SACRED HEART CONVENT HIGH SCHOOL - AHMEDNAGAR: TEACHERS' VALUE EDUCATION ORIENTATION
July 27, 2013
A second day fruitfully spent at Sacred Heart Convent High School - Ahmednagar. Eighty four teachers took part in a one day Value Orientation Program that was organized by the AVEC from Mumbai. The theme for the day was 'Management By Values' (MBV). The opening words of welcome and introduction was given by Mrs. Saji Bhat. Thanks to Sr. Toynette, Principal of the school for inviting us to conduct this program, six months well in advance.
After an introductory prayer song, 'Sarweshaam, Swastir Bhavatu', that set a spiritual tone to the whole program, Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes, invited the teachers to set aside all their distractions and focus on a fantasy meditation, that involved 'rhythmic breathing' and connecting important moments of one's everyday experiences. By inhaling all that was positive and exhaling all that was negative and toxic, the breathing exercise was really relaxing and life enhancing too. He then made a brief presentation of all our AVEC activities during the last scholastic year and invited the teachers to be connected with AVEC and take advantage of all our Value Resources too. He then introduced Fr. Glenford Lowe to the teachers. he also made a mention of his noble act of donating his kidney to a fellow Salesian priest.
Fr. Glenford then took the remaining part of the four hour long session. He started of with a call to embracing a new perspective to life. "Without a new perspective in life, we will fall into the rut of routine and drudgery. Change your perspective of life and change your lifestyle too. Only a 'shift in Values' will help you to change your lifestyle too", he kept reminding them. With the help of a PowerPoint presentation, several personal testimonies, personal moments for reflection and group sharing, Fr. Glenford was able to kept the attention of the teachers all through the session.
The first part of the session was to make a shift from looking at Teaching as a career and to embrace it as a Vocation. "When teaching becomes a Vocation, then your life becomes more passionate, purposeful and peaceful. It is reflected in your lifestyle that is more happy, healthy and holy too", he said. He then invited the teachers to enter into the 'world of the young today', and to understand their pain points too. Their attitudes in life need to be changed, and this change must first start in their teachers. Once they see these values in their teachers (value guru), then, they too will be ready to make the necessary 'Value Shifts' in life.
The second part of the session focused on 'Management By Values' (MBV) and the importance of 'Aligning Personal Values with Institutional Values'. The more our Values align, the more effective and wholesome our personal attainment and job satisfaction would also be. Using simple examples, the teachers were able to plot their level of alignment and the necessary shifts that they had to make in order to move to living a more 'significant life'. Through a small 'puzzle' exercise, important values were also inculcated.
In the final part of the Orientation program, the Teachers were invited to plot their Goal values and means values on the 'Brian Hall-Benjamin Tonna Value Map' and to find out where they stand in relation to their perception of the world and how they need to make the necessary shifts to reach a 'Phase IV' level of Value Consciousness. Value Education is an 'Education To Becoming' and it is a life long process. Once we make the necessary value Shifts, we become 'Value Gurus' and only then will these values be caught by our students too.
"I am sure it will make a difference in my everyday life as a mother and teacher" - Mrs. Rao
"Enlightening and wonderful experience. Thanks a lot" - Mrs. Saji Bhat
"Father, you showed us how a change can change lives for a better future. Thanks for a very valuable session" - Mrs. Rumana Shaikh
"Thank you Fr. for your insightful session. May God bless all your endeavors" - E. Makhwan
"Thank you Father. It was indeed a wonderful experience. It will surely help make a difference in our lives" - Mrs. Lillian
"Thanks a lot. It was very inspiring. We really needed a turn in our teaching experience and because of your wonderful orientation program, 'it has shifted us towards a new tomorrow'. thanks for a new shift in our life. Thanks and God bless your sacrificial life" - Mrs. ida
