Category: BLACKBOARD

The Indian Education System is definitely a highly developed system that offers a plethora of avenues for students to pursue their preferred creative and intellectual courses. However, like with most other education formats, this system too has a mixture of loopholes. There are still various parts of the country where the quality and standards of education are absolutely abysmal. There are also a series of other inconsistencies of the education system. Due to such hiccups, students fail to secure their desired jobs even after scoring great marks in their academics. The schools, colleges and Universities have been reduced to mere examining bodies. Thus, it is pretty evident that our country needs a complete reboot. Take a look at the following aspects that help in this reboot.

Improving the quality of Education

When most parents force their kids to study engineering, management or medical, there’s something seriously wrong with the system. Yes! There’s a huge lack of creativity in our educational system. Besides a few top notch institutes, almost all the institutes want their students to fare well in the examination. Thus, ‘examination oriented studies’ are imparted to the students and the students too are quite satisfied with learning and studying the probable questions that may come in their upcoming examinations. This is creating a huge skills gap between the educational and the professional world. Instead of learning the soft skills or the basic communication skills, these students are pursuing education which is not education in its true sense. This can be evaded only when the quality and standards of education are improved.

Changing the syllabus

One of the major shortcomings of the Indian Education system is the syllabus that has not been updated for long. Most school, colleges and universities still follow the archaic syllabus which hardly has any practical or modern day application. Thus, instead of confining the books with theories practical applications should be incorporated whenever possible.

The syllabus should be made relevant enough for the present day. It should stress more on holistic learning than on examination based studies. The courses too should be made more diverse. These features will collectively make the educational system of our country, one of the best systems of the world.

Embracing technology

In order to reboot the Indian education system, we have to embrace technology. Instead of confining the curriculum of the students to books, emphasis should be made on incorporating technical modes. For instance, audio visual methods of teaching turn out to be way better than the conventional method of cramming books. Here, the students come closer to their subject and they also get to grasp a better insight on it.

What the Indian Education system needs today is sync with the developed countries, and it essentially doesn’t mean aping the west. Every education format needs to develop, better and take the good things for blending a complete system that works for the youth and young minds. That itself needs some governmental and school level changes, with clear on distinct goals.

Do you want your little ones to enjoy a happy and extremely fruitful development? Well, with each passing day, your kiddos are going through a plethora of developmental phases. Therefore, as parents, it is your responsibility to talk to them and help them cope up with the innumerable changes that they experience in these phases. Sounds baffling? Wondering how to help your kids with their years of development? Well, we have some awesome guidelines in store. Simply follow these guidelines to help your child enjoy his growing years to the utmost.

Encourage the little ones

Well, this is probably the most important thing that your kids crave for during their growing years. They may not show, they may not tell you, but you’ve got to understand this and boost up their enthusiasm with the perfect dose of encouragement. They’ll love it. On top of that, if you encourage them well, the kids too will have a growing desire to delve into the intricacies of everything that amuses them. No matter whatever they love, simply encourage kids to go for it. Inspire them to set goals and run behind their dreams. This will definitely play a vital role in their overall development.

Let them face challenges

Life is not easy, and your kids have to know this some time or the other. So instead of asking them to avoid difficult situations, ask them to face challenges. Be their coach and expose them to all kinds of challenges that they are likely to experience. This will not only make your kiddos emotionally stronger but it’ll also give them the power to explore their surroundings and people. Yes! You’ll definitely give them the necessary support. But also give them the proper space to create a support system of their own. Your kids will soon garner a plethora of experiences that’ll play a significant role in their development.

Helping them choose between the good and bad

Yes! If you want your kids to enjoy an amazing phase of development, it is absolutely essential to teach them the right values. Now, the idea of value is quite elusive as various people have various perceptions about it. However, there’s one proper idea of good and bad that your child needs to know. Tell them what’s good and what’s not. This in turn, will help them grow into well behaved and sensitive adults who have a proper understanding of values.

Coach them

As a parent, you are the first teacher of your child. Thus, it turns out to be your major responsibility to coach them. Coaching does not merely restrict itself to education. You can coach your kids to have a good moral perception and proper intellectual insight. On top of that, also take care of their physical and emotional development. Talk to your kids and keep the relationship friendly. This friendly relationship too will play a significant role in the development of your child.

Thus, follow these guidelines and watch your kids enjoy their stages of development like never before. These insights mark the role of parents in child development.  

I believe that we teachers live in the most exciting of times EVER. From lesson plans to content and the way we transact the same in the classroom can be different for every section and for every class that we teach. My teachers however had to depend on a few books and their notes which were handed down from generation to generation.

The student today, no longer has just two sources of information, the sage on the stage (us teachers) and textbooks. She has this boundless space called the Internet. I remember my days in school when getting a project or an assignment done with extra information was nearly impossible. Everyone waited for the few reference books/encyclopedias in the school library . Assignments done with parental help got the grades while those coming from less privileged homes had to resign themselves to lower grades.

For this and many other reasons, technology has come to be the great equalizer. Research after research from different corners of the world (my favourites being Dr.Sugata Mitra’s TED talks –A hole in the wall and A school in the cloud) has shown that all children can learn !!!!!

Now isn’t this the BEST news for someone whose vocation is teaching and for someone whose prayer every night is for her/his student to achieve their highest potential. While it is often thought that teachers perceive technology as threat, my experience leads me to believe that increasingly and at quite an astonishing pace teachers are adapting and adopting technology (in their classrooms and their lives).

The excitement with which I see teachers, both urban and rural using whatsapp, viber, youtube and many other apps with ease is heartwarming. Similarly in the classroom the teacher and the taught are sitting together learning with technology. Video conferencing or a Skype IIT JEE session in a remote village, SMART classrooms in towns, individual tablets/Laptops in cities and the Smart phone, everyone is using technology to LEARN and that is a FACT.

As technology evolves and gets embedded with accessibility features, it also becomes a Universal Design Platform. Assistive Technology will ensure ‘No Child is Left Behind’ in the true sense, which means that the future of India and the world will have more human resource than ever before because the marginalized will join the mainstream and walk together hand in hand into a brighter world for mankind.

This Guest Post has been written by Manju Balasubramanyam, DPS North Bangalore Principal

Just like the way nutrients like Carbohydrates, Vitamins, Calcium, Iron, Fat, Proteins and Minerals are important for the healthy physical growth of children, many essential nutrients like Care, Affection, Trust, Support, Love, Endurance and Kindness are essential for the development of ‘Happy children‘.

For complete Physical, Emotional, Intellectual, and Social Maturation, children need both these kinds of nutrients. They can get Carbohydrates, Vitamins, Calcium, Iron, Fat, Proteins and Minerals from the well-balanced meals cooked in the loving hearth of their homes, but from where and how will they get Care, Values, Affection, Trust, Support, Love, Endurance and Kindness?

They can get these ‘life-supporting nutrients‘ from parents and teachers. These nutrients will make them ‘Strong Individuals’ so that they can face and overcome all the challenges in life with courage and confidence. Mentally healthy children have a positive quality of life and can function well at home, in school, and in their communities.

Love, faith, affection, trust, support, endurance and kindness should be the center of family and school life.

Love them unconditionally

Children need to know that love does not depend on his or her achievements. Allow them to make mistakes. Yes, because confidence grows in the environment that is full of unconditional love, trust, endurance and affection.

Compliment them

Encouraging children’s struggle to learn something new helps them to develop a desire to explore and learn about their surroundings. Allow children to experiment new things. Assure them with affection and talking to them often. Being an active participant in their activities will build their confidence and self-worth.

Set Sensible Goals

Children need sensible goals that match their ambitions with their abilities. With the help of teachers and parents, they can choose activities that suit and test their own capabilities and increase their self-confidence.

Be Straightforward

Failures shouldn’t be hidden from children.  This will tell them that we all make mistakes. It will be extremely supportive for them to know that no one is perfect. This will give them the courage to share their failures, concerns and fears with us.

Support children 

Encourage children not only to do their best, but also to enjoy the practice and progress. Experimenting new activities will teach children teamwork, self-esteem and new skills.

Encourage Children to Play

To children, play is just enjoyment. However, playtime is as essential to their growth as food. Playtime helps children to be creative, learn problem-solving skills and self-control. Good, hardy play, which includes running and yelling, is not only fun, but helps children to be physically and mentally healthy.

Allow children to choose their Playmates 

It is very important for children to spend time with their friends.  This will help children to discover their strengths and weaknesses, develop a sense of belonging, and learn how to get along with different people.

Parents and Teachers can be Great Playmates 

Be part of the fun with children! It is worth it! Playing Ludo, Carrom, Snake and ladder, Monopoly or drawing and coloring with children gives a great opportunity to share ideas and spend time together in a relaxed setting. This is ‘quality time’ that we often talk about.

Play for Fun

One of the most important questions to ask children is “Did you enjoy?’’ and not “Did you win?” Winning is not as important as being involved and enjoying the activity. In our adult world, we often give importance to success and winning. This attitude can be discouraging and frustrating to children who are learning and experimenting with new ideas. It’s more important for children to participate and enjoy themselves.

Disapprove of the behaviour, not the child

It is more appropriate to say, “That was a horrible thing to do,” rather than “You are a horrible boy or girl.”

Avoid nagging, threats and bribery

Children will start to ignore nagging, and threats and bribes are seldom successful. Giving children the reasons “why” they are being disciplined and what the potential consequences of their actions are will work better.

Talk about your feelings

It’s ok to lose temper sometimes. If it happens, it is important to talk about what happened and why you were angry.  It is also ok to apologize if you were wrong!

We all make mistakes and no one is perfect. More importantly, instead of trying to control children, it is important to teach them self-control. And when everything fails, a hug and ‘I love you,’ will work for sure!

Special Thanks to Kavita Bhupta Ghosh , teacher of DPS, Bangalore South, for sharing her thoughts. This Guest Post has been written by Kavith Ghosh.

Sipping a large Starbucks Coffee at Heathrow airport, I am thrilled that I have a five hour halt before I board my next flight to Washington DC. While most people would shop at Duty Free stores or window shop at designer outlets, I prefer to ‘People Gaze’. The farewells and the welcomes, the rushes and the waits have provided me with mesmerizing opportunities to study people and behaviors.

This morning in Aug 2013, I am fascinated by the number of young people who travel across continents to study abroad or work. The world is truly shrinking, not in terms of distance alone, but in many ways. Youth around the world dress in a similar fashion (Jeans and shirt, coats etc) and unless I look at their faces I am not sure from which part of the world they come from. As they order their cups of coffee, I am surprised and delighted with the ease with which they converse in English. They talk about International issues as responsible Global Citizens. We

(Teachers and parents) should all be proud, we raised our kids well. They look beyond boundaries and barriers in search of their destiny. 

10 year ago, at the same airport my experience was different. There were more young people dressed in the traditional clothes of their respective countries and continents, speaking in their native languages. I was then mesmerized by the vibrant colours of their clothes, their design and the music that their words produced. I ask my self –“Which of the two experiences has been more enriching?”

Jan 2014, I am back teaching a class on Biodiversity and the need to preserve and conserve it. The reason, our top priority, ‘Save the Earth!’, because we understand that diversity=richness + health of the biosphere. Species across the global are facing the 6th Extinction and are disappearing at an alarming rate. Many of us have Africa on our bucket list, for the fear that the wildlife there (in its natural habitat) might not last another generation.

Jan 2015, I am on my way to the Annual Day Celebrations of a little school nestled at the cusp of a Wild Life Sanctuary and the madness of a large Metropolis. As I settle down to watch the show, tiny tots narrate the story of “Punya Koti” (The story of truthful cow and a compassionate Tiger) in English. I wonder why the story is being narrated ahead of the musical. The show begins and children in rural Indian clothes (sarees, dhotis, kurtas, and pajamas), with Animal Masks, set the stage on Fire. As the story unfolds in Kannada, I marvel at the dance steps which are adaptations of classical and folk dance forms of India. Although I do not understand the language, the expressions on the faces of the children tells me the story in all its beauty and flavours of Karnataka’s rich cultural heritage permeates the auditorium.

I have found answers to my questions – Global or Local? Modernity or Traditionalism? We need both. As we evolve and become more global in our thought, we need to preserve, conserve and appreciate our rich and varied Culture and Heritage. It gives us our unique Identity, it binds us to our core values and above all it preserves the diversity of mankind for generations to come.

Little kids with hearts resonating with the ‘Soul of India’ from the School of India, Bangalore, showed us the way that night and made us aware of the reason as to why preserving our Culture and Heritage OUGHT be OUR Top Priority.

Jai Hind!!!!

This Guest Post has been written by Manju Balasubramanyam, DPS North Bangalore Principal

A teacher’s day starts with the alarm chiming early in the morning. She shuts it down so that it does not jostle other family members fast asleep beneath warm comforters. She has a lot to accomplish before getting ready for school – it begins with collecting the newspaper and milk from the doorstep, making breakfast and lunch for the entire family and scrubbing the kitchen platform clean before gulping down some coffee and cold breakfast.

In this super marathon, she even manages to pull out an attractive dress to wear for the day, streaks her eyes with the remaining stub of the eyeliner – it needs to be replaced. Fixes stray locks of hair as the elevator descends and sometimes also takes time to smear the lipstick she carries in her ‘Super Purse’. Super, because it holds anything and everything one can imagine from pens, lipsticks to staplers! As she reaches school, there are duties to discharge and classes to take.

This is my usual morning routine too!

As I entered the staff room, I checked the timetable and made note of my classes. Then I casually walked towards the staff room notice board.

Surreptitiously, I checked the notices making sure there was no one around me.There, it was pinned right on top. This was what I had been dreading. ‘My class’ had earned the designation of being the ‘Dirtiest Class’ of the week.

 Again.

This was the seventh consecutive week it had been declared as the dirtiest class in school.

I walked back to my place with a heavy heart!

Everything had failed. Talking, counseling, mentoring and as the last resort, imposing penalty for littering the class with pencil shaving. Everyday, there were masses and masses of them. In spite of many warnings, someone was deliberately and relentlessly sharpening pencils and leaving all the shavings – fine wooden ones with coloured edges of red, blue, green and orange under the desks.

It was innocent mischief I knew but I didn’t know how to identify the culprit.

He or she was obviously very smart. And class unity was so strong that nobody revealed to me who was responsible for our class being nominated as the dirtiest class in school, week after week.

Every time I asked, ‘Who is doing it? Why don’t you dispose the pencil shaving in the dustbin of the classroom?’ The answer was, ‘Not we. It’s someone from the other class!’

This happened when I had to go to take lessons in other classes.

Fortunately, that day I didn’t have a class in the first hour and thought of some way… I could find the mischief-maker. I racked by brain….

Was there no way I could find my mischief-maker? Peacefully?
Is it possible to outsmart my little ones? I asked myself, almost pulling my hair.

And then I decided whatever had to be done, it was that day.
But, I didn’t know how I would do it!

I had a class in the second hour and I knew my naughty pencil-shaver would get into action after my class was over.

That day, I didn’t as usual tell my students to keep the class clean.

I didn’t say a word. I didn’t make any comment.

During the lunch hour, I peeped into the class when it was empty.

The shavings were back. They were all there, scattered in abundance under most of the desks.

I collected all the shavings, wrapped them in a piece of newspaper and kept it in my bag.Then I left, keeping my fingers crossed.

After lunch I went to my class, with a sheaf of white paper and announced that they weren’t going to study Science. Instead, they were going to draw and colour something very interesting for a competition.

The class was ecstatic… so thrilled they were that they did not even guess that something was wrong.I was so excited that I had trouble controlling my smile.

As the class started drawing, I pulled out the crushed paper from my purse. I placed it on the teacher’s desk and spread it out so that I could see the pencil shavings clearly.

And then I walked up and down the aisle, carefully scrutinizing every student colouring the picture they had made very enthusiastically.

The first one was colouring with red. It needed to be sharpened. It wasn’t him.

The third one was outlining the leaves with a darker shade of green. It, too, needed to be sharpened. It wasn’t her.

I walked past four more. And then I found my little culprit…!

He was a little fellow with the face of an angel!
His red pencil was sharpened very well.
Then I picked up his blue, green and orange pencils. They were all freshly sharpened and quite small in size.

As I stood next to him without a word, he looked at me innocently.
Giving me a huge smile, he said. ‘Hello Miss! Aren’t my mountains the highest in the whole world?’ he asked running a finger over one mountain peak proudly.

‘Yes, your mountains are the highest. But don’t you think the lines could be neater if your pencil was sharpened? The pencil point needs to be sharper. Don’t you think so?’ I asked looking at him expressionlessly.

‘Well, yes. I think you are right,’ he said looking at his pencil.
I noticed everyone had stopped drawing and were looking at us curiously.

‘And please use the bin when you want to sharpen your pencils and not the classroom floor.’ I said gently as I walked further down the aisle.

‘How did you find that out,’ he asked in bewilderment.

I controlled the smile again. He hadn’t realized that he had revealed the secret.

I turned to look at him with a secret smile.

‘Because once upon a time I was a student too!’ I said smiling wider. ‘Use the bin the next time and let’s try to win the Best Class award next month,’ I urged.

‘Sure Miss. Why not?’ he replied smiling back.

A look passed between us. There was respect and admiration in those eyes.

I celebrated that evening because I had been able to solve the mystery of the pencil shavings.

When everything fails in classrooms, teachers have to learn to think like students! And also listen to inanimate objects in the classroom.

Everything talks in a classroom from a blackboard to a chalk piece. We just have to learn to listen to them – like the way the pencil shavings told me who my little culprit was……

And the result is sheer magic!

Special Thanks to Kavita Bhupta Ghosh , teacher of DPS, Bangalore South, for sharing her thoughts. This Guest Post has been written by Kavita Ghosh.

There are 4 factors which parents should keep in mind before choosing the apt school for their child.

1. What Your Child Learns: These are aspects of your child that affect what subjects and at what level of difficulty your child should be taught at school. These include your child’s Basic Learning Capability, other capabilities, and interests.

2. How Your Child Learns: These are aspects of your child that affect how a school should teach and interact with your child both in and outside of the classroom. These include your child’s learning styles, motivation, physical and mental health challenges, behavior challenges, learning disabilities and disorders, and self-understanding.

3. Social Issues: This includes the need for social contact with particular friends from the child’s perspective.

4. Practical Matters: This includes essential extracurricular activities that may be compelling choice factors for some children.

Not every factor characteristic is important for matching every child to the right school. You’ll need to decide which ones are really important for your child. Most children will have only a small number of characteristics that are top priorities for selecting a school. Identify these, and you can focus on finding a truly Great Fit school for your child’s top needs.

Signs that a school setting fits your child include these:
> Your child is eager to go to school.
> Your child acts energized and happy at the end of the school day.
> The pace of learning in core subjects is, overall, about right for your child: challenging but achievable.
> You see tremendous progress in your child’s overall development – academic, physical, social and emotional – throughout each school year.
> Your child feels that her abilities and interests are appreciated at school.
> Your child is achieving and performing academically at the level of which he is capable.
> Your child has friends and acquaintances who like and accept him at school.
> School work and friends are important, but not all-consuming, parts of your child’s life.

If a school setting is a poor fit for your child, you might see some of these signs:
> Well into the school year, your child is hesitant, or even adamantly opposed to going to school.
> Your child is not just tired, but worn down and unhappy at the end of most school days.
> Your child has made little progress in the past year, either academically, socially, emotionally or physically.
> Your child often says “school is boring.”
> Your child is not performing as well academically as you think he can.
> Your child expresses little interest in what she’s learning at school.
>Your child often says that teachers or other kids do not understand her or do not like her.
> Your child doesn’t seem to have any close friends or friendly acquaintances at school.
> Your child shows symptoms of stress only when school’s in session.

Now, Why We Think That ‘School Of India’ Will Be A Great Fit For Your Child?

Because your child deserves the best. A school which is Indian at heart and International by vision & approach.
‘School of India’ functions under the support of the KK Educational and Charitable Trust, spearheaded by new-age thinking educationists who believe in celebrating India, celebrating your child, instilling a sense of pride about the country and most importantly building a foundation so that your child develops into a model human being. At ‘School of India’, we focus on each child individually and a conscious effort is made towards understanding each child’s talents and creating constructive learning environments. The objective at SOI is to facilitate all students to reach their highest potential, as we believe it is the most valuable investment we can make towards securing the future of our country.

The School of India believes in raising its children to be tolerant, responsible citizens, who celebrate the diversity of cultures in India and aim to better our country. We want to provide our students with a quality education that competes with international benchmarks, with an Indian focus. Our integrated approach has facilitated the evolution of young children into ‘Active citizens’. Students are encouraged to believe that they are the catalysts of change.

Our focus is on encouraging students to trust their own opinion while fostering confidence so that they realize and live to their full potential.

Our Mission

To create an autonomous education board that emerges as the ‘thought leader’ in the education space. To build a robust teachers training system and make them active partners in shaping the future of the school. To impart a superior quality education that is holistic and innovative. To design spaces that are sensitive to the needs of the child and the environment.

Teaching Philosophy

While learning about what is happening around the world, we many a times forget to learn things about our own country. At ‘SCHOOL OF INDIA’ our teachings are inspired by the rich legacy of India. An India that has been instrumental in shaping the modern world as we see it today. We celebrate everything Indian and instill a sense of pride about the country in your child.

This is what one of our students expressed:
“I am excited to come to school everyday and look forward to all the fun activities and celebrations. Our teachers are the role-models who demonstrate being respectful, responsible and sensitive. I feel confident in academics and can think independently, which I attribute to the teachers of School of India who are very knowledgeable and helpful. The infrastructure, smart class, sports amenities, labs and the ambiance of my school makes me feel comfortable and proud. I get a chance to participate enthusiastically in all the activities happening in school.”
– Tejas SOI Student-Class VI

This is what one of the parents said:

“I am extremely happy about my child’s school – School of India and the way the teaching and non-teaching staff interact with us. I see that they are highly committed and do what they say. SOI stands out in children’s discipline which is imbibed at school. I am impressed with the array of activities lined up for children. The infrastructure includes all the modern equipment’s and technological aids that help to retain the interests of children and engage them in an enjoyable learning model. We are Indians and we want our children to be proud Indians too, who will spread the message of Being Indian in the world. The curriculum at SOI is extensive that promotes pride in our rich cultural heritage.”
– Mr Biju Benjamin SOI Parent – Aniya (class III)

Thanks for reading this blog, and we hope that you make the right decision for your child’s happiness.

“Encourage & support your kids because children are apt to live up to what you believe of them.” ~ Lady Bird Johnson

The second most important decision you will make as a parent — apart from deciding to have the kid in the first place — is deciding which school for them to enroll in. Make the right decision and you could put them on a path toward lifelong learning, a prestigious college education and a successful career. Choose wrong, and well, you know. Talk about pressure.
Children vary in so many ways! Your child is like no other, yet possess so many qualities in common with others. Like a star that twinkles a little differently with each view, your child may seem to be many different people combined into one. Through the still unknown recipe of genes and upbringing, your child is a unique concoction of capabilities, wants, needs and motives.
Indeed, children’s bodies, minds, emotions and spirits combine to make unique individuals. This mix affects the kind of environment in which each child learns best. As a parent, you probably have some sense of this. But many of us feel at a loss to understand and respond to our own children’s capabilities, needs and personalities, even in our daily parenting, much less for school.
The burning question for you now is this: which qualities, in their unique combination within your child, really matter for choosing a school? Which of your child’s features will help her learn and feel better in some schools – with certain teachers, peers, materials, and expected ways of learning – and worse in others? Which of your child’s strengths and weaknesses can be addressed at school, and which can be developed at home? When your child’s and family’s needs fit well with what your child’s school offers, we call it a “Great Fit.”

There are 4 factors which parents should keep in mind before choosing the apt school for their child.

1. What Your Child Learns: These are aspects of your child that affect what subjects and at what level of difficulty your child should be taught at school. These include your child’s Basic Learning Capability, other capabilities, and interests.

2. How Your Child Learns: These are aspects of your child that affect how a school should teach and interact with your child both in and outside of the classroom. These include your child’s learning styles, motivation, physical and mental health challenges, behavior challenges, learning disabilities and disorders, and self-understanding.

3. Social Issues: This includes the need for social contact with particular friends from the child’s perspective.

4. Practical Matters: This includes essential extracurricular activities that may be compelling choice factors for some children.

Not every factor characteristic is important for matching every child to the right school. You’ll need to decide which ones are really important for your child. Most children will have only a small number of characteristics that are top priorities for selecting a school. Identify these, and you can focus on finding a truly Great Fit school for your child’s top needs.

Signs that a school setting fits your child include these:
> Your child is eager to go to school.
> Your child acts energized and happy at the end of the school day.
> The pace of learning in core subjects is, overall, about right for your child: challenging but achievable.
> You see tremendous progress in your child’s overall development – academic, physical, social and emotional – throughout each school year.
> Your child feels that her abilities and interests are appreciated at school.
> Your child is achieving and performing academically at the level of which he is capable.
> Your child has friends and acquaintances who like and accept him at school.
> School work and friends are important, but not all-consuming, parts of your child’s life.

If a school setting is a poor fit for your child, you might see some of these signs:
> Well into the school year, your child is hesitant, or even adamantly opposed to going to school.
> Your child is not just tired, but worn down and unhappy at the end of most school days.
> Your child has made little progress in the past year, either academically, socially, emotionally or physically.
> Your child often says “school is boring.”
> Your child is not performing as well academically as you think he can.
> Your child expresses little interest in what she’s learning at school.
>Your child often says that teachers or other kids do not understand her or do not like her.
> Your child doesn’t seem to have any close friends or friendly acquaintances at school.
> Your child shows symptoms of stress only when school’s in session.

Now, Why We Think That ‘School Of India’ Will Be A Great Fit For Your Child?

Because your child deserves the best. A school which is Indian at heart and International by vision & approach.
‘School of India’ functions under the support of the KK Educational and Charitable Trust, spearheaded by new-age thinking educationists who believe in celebrating India, celebrating your child, instilling a sense of pride about the country and most importantly building a foundation so that your child develops into a model human being. At ‘School of India’, we focus on each child individually and a conscious effort is made towards understanding each child’s talents and creating constructive learning environments. The objective at SOI is to facilitate all students to reach their highest potential, as we believe it is the most valuable investment we can make towards securing the future of our country.

The School of India believes in raising its children to be tolerant, responsible citizens, who celebrate the diversity of cultures in India and aim to better our country. We want to provide our students with a quality education that competes with international benchmarks, with an Indian focus. Our integrated approach has facilitated the evolution of young children into ‘Active citizens’. Students are encouraged to believe that they are the catalysts of change.

Our focus is on encouraging students to trust their own opinion while fostering confidence so that they realize and live to their full potential.

Our Mission

To create an autonomous education board that emerges as the ‘thought leader’ in the education space. To build a robust teachers training system and make them active partners in shaping the future of the school. To impart a superior quality education that is holistic and innovative. To design spaces that are sensitive to the needs of the child and the environment.

Teaching Philosophy

While learning about what is happening around the world, we many a times forget to learn things about our own country. At ‘SCHOOL OF INDIA’ our teachings are inspired by the rich legacy of India. An India that has been instrumental in shaping the modern world as we see it today. We celebrate everything Indian and instill a sense of pride about the country in your child.

This is what one of our students expressed:
“I am excited to come to school everyday and look forward to all the fun activities and celebrations. Our teachers are the role-models who demonstrate being respectful, responsible and sensitive. I feel confident in academics and can think independently, which I attribute to the teachers of School of India who are very knowledgeable and helpful. The infrastructure, smart class, sports amenities, labs and the ambiance of my school makes me feel comfortable and proud. I get a chance to participate enthusiastically in all the activities happening in school.”
– Tejas SOI Student-Class VI

This is what one of the parents said:

“I am extremely happy about my child’s school – School of India and the way the teaching and non-teaching staff interact with us. I see that they are highly committed and do what they say. SOI stands out in children’s discipline which is imbibed at school. I am impressed with the array of activities lined up for children. The infrastructure includes all the modern equipment’s and technological aids that help to retain the interests of children and engage them in an enjoyable learning model. We are Indians and we want our children to be proud Indians too, who will spread the message of Being Indian in the world. The curriculum at SOI is extensive that promotes pride in our rich cultural heritage.”
– Mr Biju Benjamin SOI Parent – Aniya (class III)

Thanks for reading this blog, and we hope that you make the right decision for your child’s happiness.

“Encourage & support your kids because children are apt to live up to what you believe of them.” ~ Lady Bird Johnson

We all uphold certain moral values in life, don’t we? Although we belong to different countries, states and regions, represent diverse cultures and religions, fundamentally we believe in many principles of life that are very similar in nature; like, brotherhood, kindness, sincerity, honesty and integrity etc. And if we look back, these values, deeply rooted within us, were sowed when we were children. And the values we cherish the most were taught through stories. Yes, although it sounds impossible, it is true that values embedded concretely within us are strongly connected to some of our favourite characters who had upheld similar ideals through the toughest of times in their lives. Without even realizing how much those characters had impacted our thoughts, we carried them ahead in life. And at some point of time, when certain situations similar to the ones in the stories, appeared in our lives, we unconsciously sought strength from those characters.

I remember learning from the story, ‘The three little pigs’ that I should never allow a stranger to enter the house when my parents were away. And after listening to the fascinating story of ‘Red Riding Hood’, I never spoke to strangers I met, on my way home from school. I learnt from ‘The ugly duckling’ that everyone is beautiful, and one should wait for the right time for that beauty to unfold. I also understood from my favourite story in childhood, ‘Cinderella’ that kind people are rewarded and evil punished. In fact, I started believing that Fairy Godmothers are real and they appear by magic if one is as good and kind-hearted as Cinderella was!

Now, these are the fairy tales that not only improved my language skills, but also taught me the ways of the world. I mean, I just can’t imagine my childhood days without these stories, and the lessons they taught me.

But the values and principles that I uphold in life, come from our own great Indian Epics.

We have a whole world of Epics like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. AndI think, they are worth studying, reading and sharing simply because they are a magnificent window to the views, philosophies and beliefs of the past, of past cultures, traditions and our strong value system.

The Ramayana is not just an epic or a tale, but also an educational medium to demonstrate the importance of values such as loving and respecting our family, keeping our promises, protecting the weak and so on. By using the Magnum Opus of Hindu mythology, the Ramayana as a medium, we can teach our children many life-skills and ethics.

The Ramayana is one of the greatest epics of Hindu Mythology. Written by the Hindu sage Valmiki, the Ramayana is not just a story, but also an educational medium used by the ancient sages to promote the importance of doing yourdharma (duty) in relationships. The Ramayana depicts characters that we should aspire to be like, such as the ideal father, ideal son, ideal brother, ideal leader, ideal wife, etc.

Important values and ethics can be taught to children by way of storytelling. The Ramayana and Mahabharata especially, preach a lot of values that we would want our children to imbibe. Not for nothing, are they the most commonly taught epics since ancient times.

Instead of simply telling children to respect elders, examples from these epics would teach them the same with more emphasis.

Now, parents, teachers and care givers can use one of the greatest gems of Hindu Mythology, namely the Ramayana, to promote some of the most important moral values of life in children.

Moral Values of Life Taught by Indian Epics

Sibling Bonding

If your child has siblings, focus on the love the brothers, Rama, Lakhsman, Bharat and Shatrughna had for each other. Why did Lakshman, who was used to all the worldly luxuries, decide to give that all up willingly to live with his elder brother for 14 years, full of hardship, in a forest? This was because he loved his brother and could not bear the thought of living 14 years without him. Similarly, Bharata had refused to sit on the throne and rule Ayodhya in place of his brother Rama, the rightful heir, who had been very unfairly banished to live a hard life in the forest.

Children can also be taught the importance of standing up for siblings with the example of Surpanakha. When Surpanakha was insulted by Lakshman, her brothers Khaara and Dooshan had rushed to avenge her, not caring that it could lead to their death. When Rama and Lakshman did indeed vanquish her brothers, Surpanakha sought her other brother Ravana’s help, setting the wheels for the Epic Battle between Rama and Ravana, good and evil, into motion.

In today’s materialistic world where disputes between siblings are commonplace, stories like these need to be extolled and repeated, time and again. We need to encourage our children to not only spend time with their siblings, but also stand up for each other, and be there for each other when required.

Such deep affection can be cultivated only when we encourage such growth, and keep emphasizing the importance of love amongst siblings.

Differentiating between Good and Evil

Children can be inspired to choose right over wrong, even when wrong may feel more appropriate by giving them the example of Bharat, who was awarded the honour of ruling the mighty kingdom of Ayodhya. Bharat could have just ruled by becoming the king and thereby enjoying the absolute power and luxury that came with it, but his sense of justice would not permit him to do what most others would greedily do. Instead, upon learning that his mother Kaikeyi had unjustly managed to get Rama banished from Ayodhya, he immediately went into the forest to look for Rama and offer him his rightful position as the ruler of Ayodhya. So great was his devotion to his brother, and so strong was his desire to be fair and just, that when Rama refused to return to Ayodhya before completing his 14 years in exile, Bharat placed Rama’s footwear on the throne and ruled Ayodhya in the name of Rama – as Rama’s emissary until he returned to regain his rightful position.

This teaches our children that even if something is extremely desirable, it should only be accepted if attained in a right manner, without hurting or affecting anyone else in an unfair and unjust way.

The Importance of a Promise or Commitment

Kaikeyi, the queen of Ayodhya, and wife of King Dashrath had been granted two boons when she had saved his life on the battlefield. The day before Dashrath was to retire and crown his eldest son Rama as king, Kaikeyi demanded that Dashrath grant her the boons promised to her. Her first desire was that Rama should be exiled to the forest for fourteen years, and the second, that her son, Bharat, be crowned King instead. Dashrath was naturally heartbroken at the prospect of having to send his son into exile for fourteen years, but for this noble hearted clan, honouring one’s word is the highest duty. Even when Dashrath began to falter at the prospect of actually honouring that promise due to his love for his first born, and pleaded with Rama not to leave, Rama reminded his father of the value of a promise given and left Ayodhya to keep his father’s word. When Bharat begged Rama to return to Ayodhya, Rama once again reminded Bharat that he could not and would not dishonour his father by breaking the promise he had made to Kaikeyi.

Rama, a prince who had been brought up in the lap of luxury, and who stood to gain a position of absolute power and luxury if he disregarded his father’s promise willingly, chose to live a life of exile and hardship for 14 years in a forest. Now, what does it teach our children? It teaches them not to break the promise and commitment they have made to their teachers and parents.

Affection and Reverence for Parents

Rama willingly chose to spend 14 years in exile in a forest to protect his father’s much respected honour. Such was the honour he paid to his father. Dashrath too loved his child so deeply that when Rama left for the forest, Dashrath could not bear the thought of being away from his son for 14 years and breathed his last.

This demonstrates the insurmountable affection and reverence Rama had for his parents. He listened to every command his parents made, he honoured their promises and ensured that no one could accuse them of being unfair. He did not go against his parents’ wishes even though he was the rightful heir. He obeyed his parents and is immortalised for doing so. It also showcases the love parents have for their children. Hopefully, the fact that Dashrath died pining for his son will teach children all about the attachment parents have for them, and make them even more devoted.

Be Warned of Bad Advice

Kaikeyi, the youngest queen, was fundamentally a good woman and thus King Dashrath’s most favourite one. Unfortunately, she was manipulated to send Rama into exile and insist on her son Bharat being crowned king because of the venomous counsel of her maid servant whom she considered loyal and wise. Manthara, the evil one, not only poisoned Kaikeyi’s mind into demanding those two appalling boons, but also ruined her life. She not only lost her beloved husband but also her son Bharat, for whom she had asked for those very boons. Her own son, Bharath instead of praising her as she had thought, chastised her for the dreadful behaviour.

This is a very important lesson for our children. It teaches them to stay on guard against vicious advice and wrong company. It teaches to be vigilant in order to avoid being misled. It teaches them to be firm of mind, and not let better judgement get swayed easily by people. It teaches them to question their behaviour and think of the consequences of their actions before making any big or small decisions.

Defending the Weak

Jatayu, was my favourite character in the story. And I had spent many hours preening into the blue skies to find him when I was a child. Now, Jatayu, an aged demigod in the form of a vulture, had witnessed Ravana kidnapping Sita and taking her forcefully to Lanka. Paying no attention to his old age, Jatayu tried to save Sita by fighting Ravana valiantly, but failed miserably. Unfortunately, he also got fatally wounded in the massive fight. When Rama and Lakshman were looking for Sita, they came across Jatayu where he was lying, breathing his last. Jatayu informed Rama about Sita’s whereabouts and Ravana’s plans before breathing his last. Moved to tears by the courage and valour of the aged Jatayu, Rama performed the last rites as though Jatayu was his father.

This teaches our child that they must always stand up for the weak. The fact that Jatayu was so old and still tried to take on the powerful Ravana single-handedly, teaches our children to be courageous and be unafraid to take on any challenge that comes along the way, and accomplish it to the best of ability.

Thus, keeping so many invaluable ideals in mind that can be easily taught to our children, let us retell the Ramayana not just for its holiness, but also because this Magnum Opus is an important tool for instructing the future generations the code of right and ethical behaviour. The Ramayana will enrich their lives and help us mould our children to be the leaders of tomorrow, imbibed with long lasting cultural and traditional foundation.

Special Thanks to Kavita Bhupta Ghosh , teacher of DPS, Bangalore South, for sharing her thoughts. This Guest Post has been written by Kavita Ghosh.

Wondering why childhood obesity in India is increasing at such an alarming rate? Well, this is simply because the Gen-Y kids prefer video games more than outdoor games and they choose burgers, soft drinks and all kinds of packaged food over the regular ‘good food’ you make at home. So, it is pretty natural for them to have the odd problems related to obesity. Yes! Staying confined at home instead of playing outside and having constant junk foods can cause serious obesity problems in your kids that might lead to a series of additional ailments in the long run. Therefore, as parents it is your sole liability to bring a positive change in their lifestyle. Following are the things you can do to prevent your kids from becoming obese.

Encouraging healthy eating habits

You can bring a serious change to your little ones’ lifestyle by changing their diet plan. Yes! We know how difficult it is to ask your kids have veggies. But then, if you think a little creatively and try out the simple veggies in an innovative and out-of-the-box manner, your kiddos are bound to love it. Innovate and make new recipes with veggies, meat, whole grains and dairy products. Keep the presentation extremely chic and happening. That’s all you have to do. Your kids will love the idea and the food too. So when you incorporate this innovative diet plan, they’ll soon love your home-made burgers loaded with veggies and meat, than the processed burgers that are available outside.

Helping your kids stay fit and active

This is another thing you can do to reduce obesity in your little ones. Childhood obesity in India is a common issue that can be handled and changed with a few creative ways, like this one. You can help your kids be active and fit by encouraging some healthy changes in their lifestyle.

So while they watch TV, ask them to come for a brisk walk with you. They’ll definitely make a small fuss at the beginning. But once they explore the vivid greens of the outside world, they’ll love it more than TV, video games or anything else.

You can also encourage them to join their favorite sport. Whether it is swimming, soccer, tag playing, rope jumping, cricket, tennis or anything else they love; just let them do it. Encourage them to dance or do any kind of physical activity that sheds out their lethargic avatar. This will definitely work wonders in keeping the kids fit.

Kids today are smart and so there’s no point in ruling them while they watch TV or gorge in junk food. Instead, simply make them try out these innovative sports and scrumptious homemade delicacies at home. With childhood obesity in India increasing as fast as that in the US, there is a reason to take time before you take your kid to the first outing at the McDonald. Essentially, if your kid is on a healthy diet till the age of 10, he is likely to maintain the health rules later.