BIS #2970 NURTURING CHILDREN IN OUR CARE BY OUR PRESENCE

BIS Mumbai                                  

BOSCO INFORMATION SERVICE #2970

NURTURING CHILDREN IN OUR CARE BY OUR PRESENCE
Lynette Sequeira
BORIVLI, JUNE 13, 2012: It was indeed a joy for the Management and Staff of Don Bosco, Borivli to welcome our extended family in Mumbai to our institution, on June 12, 2012. The Principals and Teachers of four Salesian schools, that is Don Bosco, Matunga, Dominic Savio, Andheri, St. Joseph's, Wadala and Don Bosco, Borivli gathered together to gain a few insights on how the NURTURING PRESENCE of an Educator in the life of a student is so fundamental to the process of Education.

We were extremely privileged to have the author of the book 'Nurturing Presence- A Spirituality for Educators', Fr. Kenneth Pereira, sdb share a few of the thoughts that he has presented in his book, with us in person. Fr. Pereira tried to help us understand how the presence of an Educator is important both within and outside the classroom. He specially emphasized that it is the quality of that presence that matters more than anything else.

Through his sessions, Fr. Kenneth gave us a few insights on our patron Saint, Don Bosco's method of Reason, Religion and Rapport, which most of us teachers in Salesian schools try to implement in our day to day educative experiences already. He also introduced us to the three pillars of Education, as given to us by the psychologist Carl Rogers, namely 'Congruence' of what is within and what is visible on the exterior, 'Positive regard'(Prizing, Trusting, Appreciating) and all important element of 'Empathy' which is a pre-requisite for any educator.
 
In the post-lunch session, Fr. Kenneth turned the school hall into a movie theatre and screened a Marathi movie for us, the title of which translates to '10th F' in English, which gave us a cinematic glimpse into how the nurturing presence of a teacher, changed the way in which a bunch of supposedly reckless students responded to educators and education itself.

We thank Fr. Kenneth Pereira for making the time to come and give us some wonderful food for thought, as we stand on the threshold of a new academic year. I'm sure all the educators who attended the seminar today will definitely try and put what we've heard today into practice.

A word of thanks also goes out to the Management and Supervisors of Don Bosco, Borivli for planning the day's events and for all the meticulous arrangements that were made, to ensure that all those who attended the seminar could feel perfectly at home. Thanks to this system of networking between our four schools over the last few years, we now look forward to occasions like this, when we get an opportunity to meet our fellow educators and friends. May God give us all the grace to continue the good work of Don Bosco in our respective schools.











































































































BOSCO INFORMATION SERVICE (BIS) MUMBAI

Don Bosco Provincial House,
Matunga, Mumbai - 400 019. INDIA
Email: bis@donboscomumbai.org