by BIS Correspondent
NAVI MUMBAI, JUNE 10, 2015: Parenting in this age of iPads, iPhones, tablets, palm-tops and Wifi can be a challenge! How do parents make the right decision when it comes to disciplining children or even educating them?
Don Bosco's preventive system of education is the answer to that question.
Parents from Don Bosco Senior Secondary School, Nerul learnt of the preventive system through a seminar conducted by Father Wilfred D'Souza, the Rector of the school, on June 6.
The central premise of Father D'Souza's talk was 'Don Bosco's way of educating youngsters' and he dealt with the issue through music and video presentations.
By the 'preventive system of education', Don Bosco essentially meant education through kindness as opposed to the cane.
The goal of the system was, 'To obey not from fear or compulsion, but from persuasion. In this system all force must be excluded, and in its place charity must be the mainspring of action'
Father D'Souza brought out the meaning of this through a video presentation of the hymn 'Is there a promise for the young'.
"We, as educators, need to read more about the life of Don Bosco and live the idea of this great saint," he said.
Father D'Souza drew up on the vision of former Rector Major, Father Pascual Chavez who asked the laity to deepen their understanding of the preventive system and to update it according to the demands of our times.
Father D'Souza also met catholic staff members and shared information about the various lay groups that are part of the Salesian family.