A Legend With A Vision
A LEGEND WITH A VISION
The academic year has come to an end and just like every year I was taking a reality check on the achievements of this year as well as the areas which need attention, improvisation and follow-ups.
One of the areas where I can say that a big milestone has been achieved is the remedial education programme which is on-going at Saraswati Vidyalaya, Rabodi, Thane. This has been possible because of the dedicated team and the support and understanding of the teachers. However this makes me wonder as to how many students in Mumbai actually are getting this kind of support, understanding and encouragement. This has been possible only because of the vision that Mrs. Korde has and I have received strong encouragement from her.
I cannot think of any better title for the person I am going to describe who has made a great impact in my course of life. My choice of not opting for a nine to five assignment for various reasons has been of a great advantage and has brought me very close with many personalities from whom I have learned and imbibed many things in my personality. However Mrs. Korde has made the greatest impact and I am penning my feelings and regards. Words of course would not be enough, however I shall try. This is not an attempt to further impress her or any of that kind as she does not need this and she is aware that I would not resort to such methods.
I still remember June, 1999, when I stepped into her office and in brief explained to her about my work. She was very clear of what she wanted me to do and asked me to get back to her if I was interested in conducting the “ICE BREAKING” session with her Junior College students. My academy had been conducting the self discovery programme in-house; however we had not ventured out to conduct these programmes. The concept was completely hers and we were to implement it.
Her vision that students who came from various institutions should shed all the inhibitions, leave behind the negatives if any and merge as Sarawatians was so apt. This one week programme ended with a presentation in which every student participates and the teachers and parents found a remarkable camaraderie and change in the attitude of the students. Relaxation techniques and the techniques of how to use the sub conscious mind also were very beneficial. At first even we were not aware of the results it would bring, but madam knew exactly what the achievement would be.
I developed high regards for Mrs. Korde immediately as our goals matched, i.e. to bring about a positive difference in the lives of others. I meet many principals and what is required is empathy for students, understanding their needs and providing them a stimulating and encouraging environment. I also understood that she had strong empathy for students who were facing difficulties in academic performance. She would talk at length of her vision of helping every student understand their potentials and provide a strong parallel support system.
This gave rise to the concept of interacting with the students, identifying their areas of difficulties, creating awareness for the parents, training the teachers and concentrate on the building of confidence in the students. This was being done for the first time in any school in Thane. Even in Mumbai there are a handful schools which go to the depth of the situation and provide this kind of support to the students and parents.
Mrs. Korde made sure that appropriate sessions were conducted with the parents, as it was a hard task to make the parents understand that sending their children to tutors was not the solution, but helping children develop confidence along with development of visual – motor co-ordination was the key to the problem.
Now the school has a remedial centre, which is equipped with 2 clinical Psychologist, 2 remedial teachers and 1 doctor cum counselor. One has to sit at the remedial centre, to see its functioning, wherein 35 children come in different batches and individual attention is given to each one of them. The methodology is to develop their motor coordination through games, puzzles, blocks, stimulating activities. Help them improve comprehension and most of all give them confidence to accept and improvise. The coordinators and the teachers have a mammoth task to do when they have to set separate papers for the students with writing difficulties. However they have done this with pleasure and a sense of responsibility towards the children.
I feel so blessed to be associated with her, as every visit of mine is a learning experience for me. She not only has a very futuristic vision, but also is a great leader, a perfect manager and a mother to all the students and the parents. I have seen her reprimanding the students and the parents and the method is just like a parent reprimanding their children.
I have seen the parents not getting egoistic, but accepting their responsibilities, not because of fear, but due to the respect that she commands with her methods of dealing with others.
Observing things to the smallest detail comes naturally to me. Though my visits are brief, I have observed almost everything very closely. Her managerial skills are evident from the functioning of the school, her administrative office, and the faith the parents have in her. All the functioning is in the auto-pilot mode. The teachers demonstrate complete authority and responsibility for their duties and are in sync with the coordinators. The administrative staff is well disciplined and carrying out their desk responsibilities. The peons and Ayaahs also well aware of their responsibilities and would carry this out with complete authority. Now how many managers can control all this without facing any anxiety pangs. You can see her at any time and she would be calm and has a posture of tranquility. Though her mind is very curious, very alert, eager to learn and always seeking new methods to improvise and create a stimulating environment for the students.
Just the other day she was seen attending a full day workshop on Emotional Intelligence on a Sunday. I am sure that the students are going to benefit from this.
To conclude I would say that if all the schools were blessed with a principal like her. Then there would be lot many students who would complete their education with confidence and become capable citizens of the country.
There are many people for whom I have great regards, but when it comes to her, my head always bows down to receive blessings from her.
I thank god for creating such wonderful people and feel that as long as such people are on this earth, values, integrity, creativity, empathy, love, encouragement, activities, development of the society etc. will always keep happening.
Salma Prabhu 25th April, 2006
The academic year has come to an end and just like every year I was taking a reality check on the achievements of this year as well as the areas which need attention, improvisation and follow-ups.
One of the areas where I can say that a big milestone has been achieved is the remedial education programme which is on-going at Saraswati Vidyalaya, Rabodi, Thane. This has been possible because of the dedicated team and the support and understanding of the teachers. However this makes me wonder as to how many students in Mumbai actually are getting this kind of support, understanding and encouragement. This has been possible only because of the vision that Mrs. Korde has and I have received strong encouragement from her.
I cannot think of any better title for the person I am going to describe who has made a great impact in my course of life. My choice of not opting for a nine to five assignment for various reasons has been of a great advantage and has brought me very close with many personalities from whom I have learned and imbibed many things in my personality. However Mrs. Korde has made the greatest impact and I am penning my feelings and regards. Words of course would not be enough, however I shall try. This is not an attempt to further impress her or any of that kind as she does not need this and she is aware that I would not resort to such methods.
I still remember June, 1999, when I stepped into her office and in brief explained to her about my work. She was very clear of what she wanted me to do and asked me to get back to her if I was interested in conducting the “ICE BREAKING” session with her Junior College students. My academy had been conducting the self discovery programme in-house; however we had not ventured out to conduct these programmes. The concept was completely hers and we were to implement it.
Her vision that students who came from various institutions should shed all the inhibitions, leave behind the negatives if any and merge as Sarawatians was so apt. This one week programme ended with a presentation in which every student participates and the teachers and parents found a remarkable camaraderie and change in the attitude of the students. Relaxation techniques and the techniques of how to use the sub conscious mind also were very beneficial. At first even we were not aware of the results it would bring, but madam knew exactly what the achievement would be.
I developed high regards for Mrs. Korde immediately as our goals matched, i.e. to bring about a positive difference in the lives of others. I meet many principals and what is required is empathy for students, understanding their needs and providing them a stimulating and encouraging environment. I also understood that she had strong empathy for students who were facing difficulties in academic performance. She would talk at length of her vision of helping every student understand their potentials and provide a strong parallel support system.
This gave rise to the concept of interacting with the students, identifying their areas of difficulties, creating awareness for the parents, training the teachers and concentrate on the building of confidence in the students. This was being done for the first time in any school in Thane. Even in Mumbai there are a handful schools which go to the depth of the situation and provide this kind of support to the students and parents.
Mrs. Korde made sure that appropriate sessions were conducted with the parents, as it was a hard task to make the parents understand that sending their children to tutors was not the solution, but helping children develop confidence along with development of visual – motor co-ordination was the key to the problem.
Now the school has a remedial centre, which is equipped with 2 clinical Psychologist, 2 remedial teachers and 1 doctor cum counselor. One has to sit at the remedial centre, to see its functioning, wherein 35 children come in different batches and individual attention is given to each one of them. The methodology is to develop their motor coordination through games, puzzles, blocks, stimulating activities. Help them improve comprehension and most of all give them confidence to accept and improvise. The coordinators and the teachers have a mammoth task to do when they have to set separate papers for the students with writing difficulties. However they have done this with pleasure and a sense of responsibility towards the children.
I feel so blessed to be associated with her, as every visit of mine is a learning experience for me. She not only has a very futuristic vision, but also is a great leader, a perfect manager and a mother to all the students and the parents. I have seen her reprimanding the students and the parents and the method is just like a parent reprimanding their children.
I have seen the parents not getting egoistic, but accepting their responsibilities, not because of fear, but due to the respect that she commands with her methods of dealing with others.
Observing things to the smallest detail comes naturally to me. Though my visits are brief, I have observed almost everything very closely. Her managerial skills are evident from the functioning of the school, her administrative office, and the faith the parents have in her. All the functioning is in the auto-pilot mode. The teachers demonstrate complete authority and responsibility for their duties and are in sync with the coordinators. The administrative staff is well disciplined and carrying out their desk responsibilities. The peons and Ayaahs also well aware of their responsibilities and would carry this out with complete authority. Now how many managers can control all this without facing any anxiety pangs. You can see her at any time and she would be calm and has a posture of tranquility. Though her mind is very curious, very alert, eager to learn and always seeking new methods to improvise and create a stimulating environment for the students.
Just the other day she was seen attending a full day workshop on Emotional Intelligence on a Sunday. I am sure that the students are going to benefit from this.
To conclude I would say that if all the schools were blessed with a principal like her. Then there would be lot many students who would complete their education with confidence and become capable citizens of the country.
There are many people for whom I have great regards, but when it comes to her, my head always bows down to receive blessings from her.
I thank god for creating such wonderful people and feel that as long as such people are on this earth, values, integrity, creativity, empathy, love, encouragement, activities, development of the society etc. will always keep happening.
Salma Prabhu 25th April, 2006
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