Words of Wisdom

SJ Jacob, Principal of Al Ameer English School, his approachable and amiable demeanour is probably what sets him apart from his counterparts in other schools. “I want my students to be able to say that their Principal is their friend,” says the veteran who has been with the establishment since its inception 26 years ago. Adding another feather to his cap, he received the National Award for the best teacher (2013-2014) from the President of India, Dr. Pranab Mukherjee.The urge to build a strong community of parents, students and teachers is what keeps him going. “My focus is on creating global citizens. While a change in mind-set, broad-minded perceptions and a willingness to accept people from different communities are essential for this, education can play an important role, too,” he says. Strongly believing in the significance of value-oriented learning, he suggests lessons can be taught with interdisciplinary themes woven into them. Having seen both traditional and modern methods of learning, he observes, “The old-school concept of hard work has given way to smart work now.” Along with smart work, another idea that is increasingly explored nowadays is that of making learning fun for children and Jacob believes it’s highly beneficial. “When you add the flavour of fun to a lesson, it gives great results and helps children learn better,” he says. While stressing on the need for activities to make the process easier, he believes the inculcation of values into education is just as crucial for the overall development of a student.
        “Teachers must plan on how to include morals into daily lessons”, he adds. When it comes to the current educational system, Jacob has a few suggestions for change. “While one change I’d like is for it to be more value-oriented, it should also address children’s emotional needs and help them to excel in what they are good at rather than focusing only on academics.” Citing Harry S Truman’s quote, “Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers”, Jacob emphasises on the need for parents and teachers to encourage reading habit in children. “Bedtime stories are a great way to start them on the path to reading.Parents can evoke curiosity in the child by leaving the story incomplete, towards the climax. This will get kids to pick up the book and read it themselves to find out how it ends.” As a final message, he urges parents to always observe and be aware of the changes in their children, while maintaining a good rapport with the teachers.