Education is to make right decisions: Principal

Principal Fr Ambrose reiterated today that education was not so much a tool for making money, but to make right decisions in life.

He was addressing the new students at the inauguration of the new academic year here on Wednesday, June 16.

He said, “The purpose of education is to discover your heart, mind and yourself. You need to make decisions based on choices given. It is important to understand what is real and what is not real.”

He added that any development requires right decisions. “You may make a lot of money and possess a number of cars, but if you have lost yourself you will not be happy. Education is not here to get you money. Education is all about seeing what is right and what is wrong. If you can distinguish between them, then you have indeed gained good education. At St Joseph’s we will help you make these choices and decision. The teachers here are there to help you grow,” he said.

He further advised the students to follow the path of righteousness. “Acquire the habit of thinking; acquire the habit of critical learning,” he said.

Rector of St Joseph’s Institutions Fr Vijay Kumar Prabhu, in his address said, “Though there are a large number of students, every single student is important and everyone has his/her dignity. Josephites are students with a difference.”

He called upon students to be men and women of character, integrity and determination.

- Smitha Jayaram II MS Com

Staff seminar

St Joseph’s College, Bangalore today organised a one-day teachers’ seminar/workshop between 9.30 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. at Xavier Hall, PG Center on the theme: “The Role of Teachers as Change Agents In Contemporary Society afflicted by Declining Ethical and Moral Standards”

The Seminar/Workshop was facilitated by two eminent resource persons, namely Mr Lukose V, IAS and Prof. Sharada Jai Govind, Principal Government College, Jayanagar.

In his keynote address, Mr Lukose described current society as, lacking in equality, enduring social injustice and obsessed by wealth. He focused therefore on how the institution can become the place for radical change when teachers become agents of social and intellectual transformation. He listed different “qualities” that teachers must have. These included passion and commitment to learning, standing up for the truth, generating empathy, facing challenges, and being involved in direct experience.

The afternoon session covered ideas concerning skills and competencies in the teaching-learning experience, social perception of teachers and teacher’s perception of self.

- Dr Etienne Rassendren

Neglect of social sciences harmful to growth, says Rector

The new Rector of St Joseph’s Institutions, Dr Fr Vijay Kumar Prabhu has said that the relegation of social sciences to the backburner in the country is a serious threat to social transformation.

He was speaking at the staff seminar here on Monday, June 14.

Fr Prabhu said, “Today the entire concentration of the government and the educational institutions in this country seems to be on IT sector. As a result, social sciences have been neglected. That is one of the reasons why planning in this country has become so poor.”

Expressing his disappointment at the apathy of non-cooperation on the part of the government as regards very many initiatives taken by Jesuits in rural areas, Fr Prabhu said that it was indeed very disappointing to see that the State was least bothered about quality education. “The system is so corrupt today that the entire concentration seems to be on money and not anything else,” he added.

Calling the St Joseph’s College an abode of unity in diversity, Fr Prabhu said that the student staff composition in the campus created an ideal situation to grow in values. He called upon the staff to give hope to the next generation so that students would become responsible citizens. “Vitality of a college depends on the quality of its staff. Hence the staff must always update itself in terms of syllabus and other contemporary subjects,” he advised.

Principal, Dr Fr Ambrose Pinto thanked the staff for all the cooperation rendered during the course of the semester examination and other activities, and called upon the staff to be educators and not just teachers.

Egg

This is an ad prepared by Pallavi and Salma of II Year MS Com (2010) of St Joseph's College, Bangalore as part of their project. The egg ad narrates succinctly the tale of domestic violence.

Lab assistants, attenders take a break

The lab assistants and the attenders of the College had a welcome break from their routine as they took part in a day's orientation programme here on Thursday, June 10. The sessions were conducted by Br Maxim Dias SJ and Br Alphonse Fernandes SJ, who are presently doing their theological studies.

The day's programme began at 9.15 in the morning with an inspiring prayer session conducted by Br Maxim. It was indeed fascinating to see the attenders singing mellifluously and raising their hearts to God.

Later they took part in a couple of serious sessions on taking up challenges, building up self esteem and developing personality.

“The ultimate aim of the orientation was to bring the attenders together and encourage group and commitment building amongst them through games and other activities,” said Brother Alphonse.

The orientation involved many activities which were both fun-filled yet useful. All those who attended sang, prayed and played games together. They also watched the film Mr. and Mrs. Iyer which was followed by a group discussion, analysing the movie and its theme of communalism.

It was indeed a sight to watch the otherwise serious attenders jumping and dancing to the tune of some party songs. They were all ears and eyes as the Brothers led them through motivational sessions, showing a few inspiring video clippings.

The overall response of the session was very positive. There were many requests to conduct such sessions more often, throughout the course of the year. Gerard Christopher, Lab Assistant of Zoology Department said that even though all the attenders worked together it was very rare that they all had such an opportunity to meet and interact with each other.

“Forgetting all our problems, we got a chance to just relax and have an enjoyable time together. Playing games, singing songs and discussing the movie, all these activities gave us the opportunity to refresh our minds,” said Sagayanatha, Lab Assistant of PG Botany Department.

Panchakshari, Lab Assistant of PG Chemistry Department said that the sessions also instructed them on how they should interact with their students and treat them with kindness.

- Shonali Mani

II MS Com

M S Com results

Campus: The IV and II Semester results of M S Communication were announced here today by the Controller of Examination. The pass percentage of IV Sem was 88.2. Two out of eighteen students failed in the examination. Indu Mathi S. scored the highest for the class with an aggregate of 72 per cent. A record 11 students secured first class and five second class.

As for II Sem, Shonali Mani scored the highest with a pass percentage of 67.6. As many as four students scored first class, even as four students failed to clear the examination. The overall pass percentage for the class was 81. 8.

PG Chemistry, Economics results announced

Campus: The results of the IV Semester PG Chemistry and Economics and II Semester MSW were announced by the Controller of Examination here today. While MSW secured 100 per cent resuts, the pass percentage of IV and II Sem Chemistry was 85 and 67 respectively. IV Sem Economics has received a pass percentage of 93 while that of II Sem is 84.

Kiran R. Bettadapur and Kalpavally of IV Sem Chemistry scored 80.8 per cent and are the top scorers for the IV Sem. Mikhail Rajaram of II Sem Chemistry top scored with a percentage of 73.

For Economics, Josmy Joseph of IV Sem scored 81. 2 to top the table, while Sangle of II Sem scored the highest with 79. 8 per cent.

II Sem MSW students have done well with 100 per cent results with Vitradika Maria Rajan scoring 70. 4 per cent as the highest scorer.

The results of MS Communication will be announced later in the day, the Controller said.