Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Prof.P.C.James
On July 3rd at 4.30p.m.,Prof.P.C.James breathed his last.What a loss! We lost a very good friend and a dear colleague. The emptiness left by him is unfathomable. He was suffering for the last two years but he never showed that he had any problems at all.All of his friends miss him very dearly.
" Your love,your humour,your jokes remain with us;
Wherever we go, whomever we meet, your presence will always be palpable.
Years passed; months rolled by but we never thought this day day would come.
We thought we could always hear your voice on the other end of the phone line.
Your laughter and your humorous remarks could be heard at any time.
We thought we would see you again walking the streets of Kochi, buying or enjoying just the walks.
But now ,your voice is stilled.
Your eyes will never be open.
Your memory lingers on.
But the physical impossibility of shaking your hands or greeting you is frightening.
Goodbye, you are with the Lord.
We have a long way to go.
Our sins and our frailties are a big drag on us.
Lord, have mercy on your loving servant, Jameskutty.
Thanks for giving us the opportunity of knowing and loving him.
Monday, July 10, 2017
A Teacher Affects Eternity:Prof.K.T.Sebastian.
On July 13, the 90th birthday of Prof.K.T.Sebastian is being celebrated at the Cathedral Auditorium at Changancherry.No words would describe his role as a teacher perfectly except the following statement of Henry Adams:"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." Prof.Sebastian is a teacher par excellence: a teacher who inspires while enlightening. His character, life-style, his dealings with his students and the great and excellent way in which he conveys his thoughts and reflections will always be guiding generations of students who have had him as their teacher.
I have found a short commentary on teaching and I am posting it here:
"A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to
light the way for others."“And the things you have heard me say in the
presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified
to teach others.” (2 Timothy 2:2)The purpose of this writing is to provide a set of basic
Biblical principles that define the professional responsibilities of
school/college/church teachers in their role as teacher. Biblical and ethical
principles are conceptualized here as general guidelines, ideals or
expectations that need to be taken into account, along with other relevant conditions
and circumstances, in the design and analysis of teaching. The intent of this
essay is not to provide comprehensive rules, or a systematic code of conduct,
but rather to describe ways in which academic freedom can be exercised in a
responsible manner.A Subject on education cannot be complete without asking some
questions about the qualities that make for excellence in learning. What are
the qualities that make an educational institution or a teacher stand out among
others? How do students learn to appreciate education, not just in order to
pass exams but to develop their knowledge, skill, attitude and aptitude to the
full potential? No one has yet fully realized the wealth of capacity hidden in
the soul of a child. Therefore the effort of every true education
should be to unlock that treasure.The human soul is like a seed, which has all the potential to
become a fruitful tree. No farmer needs to give any information to a seed about
how to become a tree. The only thing a farmer can do is to create the right
environment and provide right enhancement, so that the seed can safely grow and
become a fully mature and fruitful tree.Similarly, the role of a teacher is to create right environment
and give right encouragement, confidence, inspiration and appreciation to their
students, so that they are able to discover their true potential and become
themselves. Each and every person is born with particular purpose and gifts
from God and those specific qualities need to be identified, nurtured and
refine ; whereas, our society and education system, almost ignores the
purpose of each individual and cancel their specific gifts and qualities.
Therefore the greatest tragedy in
life is not death, but it is life without a purpose. Without purpose life is
meaningless and without purpose time has no value. You were born with a
purpose to fulfill God’s assignment for the earth… You were born to do
something significant in the earth. Therefore refine your gifts and talents to
make your life a blessing to the world. What education is determined to achieve is to fill the
minds of children with right information. Thus, teaching becomes much more
challenging and important than learning. A strong, moral, refine and
discipline educational institution/teacher is the safeguard to a nation's life
and future.In India every year, 6, 50,000 engineering graduates and
approximately two million graduates pass out of colleges. Nearly two-thirds of
the 6, 50,000 engineering graduates need to be re-skilled, so that they can get
jobs in the industry. Meanwhile, the developed world requires knowledge workers
and skilled professionals. By 2020, the developed world will have a shortage of
40 million working people, says a report. A recent study by global HR
consultancy Manpower Inc says that 41 per cent of employers worldwide are
having difficulty filling positions due to lack of suitable talent in their
markets. Manpower shortages can cripple economic growth. It can escalate
wage rates, thereby reducing the competitiveness of these countries. According to a survey, 72 per cent of our population is under
the age of 35 and it is estimated that 300 million people between the ages of
18 and 50 seek employment of some form. While 57 per cent are
unemployable, 46 million are registered with employment exchanges with little
hope of finding a suitable job. But there is a mismatch between the
skilled manpower required and skilled manpower available and there is huge
shortage of skilled talent. A majority of the youth passing out from our
universities and colleges do not have the specific skill and right attitude
required by various sectors in the market.The first and foremost task before the Nation is to improve the
quality of Education. In a nation whose demography is young-both in age and
spirit, teachers have the responsibility of providing education which is rich
in values, specialized in skill and modern in content. Swami Vivekananda said
"Education is the process by which character is formed, strength of mind
is increased, and intellect is sharpened, as a result of which one can stand on
one's own feet. And that a teacher's sacred duty is to invoke the spirit of
inquiry in his pupils." With the Right to Education in position, India has
set itself the goal of Education for All by 2015.Hence the education needs a
great break through. Teachers are one of the greatest people whom we can count
as reformers and movers of life and they play a vital role in shaping our
personalities. They are not only the selfless givers but also the Transformers of
life. Teachers are the nation-builders. They build the future citizens of the
country and the need of the hour is well qualified professional and committed
teachers who are willing to devote their entire life in the enlightenment of
the students.Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, was a great philosopher, good
teacher and a wonderful educationist who acknowledged the vital role of a
teacher. When he became the President of India in 1962, he was approached by
some of his students and friends and requested him to allow them to celebrate
5th September, his "Birthday". In reply, Dr.Radhakrishnan said,
"Instead of celebrating my birthday separately, it would be my proud
privilege if September 5th is observed as Teachers'
Day". The request showed Dr.Radhakrishnan's insight and love for the
teaching profession. From then onwards, the day has been observed as Teachers'
Day in India. Teachers' own value system, their character and their
behavior directly influence the students beyond human comprehension.“A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and
instill a love of learning.”To teach someone, its mandatory not only has the highest quality
of educational supplies, but teachers with spirit of leadership, good
character, moral value, commitment and experience. Dr Myles Munroe righty said
“Leadership is the capacity to influence others through inspiration motivated
by passion, generated by vision, produced by a conviction, ignited by a
purpose.” Education is the mother of leadership. A teacher is just like
the light of a watchtower that guides us through to the right path. Children
are greatest treasure of a family, a society or a Nation and their “learning”
is in the hands of parents and teachers. Whether you are a parent, teacher,
mentor, coach, instructor, priest or a leader, to teach is to touch a life
forever. It must be remembered that the average teacher tells. The good teacher
explains. The great teacher demonstrates and the wise teacher inspires with
their life and character. The purpose of true education is not to fill the
minds of students with facts and information but to empower students to
discover the truth and their true potential. A teacher affects eternity; he can
never comprehend where his influence can stop. Hence the Good teachers
are those who know how little they know and update their knowledge, skill and
pursue wisdom on a regular basis. Bad teachers are those who think they know
more than they don't know and stop learning.Teachers are a significant part of everyone's life. They show us
the right path and groom us to become a better citizen and a better person.
They teach us to face the most difficult Challenges of life and get through
them, easily. "A teacher scolds you on your mistakes but he also supports
you to do your best so he can be defines as a potter who beats the pot on the
outer side to give good shape and design while supporting the pot by putting a
hand inside it." Edward Bulwer-Lytton said “The best teacher is the
one who suggests rather than dogmatizes, and inspires his listener with the
wish to teach himself.” Teacher’s sacred duty is to enable pupils to construct
knowledge, to discover their own talents, and to develop their physical and
interpersonal skills, cognitive abilities and subject-matter expertise.
Education must enrich their minds, broaden their horizons and give them ever
lasting hunger for exploring new ideas and vistas of opportunity.Teachers mold the lives that they influence because the lessons
learned from teachers remain with their students throughout life. Teachers or
Gurus, whatever we say are the pathfinders and mentors of our lives. They
dedicate their whole lives in teaching and educating students to become the
perfect human beings. They nurture students from tiny saplings to a big tree.
They teach from the Alphabet to the toughest sums of Mathematics, and make
students to think about everything that’s happening around them and find the
logic behind it; they make students capable to stand on their feet. A true
teacher is not someone who just teaches academic lessons to students. Rather,
he/she is like a guide, who helps the students in each and every sphere of
life, by giving the right advice. They are future makers. None of the achievers
in this world has attained a feat without the guidance of a teacher. “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell
where his influence stops.”Teachers have always been the vital contributor of learning in
the society. They serve as the foundation of the cultural and sustainable
development of the nation as a whole. The role of teacher is often formal and
ongoing, carried out by way of occupation or profession at school, college,
church, institution or other place of formal education. A teacher’s role may
vary between cultures. In the Bible a Master Teacher or a Rabbi is one who is
regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom and authority in a certain area, and
who uses it to guide others. As a principle for the development of
consciousness it leads the creation from unreality to reality, from the
darkness of ignorance to the light of knowledge. In its purest form this
principle manifests on earth as a divine incarnation, a person with supreme
knowledge about God and all creation.Therefore Studying the Master Teacher, Jesus, provides us with
the finest instruction in all the world on how to teach others. Jesus taught
with perfect accuracy and effectiveness. Of all the disciplines taught in the
New Testament for the spiritual growth of Disciples, none are more important
than the discipline of learning. Even in the secular world, every employer
wants workers that are “teachable”. We are blessed to have the greatest teacher
of all history as our own savoir and Master Teacher—Jesus Christ. His methods,
educational philosophy, content, and procedures consist of the finest models of
teaching ever developed. So what exactly was this inspiring, challenging,
magnificent, and apparently revolutionary teaching of Jesus?In the first description of Jesus’ ministry in the Gospel of
Mark: “ Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying,
‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and
believe in the good news’” (Mark 1:14-15).Here is Mark’s summary of the core of
Jesus’ message. It is, in a nutshell: The kingdom of God has come near.
The phrase “kingdom of God” appears 53 times in the New Testament Gospels,
almost always on the lips of Jesus. The synonymous phrase, “kingdom of heaven,”
appears 32 times in the Gospel of Matthew. Throughout the accounts of Jesus’
ministry, he is always talking about the kingdom of God. Many of his parables
explain something about this kingdom: it is like mustard seed, a treasure, a
merchant looking for pearls, and a king who gave a banquet (Matt 13:44-47;
22:2). Jesus even defines his purpose in light of the kingdom: “I must proclaim
the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent
for this purpose” (Luke 4:43).Throughout his ministry, Jesus emphasized the importance of
learning the kingdom of God. “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say,
Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17) was the theme of
Jesus’ teachings. “The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak
to the people in parables?” He replied, “Because the knowledge of the
secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to
them. (Matthew 13:10-11)Now the question is what is the kingdom of God? This kingdom was
not a place where God reigns, but rather the reign of God itself – God’s
presence, rule, authority, and power. The Kingdom of God is not a castle in the
sky; it is a true form of government based upon the legal terms of justice, Righteousness,
peace, love and joy in the Holy Spirit. “God’s reign is at hand. God’s power is
being unleashed. Turn your life around and put your trust in this good news.”
Kingdom of God is God’s reign, rule, authority, or sovereignty. The kingdom of
God is the governing influences of God over His people who yielded his/her life
to Lord Jesus, enabling that person to do God’s perfect will and bring into
being a Godly lifestyle that reflects the Nature and Character of God. Jesus
emphasized and taught people to change the mind, renew the heart, and seek the
kingdom of God and its righteousness. If teaching and learning were so
important to Jesus, they ought to be as important to us, as well.The ultimate role modelThe Lord Jesus provides the ultimate role model for any teacher
of the gospel; Jesus was more of a conversationalist than an orator. He walked
with people and talked with them. He sat and spoke of soul matters. He was
interested in individuals, recognizing the value of each soul. Nicodemus, a ruler
of the Jews, conceded that Jesus
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