GANDHI AS SCHOOL MASTER

THE STORY OF MY EXPERIMENTS WITH TRUTH
By Mahatma Gandhi

PART 4
CHAPTER XXXII

AS SCHOOLMASTER

The reader will, I hope, bear in mind the fact that I am, in these chapters, describing things not mentioned, or only cursorily mentioned in the history of satyagraha in South Africa. If he does so, he will easily see the connection between the recent chapters.

As the Farm grew, it was found necessary to make some provision for the education of its boys and girls. There were, among these, Hindu, Mussalman, Parsi and Christian boys and some Hindu girls. I was not possible, and I did not think it necessary, to engage special teachers for them. It was not possible, for qualified Indian teachers were scarce, and even when available, none would be ready to go to a place 21 miles distant from Johannesburg on a small salary.

Also we were certainly not overflowing with money. And I did not think it necessary to import teachers from outside the Farm. I did not believe in the existing system of education, and I had a mind to find out by experience and experiment the true system. Only this much I knew-that, under ideal conditions, true education could be imparted only by the parents, and that then there should be the minimum of outside help, that Tolstoy Farm was a family, in which I occupied the place of the father, and that I should so far as possible shoulder the responsibility for the training of the young.

The conception no doubt was not without its flaws. All the young people had not been with me since their childhood, they had been brought up in different conditions and environments, and they did not not belong to the same religion. How could I do full justice to the young people, thus circumstanced, even if I assumed the place of paterfamilias ? But I had always given the first place to the culture of the heart or the building of character, and as I felt confident that moral training could be given to all alike, no matter how different their ages and their upbringing, I decided to live amongst them all the twenty-four hours of the day as their father. I regarded character buildings as the proper foundation for their education and, if the foundation was firmly laid, I was sure that the children could learn all the other things themselves or with the assistance of friends.

But as I fully appreciated the necessity of a literary training in addition, I started some classes with the help of Mr. Kallenbach and Sjt. Pragji Desai. Nor did I under-rate the building up of the body.

This they got in the course of their daily routine. For there were no servants on the Farm, and all the work, from cooking down to scavenging, was done by the inmates. There were many fruit trees to be looked after, and enough gardening to be done as well. Mr.

Kallencbach was fond of gardening and had gained some experience of this work in one of the governmental model gardens.

It was obligatory on all, young and old, who were not engaged in the kitchen, to give some time to gardening. The children had the lion"s share of this work, which included digging pits, felling timber and lifting loads. This gave them ample exercise. They took delight in the work, and so they did not generally need any other exercise or games. Of course some of them, and sometimes all of them, malingered and shirked. Sometimes I connived at their pranks, but often I was strict with them. I dare say they did not like the strictness, but I do not recollect their having resisted it. Whenever I was strict, I would, by argument, convince them that it was not right to play with one"s work. The conviction would, however, be short-lived, the next moment they would again leave their work and go to play. All the same we got along, and at any rate they built up fine physiques. There was scarcely any illness on the Farm, though it must be said that good air and water and regular hours of food were not a little responsible for this.

A word about vocational training. It was my intention to teach every one of the youngsters some useful manual vocation. For this purpose Mr. Kallenbach went to a Trappist monastery and returned having learnt shoe-making. I learnt it from him and taught the art to such as were ready to take it up. Mr. Kallenbach had some experience of carpentry, and there was another inmate who knew it; so we had a small class in carpentry. Cooking almost all the youngsters knew.

All this was new to them. They had never even dreamt that they would have to learn these things some day. For generally the only training that Indian children received in South Africa was in the three R"s. On Tolstoy Farm we made it a rule that the youngsters should not be asked to do what the teachers did not do, and therefore, when they were asked to do any work, there was always a teacher co operating and actually working with them. Hence whatever the youngsters learnt, they learnt cheerfully. Literary training and character building must be dealt with in the following chapters.

CBSE to overhaul Class X, XII exams next year

Kolkata, Sept. 23

The question paper pattern of Central Board of Secondary Education has been overhauled focussing on objective-type questions for its Class-X and XII examinations with effect from next academic year. The Board also plans to launch grading system for Class-X examinations as soon as it gets the green light from the ministry of human resource development.

For the first time, in 2008, examinees will have to appear for their Board examinations under a new curriculum. At the same time, to maintain a balance between speed and accuracy ~ for students to complete their papers comfortably, the typology and design of the question papers have undergone major alterations. Objective-type questions find more importance in the papers. Shifting from the idea of multi-choice question, where students have to choose the correct answer from the multiple options, under the new system, they have to write their own answers.

Twenty per cent of the questions will be based on higher order thinking skills (Hots) which will test their abilities in thinking and analysis rather than pure bookish knowledge. Chairman of the CBSE, Mr Ashok Ganguly, said that objective-type questions were aimed at getting the correct picture of a student's performance. That part will delve into their minds through fundamental questions instead of those from text books. "Since our aim is not to make students only academically strong, the paper has been designed in a manner that will need a synchronisation of head, heart and hand,” he said.

He also stressed that under the new pattern, examinees would have to attempt all questions. There may be internal options, for example, question No-1 might have two options ~ that is 1a and 1b ~ and the examinees could answer anyone. A specimen of the new version of question papers is already available on the Board's website.

The Board chairman also observed that a holistic idea about a student was possible only through a continuous and comprehensive evaluation process, which included internal assessment, abolishment of marks and introduction of grading system. Mr Ganguly added that the Board already designed a model for introduction of grading system in Class-X exams but was awaiting a final nod from the MHRD.

He added that internal assessment had already started in subjects such as Mathematics, Science and Social Science in Class-IX and Class-X. While five-point grading system is already in Class-III and Class-V, it is seven-point grading system in Class-VI and Class-VIII.

WATER:Consumers Beware

PAANI PAANI RE...

“The ISI has very high standards. In fact, ‘mineral water’ means that it should have undergone no processing at all. Presently, what is sold in the market as ‘mineral water’ is actually ‘packaged’ water. Real mineral water must have no additions, must have not undergone any ozonisation and should not have had any processing in the first place.”

"Packaged drinking water", the official notification defines as water derived from any source of potable water, which is subjected to treatment such as filtration, activated carbon filtration, demineralisation and reverse osmosis. The standard for packaged drinking water, which is being introduced for the first time, is more flexible in terms of source and processing.

The popular brands are only Packaged Drinking water and not Mineral Water,only four or five brands in India can claim to be Mineral Water. Customer should learn to make a difference between these two.

Schools cannot compel students to disclose caste: SC

The Supreme Court on Monday said that schools in the country cannot compel students to disclose their caste status at the time of admission.

Any such disclosure shall be optional, or in other words, it should be left to the discretion of the student to divulge his/her caste identity, a bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan said.

The bench, however, dismissed a PIL filed by an 81-year-old freedom fighter, Salemvelu Gandhi alias Velu, from Tamil Nadu who sought a complete ban on "caste disclosure" forms circulated by schools to students during admissions.

The apex court, while appreciating the "laudable objective" of the petitioner, said it cannot pass any direction on the issue as it would create problems for those who want to avail free scholarships and other benefits.

The bench said the school leaving certificate forms the basis for SCs, STs and BCs pursuing higher education or seeking jobs, as otherwise such beneficiaries would not be able to get the benefits.

How to Perform Self Hypnosis

Self-Hypnosis is a naturally occurring state of mind which can be defined as a heightened state of focused concentration, (trance), with the willingness to follow instructions (suggestibility).

Steps:

1. Go to a comfortable, private place and sit in any comfortable chair or couch. Although some people prefer to lie down, you are more susceptible to sleep than when sitting up.
2. Close your eyes and try to rid your mind of any feelings of fear, stress, or anxiety. When you begin, you will find it difficult not to think. You may find that thoughts keep intruding. When this happens, don't try to force the thoughts out. Observe them impartially, and then let them slip away.
3. Recognize the tension in your body. Beginning with your toes, imagine the tension slowly falling away from your body and vanishing. Imagine it freeing each body part one at a time starting with your toes and working its way up your body. Visualize each part of your body becoming lighter and lighter as the tension is removed. relax your toes, then your feet. Continue with your calves, thighs, hips, stomach and so on, until you've relaxed each portion, including your face and head. Using imagery techniques of something you find comforting or soothing, such as water(I feel the water rushing over my feet and ankles, cleansing them of tension)can be effective as well.
4. Take slow, deep breaths. When you exhale, see the tension and negativity leaving in a dark cloud. As you inhale, see the air returning as a bright force filled with life and energy.
5. Appreciate the fact that you are now extremely relaxed. Imagine you are at the top of a flight of 10 stairs. Picture every detail of this scene from the top to the bottom. Tell yourself that you are going to descend the stairs, counting each step down, starting at 10. Picture each number in your mind. Imagine that each number you count is further down and one step closer to the bottom. After each number, you will feel yourself drifting further and further into deep relaxation. As you take each step, imagine the feel of the step under your feet. Keep counting and stepping down until you reach the bottom. Once you reach the bottom imagine that you are happy and relaxed. I find that rolling my eyes gently back into my head induces a trance rather well.
6. At this point, you should begin to address the issue you're concerned about. Speak in the present tense. Your subconscious mind does not understand negatives in speech - avoid using statements with negative connotation such as "I don't want to be tired and irritable." Instead, say, "I am calm and relaxed." Examples of positive statements "I am strong and slender," "I am successful and positive," and, if you have pain, "My back feels wonderful." (see warning on PAIN)
7. Repeat your statement(s) to yourself as many times as you wish.
8. When you are satisfied, say to yourself that you will now count upwards to 0 to 10, and when you reach the number 10, you will slowly rise back to normal consciousness and remain calm and relaxed. Proceed to count upwards, again picturing the numbers in detail.
9. Once you have ascended, give yourself a few moments before opening your eyes, and take your time getting up.

Mutual Funds-Why should I opt for this?

Nowadays, Mutual Funds are one of the hottest topics among small investors. Since the last few years, the mutual fund industry is performing well and offering an average return of 20% per annum. Compared to other traditional investments, it has given a far better return…. Fixed deposits are offering a maximum return of 9.5%, Postal schemes are offering a return of merely 7 to 8%, and companies’ fixed deposit scheme too are offering returns in the same range.On one hand, we are not getting sufficient returns from our traditional investments and on the other there is apprehension about rising inflation. If you are keeping money idle, then apart from an opportunity lost there is a devaluation of your amount equivalent to the inflation rate. Currently, inflation rate is around 4.5%, thus if you are investing your money then you should keep one thing in mind that the returns from such investments should be at least equal to the inflation rate. This helps us calculate the real returns from any investment. For eg. if Fixed Deposit is giving a return of 9.5 percent then in real terms the return will be 5% i.e. 9.5% less 4.5%. Then you should also consider the taxation rates to get your effective returns.Now it is essential to find an investment, which will offer higher returns and at the same time be easy to operate and Mutual fund is one that satisfies both objectives.The main features of a mutual fund can be studied in the following way-1. Designed to suit the individual small investorsMutual funds are designed in such a way that small investors can invest their money in the scheme. The investor thus can invest in instruments, which require bigger initial outlays.2. Adjusting the period of maturityMutual funds have the capability to covert a primary security of a certain maturity in to the another security of different maturity.For example, suppose an investment has a maturity period of one year, thus it is necessary to engage your fund for at least one year. However, when you are opting for mutual funds, you need not bother about maturity terms of investments made by the mutual fund. The investor can withdraw the investment as per the terms between the mutual fund and him.3. Risk DiversificationInvestments mean managing risk rather than managing returns and one of the good ways of managing risk is diversification of one’s investments. The small investor faces a hurdle while trying to diversify his investment due to lack of funds and thus is bound to face higher amount of risk. However mutual funds can easily diversify its risk as compared to an individual investor as it has access to larger funds. Thus when a mutual fund investor is investing an amount as small as Rs 5000 then too he is reaping the benefits of diversification.4. Professional touch to your investmentOne way to enjoy sound sleep is to handover your investments into expert hands. Yet, it is not possible for small investors due to the cost associated with it. It is not feasible too, to employ a fund manager for small investment like Rs 5000.Mutual funds find possible and feasible to employ experts to control assets under management (AUM). Hence by investing in mutual funds you are hiring the services of fund managers.Thus, from the above facts it can be concluded that it is always better to opt for mutual funds to manage your risk and maximize returns.

source: http://netpaisa.blogspot.com

The Ground rules of Mutual Fund Investing

Moses gave to his followers 10 commandments that were to be followed till eternity. The world of investments too has several ground rules meant for investors who are novices in their own right and wish to enter the myriad world of investments. These come in handy for there is every possibility of losing what one has if due care is not taken. Assess yourself: Self-assessment of one’s needs; expectations and risk profile is of prime importance failing which, one will make more mistakes in putting money in right places than otherwise. One should identify the degree of risk bearing capacity one has and also clearly state the expectations from the investments. Irrational expectations will only bring pain. Try to understand where the money is going: It is important to identify the nature of investment and to know if one is compatible with the investment. One can lose substantially if one picks the wrong kind of mutual fund. In order to avoid any confusion it is better to go through the literature such as offer document and fact sheets that mutual fund companies provide on their funds. Don't rush in picking funds, think first: one first has to decide what he wants the money for and it is this investment goal that should be the guiding light for all investments done. It is thus important to know the risks associated with the fund and align it with the quantum of risk one is willing to take. One should take a look at the portfolio of the funds for the purpose. Excessive exposure to any specific sector should be avoided, as it will only add to the risk of the entire portfolio. Mutual funds invest with a certain ideology such as the "Value Principle" or "Growth Philosophy". Both have their share of critics but both philosophies work for investors of different kinds. Identifying the proposed investment philosophy of the fund will give an insight into the kind of risks that it shall be taking in future. Invest. Don’t speculate: A common investor is limited in the degree of risk that he is willing to take. It is thus of key importance that there is thought given to the process of investment and to the time horizon of the intended investment. One should abstain from speculating which in other words would mean getting out of one fund and investing in another with the intention of making quick money. One would do well to remember that nobody can perfectly time the market so staying invested is the best option unless there are compelling reasons to exit. Don’t put all the eggs in one basket: This old age adage is of utmost importance. No matter what the risk profile of a person is, it is always advisable to diversify the risks associated. So putting one’s money in different asset classes is generally the best option as it averages the risks in each category. Thus, even investors of equity should be judicious and invest some portion of the investment in debt. Diversification even in any particular asset class (such as equity, debt) is good. Not all fund managers have the same acumen of fund management and with identification of the best man being a tough task, it is good to place money in the hands of several fund managers. This might reduce the maximum return possible, but will also reduce the risks. Be regular: Investing should be a habit and not an exercise undertaken at one’s wishes, if one has to really benefit from them. As we said earlier, since it is extremely difficult to know when to enter or exit the market, it is important to beat the market by being systematic. The basic philosophy of Rupee cost averaging would suggest that if one invests regularly through the ups and downs of the market, he would stand a better chance of generating more returns than the market for the entire duration. The SIPs (Systematic Investment Plans) offered by all funds helps in being systematic. All that one needs to do is to give post-dated cheques to the fund and thereafter one will not be harried later. The Automatic investment Plans offered by some funds goes a step further, as the amount can be directly/electronically transferred from the account of the investor. Do your homework: It is important for all investors to research the avenues available to them irrespective of the investor category they belong to. This is important because an informed investor is in a better decision to make right decisions. Having identified the risks associated with the investment is important and so one should try to know all aspects associated with it. Asking the intermediaries is one of the ways to take care of the problem. Find the right funds Finding funds that do not charge much fees is of importance, as the fee charged ultimately goes from the pocket of the investor. This is even more important for debt funds as the returns from these funds are not much. Funds that charge more will reduce the yield to the investor. Finding the right funds is important and one should also use these funds for tax efficiency. Investors of equity should keep in mind that all dividends are currently tax-free in India and so their tax liabilities can be reduced if the dividend payout option is used. Investors of debt will be charged a tax on dividend distribution and so can easily avoid the payout options. Keep track of your investments Finding the right fund is important but even more important is to keep track of the way they are performing in the market. If the market is beginning to enter a bearish phase, then investors of equity too will benefit by switching to debt funds as the losses can be minimized. One can always switch back to equity if the equity market starts to show some buoyancy. Know when to sell your mutual funds: Knowing when to exit a fund too is of utmost importance. One should book profits immediately when enough has been earned i.e. the initial expectation from the fund has been met with. Other factors like non-performance, hike in fee charged and change in any basic attribute of the fund etc. are some of the reasons for to exit. For more on it, read "When to say goodbye to your mutual fund." Investments in mutual funds too are not risk-free and so investments warrant some caution and careful attention of the investor. Investing in mutual funds can be a dicey business for people who do not remember to follow these rules diligently, as people are likely to commit mistakes by being ignorant or adventurous enough to take risks more than what they can absorb. This is the reason why people would do well to remember these rules before they set out to invest their hard-earned money.

Source: Mutualfundsindia Research Team

WORLD TEACHERS DAY

World Teachers' Day, held annually on 5 October since 1994, commemorates teachers’ organisations worldwide. Its aim is to mobilise support for teachers and to ensure that the needs of future generations will continue to be met by teachers.

According to UNESCO, World Teachers' Day represents a significant token of the awareness, understanding and appreciation displayed for the vital contribution that teachers make to education and development.

Education International (EI) (the global union federation that represents education professionals worldwide) strongly believes that World Teachers' Day should be internationally recognized and celebrated around the world. EI also believes that the principles of the 1966 and 1997 Recommendations should be considered for implementation in all nations.

Over 100 countries observe World Teachers' Day. The efforts of Education International and its 390 member organisations have contributed to this widely spread recognition. Every year, EI launches a public awareness campaign to highlight the contributions of the teaching profession.

Hired by the blog

-By Ramiya Bhas

“7 0 mm celluloid full of sound, colour and emotion - overkill, if anything. I was waiting for the magic of Shrek 1 and 2 to be re-created in part 3, but it was nowhere to be seen. The green hulk was adorable as ever, but I felt the movie was less about him and more about an overflowing bandwagon of villains and fairies. Too many elements were pitched in, trying really hard to weave a story that was borderline Shrek-ish and somewhere, an attempt to churn out another Cinderella or Snow White-kind of tale, with an ‘Happily Ever After’ touch…”

Imagine these six lines being a part of your resume! Crazy, huh, especially since it says nothing about the individual’s work experience at all? To top it all, it actually reads like a movie review! That’s exactly what this is. If you read the blog attentively, what else does it convey about the blogger besides the fact that he/she is an avid Shrek fan? Think hard! An HR manager who read the above excerpt of the blog says that the blogger is highly opinionated, focussed and goal-oriented. There are certain aspects that reflect the personality traits of the blogger and impressed by the blogger’s style of expressing his/her opinion on the film director’s lack of spark in his current offering in comparison to his prequels, he feels that the blogger’s qualities aptly complement a marketing executive’s profile. Sounds weird? But that’s exactly what several HR managers are doing! ‘Hiring by the blog’ is a practice that looks set to be the newest hiring trend.

Blogs: a helper’s hand?

“We actually recruited an individual after reading her blog. When we met the candidate, we found that she was shy, and were not sure whether she would thrive in an advertising agency. However, reading her blog made us realise that she could express herself as long as the communication was written rather than oral. She turned out to be an excellent search executive,” says C Vasudevan, Manager–HR and Administration, Communicate 2.

“Though this practice is still in its nascent stage, corporate recruiters are surfing blogs to unearth candidates, expanding their talent pool and gaining insights that they can’t get from resumes and interviews,” claims Sapna Agarwal, Director HR (Recruitment) GlobalLogic. Some feel that traditional recruitment techniques are still going to be popular for now. “The implementation of this trend in India would take a few more years. This is because the overall awareness on the usage of such a tool has not caught the attention of the prospective candidate, wherein he/she maintains an individual blog that highlights his/her career aspirations and thereby allowing the recruiter to gain clear visibility on the candidate’s job interest,” explains Deepak Deshpande, Head - HR, Lionbridge India.

Agarwal adds, “Blogs also help employers probe further into the qualifications of potential hires. I spend one to two hours a week searching through blogs for new talent or additional information about the candidates I have interviewed. If I am impressed by the points the blogger is making and the way he/she is making them, the potential hire will jump up a few notches in my opinion.”

Blogs: a good idea?

Recruiters no longer believe in just getting personal references for their new candidates. They prefer to get up, close and personal, to get a sneak peek at the recruits’ personality. “If the candidate has written a blog, it helps to know the mental make-up of the person. A blog can be an effective tool to let me gauge into someone’s attitude quite easily,” explains Agarwal. She adds, “An HR manager can use a blog to understand the likes and dislikes of the candidate, as it allows them to structure the right environment for the candidate, like if the candidate is an introvert, they would never be happy with a job profile where they are required to meet strangers everyday!”

Blogs: do we, don’t we?

Now that HR managers feel that blogging for new recruits helps, does this mean organisations in India should start reading blogs? Deshpande thinks so. “Agencies and firms would continue using the traditional methods of recruitment and simultaneously adopt the recruitment through blogging model as it holds immense potential. There are some issues that are rarely addressed during an interview, like, ‘How passionate the candidate is about his/her present job profile, how innovative the candidate is, how the candidate deals with criticism, how the candidate convinces others, etc’. The recruiter will rarely get an insight in his/her short interview with the candidate, but blogging on the other hand could provide useful insights on this,” he says.

Agarwal on the other hand feels differently. She says, “There are various aspects about blogs which can lead to dire consequences. As a company and as an HR professional, one should be very specific of the blog and the content that the blogger has used and also the consistency of blogging. Many people try to live a life through their blogs that is not normally possible in their work or in professional life. A blogger may sound too strong online, but you might find him/her extra humble and down-to-earth in real life. The blog persona may be just that: a persona, not the real person,” she adds.

It’s just too early to decide if blogs will be the next recruitment tool. While companies agree that they are helpful, not all agree that candidates can be hired based just on their blogs. But most contend that a blog does give a unique perspective of a candidates’ personality that otherwise would have been difficult to assess. So if you’re in the market for a job, well, blog away!

(this article appeared in Times Ascent-By Ramiya Bhas )

HONESTY IS STILL THE BEST POLICY FOR SOME

Do you think honesty is still the best policy?If your answer is Yes,then you are in the Minority list!
If you say NO,then you are in .........! Honesty takes a backseat when money is in the front seat.
Everything is possible for some..nothing is possible for the honest and modest .You should be manipulative,diplomatic& mean minded for success-this is the new mantra of the screen age generation.Talent is- hunted and killed..."Send a SMS to decide whether viewers should be empowered to select(elect) a contestant"shouts a News Channel-again SMS -fooling who?Don't get desperate . Negativity attracts because it comes in attractive colours & variety and fascinates the majority.Without this Negative ,Positive will not have any value.Be in the Minotity List and be UNIQUE! a rare gem,precious stone! HAPPY TEACHERS DAY.