My Good School

My Good School Program for schools helps empower students by creating an environment for the personal and social development of an individual. By subscribing to our philosophy of quality in education, offering an environment where experiential learning is made possible through activities beyond just study, brings to life learning that would otherwise be theoretical and uncoordinated. #MyGoodSchool

How do the 4S’s - Service, Skill, Sport and Study - shapes our lives? What is the influence of the School in our lives? Take a closer look at your school years and see how first from service, on to skill… we evolve. If you delve even further, you will find that the 4S’s are placed in the dictionary in the very same order. Moving from your small family space on to school, it all starts with learning to give and share, your space, your food, your things… and this really if the first form of service. Yes, you acquire skills, play a sport for good health and get the full experience at school, to achieve what we call the goal of ‘study’.

With three decades of volunteering with schools, in 2012 the search for My Good School took me to the Bali village of Rajasthan and this is where we have worked to build perhaps the My Good School. The Fabindia School is indeed a shining example of an aristocracy of service. This school's mission is to provide access to high-quality education for boys and girls at the rural level using English as the medium of instruction. The school views primary education as a major stepping stone towards social mobility, equality and employment opportunities. Since its inception, the school has been committed to encouraging education for girls. From being the first English medium school to admit girls to being recognised as one of the five Changemaker Schools in India in 2018 by CSE. The twenty-five-year celebrations of The Fabindia School in 2017, were indeed a celebration of My Good School.

The My Good School designation shows the value a school places on professional learning and student achievement. The school works for the personal and social development of an individual, by subscribing to our philosophy of quality in education, offering an environment where experiential learning is made possible through activities beyond just study; this brings to life learning that would otherwise be theoretical and uncoordinated.

The term education encompasses a whole gamut of experiential learning which, in a school, is given through teachers in the classroom and often, more importantly, outside. It is the nature of the experience and how it is designed to be imparted that makes the difference between a good school and an ordinary school. How are the academic subjects taught and what is it a school should teach?

There are three important functions, among others, of the educational process in the classroom apart from mere learning:

• To develop problem-solving abilities.
• To develop creative abilities, and
• To develop curiosity and an inquisitive spirit.

Does the school have systems of teaching and learning that encourage the development of the above? For instance, through assignments, seminars and project work? What place does the library have in the learning process? In the assessment systems used by the school, how much emphasis is given to marks?

Education = Service + Skill + Sport + Study

Often the opportunities for learning outside the classroom are greater, through sports and games and other activities like adventure sports, dramatics and community service. All play an important role in developing character and citizenship. A good school will provide a balance of opportunities in its curriculum to allow a student to develop his or her special interests and talent. Four children as depicted in the logo, are at work in school, and as a community build the My Good School.

The colours of the My Good School mark are all deeply thought and signify the philosophy. The collaborative magenta for Service, to symbolize "anti-racism", young people bring the world together and do not like being differentiated by colour, caste, creed... other divisive ways. Communities must be built. The serene green for Skill is used as the word green is closely related to the Old English verb growan, "to grow". Individuals must develop skills for life. The electric cyan for Sport affirms we cannot make any colour without this primary shade, this portrays the need for a "basic" understanding of the needs of the young people. The prestigious blue for Study is all-pervading and the dominant colour. It enhances vision, we need to think "beyond the blue", intellectual development is a necessity.

My Good School helps young people follow their passion in Service, Skill, Sport and Study. The four disciplines form the key elements for delivering quality in education. The school may focus on one as their speciality, a good school works to deliver a balance of all. Every person for us is a full 10/10.  What matters is the emphasis we as individuals give to each of the four S's. For some 'Study' could be full 10, for some 'Sport' could be 10, yet the most complete individuals will value each of the four S's and find themselves.

My Good School works for the personal and social development of an individual by offering an environment where:

• Experiential learning is made possible through activities beyond just study, this brings to life learning which would otherwise be theoretical and uncoordinated.
• Encouraging students to become involved in activities in the community outside the confines of the school curriculum will help develop their confidence, knowledge and networks.
• With teachers’ encouraging young people, they can benefit fully from what both the school and outside interests can offer, this can be a key factor in their progressing successfully through adolescence into a fulfilling and rewarding adult life.

For me in particular, the quest for My Good School continues and the journey so far has brought a great sense of fulfilment, all credit for this must go to Doon and the great masters who have not only reshaped our lives but have even set the benchmark on the quality of education in India.

https://hundred.org/en/innovations/my-good-school

References:

1. The Rose Bowl, the official newsletter of the Doon School Old Boys’ Society October 2018
2. The Quest For My Good School, blog posts and articles from Sandeep Dutt's writings.
3. Learning Forward India website www.SchoolEducation.com