.  Remember  that  genuine  happiness  comes  from  self‐sufficiency:  Young  people  need  to  learn  to  take  care  of 
themselves. 
11.integrate  the  youngster  into  the  group.  Treating  the  youngster  as  ‘something  special’  increases  his/her  over‐
ambition. An over‐ambitious youngster who cannot succeed usually switches to the useless side of life with the 
‘private logic’: “If I can’t be best, I’ll at least be the worst”. Even more serious, he/she may give up altogether. 
12. Stimulating too much competition usually does not encourage much. Those who see a hope of winning may put 
forth‐extra effort, but the stress is on winning rather than on co‐operation and contribution. The less competi‐
tive one is, the better one is able to withstand competition. 
13. Praise is not the same as encouragement. Praise may have an encouraging effect on some youth, but it often 
discourages and causes anxiety and fear. Some come to depend on praise and will perform only for recognition 
in ever‐increasing amounts. Success accompanied by special praise for the result may make the young fear “I 
can never do it again!” 
14. Success is by‐product. Preoccupation with the obligation to succeed is intimidating and the resulting fear and 
anxiety  often contribute  to  failure.  If  one  function  with the  emphasis  on  what contribution one  may  make  or 
how one may co‐operate with others, success usually results. 
15. Help the youngster develop the courage to be imperfect. We should learn from our mistakes and take them in 
our stride. 
16. Don’t give responsibility and significance only to those who are already responsible. Giving opportunities to be 
responsible to an youngster who is discouraged may make it worth while for him/her to co‐operate. 
17. Solicit the help of other members of the group to help a discouraged youngster find his/her place in useful ways. 
18.  Remember  that  discouragement  is  contagious.  A  discouraged  youth  tends  to  discourage  his/her 
teacher/leader. 
19. Avoid trying to mend one’s own threatened ego by discouraging others or by looking down on them. 
20. Overcome your own pessimism and develop an optimistic approach to life. Optimism is contagious ‐ it 
not only   encourages you but those around you.  PRAY FOR YOUR STUDENTS…….It is the biggest secret to 
building a ‘caring’ attitude towards them. 
 Values for the Yatra
Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter October 2009

PAVING THE VALUED PATH

Natasha 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 first
day saw a total number of 41 teachers from Central Suburbs, Borivli, Andheri
and Bandra deaneries. Whilst 47 teachers from North Mumbai, South Mumbai
and Kurla deaneries attended the seminar on the second day. By way of the
seminar AVEC aimed to motivate schools through the teachers to become more
‘Educational Living Environments’ of which values must be seen to lie not only
at the heart of the educational content, the “what” of education, but also at the
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 Lowe.
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 long
term plans that AVEC has in store for the schools and how the teachers can help in making Value Educa-
tion as the guiding ethos of education.

After a sumptuous meal, a movie named ‘God Lives in the Himalayas’ was screened. The film, opened re-
cently at the Cannes film Festival and selected in various international film fes-
tivals, delved deep into the minds of four children who live in the Himalayan
Mountains. The four of them have questions for God, questions that have re-
mained unanswered since the evolution of man. The film focuses on the epic
journey of these children who defy all odds to get their questions answered.
The second day of the seminar was graced by the presence of the director-
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 to
the schools and their principals. The motivated teachers promised not to look at value education as just
another subject in the curriculum but to synergize their efforts and resources to lead the children on ‘the
valued path’.