In the first semi-final, Brazil and Spain were deadlocked until the last minute of normal time, when Spain struck what seemed to be the winner, only for their fans to watch in horror as one of the Spanish defenders turned the ball pass his own keeper two minutes later. And so, on to extra time. In the last minute (again!) of extra time Spain scored a controversial goal with the Brazilian keeper claiming he was kicked in the ear while he scrambled to get a hold of the ball in a goal-mouth scrimmage. In the second semi-final, Germany scored two goals in the first half and, although Argentina fought back to reduce the deficit to one goal, held on for the win.
Tuesday 20 July 2010
Sarvodaya is now a Plus Two School
Flash News: Sarvodaya, the Jesuit school in Wayanad, Kerala, has been approved to offer Plus Two courses (the equivalent of a Sixth Form College) by the State Education Department. This means that Sarvodaya students can now continue to study here and reap the benefits of Jesuit pedagogy instead of having to scour around for pre-university seats.
Coming on the heels of approval of its 'minority school' status last week by the central Minorities Commission, this is a big development in the 20-year history of Jesuit involvement with the school. Having minority status means the school is protected by the Constitutional rights of minorities to preserve, propagate and develop their own culture and values. In practice, one of the most significant consequences is that the management of the institution in question has greater control over staff appointments. Thus, the Jesuit identity of the school can be further strengthened and the Ignatian outlook of our staff better developed.
Sunday 4 July 2010
A Week at Eachome
As I come to the end of a physically tiring yet psychologically enervating week where I found myself as an adhoc substitute teacher (English, IT, Maths, Music!), I just wanted to share a few highlights of the week that was at Sarvodaya, Eachome:
Characteristics of Jesuit Education
(Below is an abridged/edited version of a speech I gave at the awards function last Tuesday at Sarvodaya High School.)
Respected Chairman, distinguished guests, parents, teachers and my dear friends.
We are gathered here today for two reasons. One, to inaugurate the school club activities for this year. Two, to felicitate the students who obtained high grades at last year's SSLC (Kerala-equivalent of the O-Levels) examinations. The Chairman has already spoken to you about the first, so I would like to focus my speech today on the second.
First, let me once again congratulate the students who received 9 or 10 A+ grades in this year's examinations. Your parents are proud of you; your teachers are proud of you and your juniors gathered here today are proud of you. We wish you all the best for your future studies and careers.
All of the students here today – past and present – are part of a large community of nearly 30 lakh (3 million) students who study at Jesuit educational institutions around the world. Wherever you go, you can always say with pride that you studied at Sarvodaya High School, a Jesuit educational institution. Last year, I worked at our Jesuit school in South London (Sacred Heart College, Wimbledon aka Wimbledon College) where the students look different from you, speak a different language, come from a different culture, do different things with their spare time etc. Nevertheless, you are joined with them by the common bond of your Jesuit education. Studying at a Jesuit school means that people will have certain expectations of you. I would like to focus today on three characteristics you are expected to acquire by the end of your studies in a Jesuit school – excellence in learning, excellence in life and becoming boys and girls (or men and women) for others.
Excellence in learning is not about bookish knowledge or remembering facts. It means that people expect you to have depth of understanding, of insight in all that you have learnt here. It also means that you are expected to have breadth of knowledge – about the world, about society, about yourselves. This can only happen if you are constantly keeping yourself aware of what is happening around us; by reading the daily newspapers, for instance. Excellence in learning can only be achieved if you apply yourselves with discipline to your studies.
Discipline is also part of the second point I want to raise – excellence in life. People will expect from Jesuit students excellence in all aspects of life – work, extra-curricular activities, arts, music, drama etc. In that respect, the other purpose of today's function – inaugurating the club activities – plays a crucial role. In your time here, I hope you will participate in these wholeheartedly. But excellence in life is not just about excellence in achievement. It also means excellence in virtue. As students of a Jesuit school, people will expect you to be men and women of kindness, of courage, of wisdom, of gratitude.
This brings me to the last point – being boys and girls for others. If you have come out of a Jesuit school with a selfish mindset, then our education has not done its work. Concern for others is an absolute must. You can begin in small ways: if you notice a classmate is lagging behind on school work, take the time to help her/him catch up. These three aspects – excellence in learning, excellence in life and concern for others must be part of your everyday life in this school.
Congratulating our former students once again for their achievements in the examinations, I conclude my speech.
Respected Chairman, distinguished guests, parents, teachers and my dear friends.
We are gathered here today for two reasons. One, to inaugurate the school club activities for this year. Two, to felicitate the students who obtained high grades at last year's SSLC (Kerala-equivalent of the O-Levels) examinations. The Chairman has already spoken to you about the first, so I would like to focus my speech today on the second.
First, let me once again congratulate the students who received 9 or 10 A+ grades in this year's examinations. Your parents are proud of you; your teachers are proud of you and your juniors gathered here today are proud of you. We wish you all the best for your future studies and careers.
All of the students here today – past and present – are part of a large community of nearly 30 lakh (3 million) students who study at Jesuit educational institutions around the world. Wherever you go, you can always say with pride that you studied at Sarvodaya High School, a Jesuit educational institution. Last year, I worked at our Jesuit school in South London (Sacred Heart College, Wimbledon aka Wimbledon College) where the students look different from you, speak a different language, come from a different culture, do different things with their spare time etc. Nevertheless, you are joined with them by the common bond of your Jesuit education. Studying at a Jesuit school means that people will have certain expectations of you. I would like to focus today on three characteristics you are expected to acquire by the end of your studies in a Jesuit school – excellence in learning, excellence in life and becoming boys and girls (or men and women) for others.
Excellence in learning is not about bookish knowledge or remembering facts. It means that people expect you to have depth of understanding, of insight in all that you have learnt here. It also means that you are expected to have breadth of knowledge – about the world, about society, about yourselves. This can only happen if you are constantly keeping yourself aware of what is happening around us; by reading the daily newspapers, for instance. Excellence in learning can only be achieved if you apply yourselves with discipline to your studies.
Discipline is also part of the second point I want to raise – excellence in life. People will expect from Jesuit students excellence in all aspects of life – work, extra-curricular activities, arts, music, drama etc. In that respect, the other purpose of today's function – inaugurating the club activities – plays a crucial role. In your time here, I hope you will participate in these wholeheartedly. But excellence in life is not just about excellence in achievement. It also means excellence in virtue. As students of a Jesuit school, people will expect you to be men and women of kindness, of courage, of wisdom, of gratitude.
This brings me to the last point – being boys and girls for others. If you have come out of a Jesuit school with a selfish mindset, then our education has not done its work. Concern for others is an absolute must. You can begin in small ways: if you notice a classmate is lagging behind on school work, take the time to help her/him catch up. These three aspects – excellence in learning, excellence in life and concern for others must be part of your everyday life in this school.
Congratulating our former students once again for their achievements in the examinations, I conclude my speech.
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