The Director
of Sumedha Centre, Dr. Jose Parappully, was invited to do three Workshops for
the teachers in schools run by Franciscan Missionaries of Mary in Mumbai.
The first Workshop,
on September 10, 2015, was for the teachers of St. Antony’s Girls’ High School,
close to Mumbai Central station, in a comparatively poor and socially backward
area of Mumbai. There were 36 teachers participating.
The topic of
the Workshop was “Educating with the Heart.”
Beginning
with the inspirational movie “Making a Difference” which refers to the
importance of being sensitive to the emotional situations of the students, Dr.
Parappully focused on what it means to be an Emotionally Sensitive Teacher.
Sighting relevant psychological theory and research, he emphasized
the importance of creating an environment in which students’ basic emotional
needs for relatedness, competence and autonomy are met. He highlighted the
crucial role of empathetic understanding and communication.
These
workshops here were focused on “Enhancing Educational Excellence.”
The first of
these workshops, on September 11, was for 36 teachers and non-teaching staff of
the secondary section of the school. The second, on September 12, was for 34
teachers of the pre-primary and primary sections.
Using data
from Organizational Psychological research, Dr. Parappully highlighted the ingredients
that contribute to institutional excellence, and how these can be cultivated at
Villa Theresa School.
Short films,
songs, experiential exercises, and group discussions were used to explore
current realities and future possibilities, and arrive at practical decisions
and commitments.
