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August 2007
A
regular e-zine from the British Institute of Sathya Sai
Education www.ssehv.org.uk
Registered Charity No. 1118625
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Dear
Readers
Welcome
to the August 2007 issue of the Sathya Sai Education in Human
Values UK email newsletter.
This
month:
Updates
from Morocco
Translating Teaching Materials into Hindi
Half-Term Volunteers Needed
New After-School Club Starts in Shrewsbury
Global Overview of Sathya Sai Education Published
Manchester's First Taste of SSEHV
Good Values Club Children Perform for Mayor's
Appeal
Story: The Jar
Training
Update
If
you have any feedback, or would like to share your experiences
of SSEHV, please write
to us.
Kind
Regards,
The Editor
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Updates
from Morocco
In
July 2006 a training session on SSEHV was held for school teachers
in Morocco. Since then, BISSE has been working to translate
teaching manuals into French (available to download on www.ssehv.org.uk)
so that schools in Morocco can start using them on a regular
basis.
Seminar
and Workshops on SSEHV in Casablanca
Exactly
one year on from last year's SSEHV training course, a follow-up
two-day seminar was held on 2nd and 3rd July 2007 at the Casablanca
American School. It was attended by 136 teachers from schools
in Casablanca and Rabat. The conference was organised by the
Sathya Sai Centre of Casablanca and was led by three trainers
from the British Institute of Sathya Sai Education (Christina
Wilson, Pamela Nash
and Carole Alderman)
who conducted the training in French.
The
schools which have been using this programme over the last year
wanted further training for their teachers, particularly for
those who had not attended previously.
On
the first day, lectures introducing the five values and components
focused on the 'direct method' which was demonstrated through
the acting out of stories. This brought a light-hearted atmosphere
to the event. Songs which had been translated into French were
popular as the Moroccans love to sing. In the afternoon, the
teachers were given copies of lesson plans from the BISSE manuals
to present to each other. Some schools chose to present aspects
of lesson plans that they had prepared in advance.
On
the second day, more training on the values was given, clarifying
any errors in understanding picked up by the trainers from the
teachers' work the previous day. A further lecture on how to
integrate values into curriculum subjects prepared the teachers
for the afternoon's workshop.
The
reflective exercise on peace was well received and brought about
a calmer atmosphere. This was noticeable during the teachers'
group work in the afternoon when they wrote down ideas on how
to integrate values into the curriculum subjects of literacy,
numeracy and science.
The
following day the organiser, Mrs. Chitra Mirpuri, together with
Mrs. Bouchamama (an educationalist who is promoting the programme
locally) and the UK trainers went to visit three of the schools
in Rabat. They met all the teachers and were enthusiastically
treated to refreshments in each school. The British visitors
were delighted to see that the symbol with the five values was
displayed on each of the classroom doors and that the posters
and other SSEHV materials, including the UK lesson plans, were
being used with the children. One teacher said that since the
training she realised that she had been rather harsh, not only
with the school children, but also with her own children in
the past.
Later
in the day, an orphanage in Casablanca was visited where the
director reported that since last year's training some of the
teachers were even kinder and gentler with the children showing
a more open-hearted attitude towards them. One example of this
was that they no longer minded getting wet when taking the little
ones to the paddling pool.
SSEHV
Programme Performed to Parents
By Chitra Mirpuri
Since
last year's seminar in July 06 on SSEHV, BISSE has been working
to translate lesson plan manuals into French so that schools
in Morocco could start using them with their children, with
the idea that these manuals would be used on a regular basis
in school.
A four-hour long programme on the five values was performed
in French, Arabic and English by the children of a school called
Madaris Assalam. Parents were invited. The programme included
poems written by the children, songs, choir, skits and stories
enacted by the children on love, peace, non-violence, right
conduct and truth. Posters of the five values and the associted
values were put up on this ocassion for the parents. A book
about the programme was compiled by the teachers of the school.
French
Language Board Games Sent to Orphanages
'Quotations',
the human values children's board game created by Dipak Fakey,
has been translated into French. A number of games have been
distributed to orphanages in Morocco. For more information about
the human values board games available in both English and French,
please contact Dipak.
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Translating
Teaching Materials into Hindi
We
are currently looking for Hindi speakers who would like to help
translate and proofread SSEHV lesson plans so that they can
be made available to an even wider international audience. Lesson
plans are currently available to download in English, French,
Spanish and Arabic from the Learning Zone area of our website.
The
Hindi translation project is being lead by Rajni Gupta who is
currently recruiting translators and proofreaders to help with
this extremely valuable work. A sound understanding of English,
excellent Hindi writing skills and enthusiasm for SSEHV are
essential! If you would like to get involved, please contact
Rajni.
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Half-Term Volunteers Needed
Joyce
Power is organising a five-day SSEHV event at a school in
Harrow, North West London, from 22nd to 25th October. SSEHV
trained teachers and teaching and assistants who would like
to volunteer should contact Joyce. Volunteering opportunities
are also open to non-trained people who would like to take part
in supporting activities.
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New After-School Club Starts in Shrewsbury
Margaret
Harris, SSEHV county coordinator for Shrewsbury, who has been
volunteering at a local primary school for several months, has
been invited to start weekly SSEHV classes after school. Classes
will start on the 4th September from 3.15 to 5.45pm. The club
will also be attended by children from another primary school
in the area that does not have an after school club. 15 to 20
children are expected in total.
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Global Overview of Sathya Sai Education Published
A
publication entitled Global Overview of Sri Sathya Sai
Education has just been issued by the Sri Sathya Sai World
Foundation, the most senior SSEHV body globally.
Michael
Goldstein, chairman of the SSSWF, describes the 100-page book
in its introduction as "...the most comprehensive attempt
to elucidate the origin, development, history, philosophy, pedagogy,
accomplishments, current status of programmes all over the world
and future plans for this great and most needed programme of
education."
The
publication's intended readership includes educationalists and
members of the public as well as practioners of SSEHV.
For
more information on how to access a copy please email
the editor.
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Manchester's First Taste of SSEHV
By
Sheila Swift
Human
values organisation Peaceful Solutions held a five-day SSEHV
holiday school in Rusholme, Manchester during August. This was
the first one in Manchester. Prior to this ten holiday schools
have been held in nearby Oldham.
Eight
of the children were from the immediate local community. Others
included those that had attended previous programmes held in
Oldham and children of a newly trained SSEHV teacher. The teachers
were Barbara Edmondson, Julie Bennett, Naresh Shori, Sheila
Swift, Allison Ferrier and Bharthi Patel. We worked together
very well practicing our commitment to be examples of the values
we were promoting.
The
children were a broad spectrum of ages and from diverse backgrounds
and cultures. We thought of separating them into age groups
but a beautiful relationship immediately developed between all
the children making this unnecessary. The group immediately
became one, looking out for each other. One of the local children
was very shy and sulky when she arrived and within two days
she was happy and outgoing, participating fully and answering
many questions with wisdom. At the end of the week, many of
the children spontaneously gave speeches about how much they
had learned and thanked us. The introverted little girl expressed
her gratitude for being invited to attend and said she would
miss the group. Many said they looked forward to a holiday school
next year.
It
was the very best group of children we have experienced. There
was only love and harmony between us all. The programme itself
is the stage that allows us to be the examples; creating a safe,
loving, harmonious environment for the children to blossom.
The
main aim in all the holiday schools we have run has been to
build self-love and self-esteem. Our pre-holiday school training
day prepares the staff for this and is an essential part of
running a holiday school so all the staff are aware of what
is required of them regarding being with the children.
The
main aim should always be to raise self-esteem and self-love
of the children so they go home loving themselves.
Barbara
Edmondson has been the guiding light and teacher for all of
this. All this is a result of Barbara's love and dedication
to the children.
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Good Values Club Children Perform for Mayor's Appeal
Girls
from the Good Values Club in Leicester prepare to perform a
dance for the Mayor's Charity Appeal Fund in July.
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Story
The
Jar
By Kay Challenor KaiAmea
Values:
Respect for all things, perseverance, understanding that
we create our own limitations
'What
are you going to do with those?'
The
boy looked down at the jar he was holding and at the beetles
and spiders that he had collected.
'Dunno'
he lied.
In
truth he knew exactly what he was going to do with them. Kill
them as he usually did, after he had pulled off their legs.
But he wasn't going to tell the lady that; for some reason he
didn't want to.
The
lady looked at him with her big blue eyes and smiled. Peter
smiled back, a little uncomfortable. He felt as though the lady
knew what he was thinking and what he intended to do with the
bugs, even though he hadn't told her.
'Let
me look.'
As
the lady held out her hand, Peter passed her the jar over the
garden wall.
'What
have we got?' said the lady. 'Two ladybirds and three spiders
- super beasts!' she added.
Peter
was suddenly interested. 'What do you mean 'Super beasts? '
'Well'
said the lady, 'these creatures are pretty amazing. Look at
how small they are and yet they can vertically scale walls and
buildings. Their size isn't a problem they simply walk up whatever
they need to. And if they do lose their footing and fall; the
ladybird opens its wings to break its fall so that it doesn't
get hurt and likewise the spider spins its web. Then what do
they do? Once they are on the ground they start all over again,
they just don't give up. That is pretty amazing isn't it! We
could learn a lot from them.'
The
lady handed the jar back to Peter.
'I
don't see how the ladybirds and spiders can teach me anything.'
'Don't
you?' replied the lady. 'What were you doing before you came
out into the garden with that jar?'
Peter
thought of how fed up he had been. There were tests going on
at school and he didn't feel that he was good enough to do them.
The other children he knew seemed to be much better than he
was. So, he had given up looking at his books and had come outside.
'Do
you mean that the ladybirds and spiders are telling me not to
give up with my school work, but to keep having another go?'
'Yes!
Even if at times you feel that you aren't getting anywhere.
Eventually, if you keep trying you will succeed, just like the
ladybirds and spiders eventually succeed in climbing to the
top of things, even if it seems to be impossible at first.'
Peter
looked into the jar again. The creatures were trying their hardest
to climb the glass sides. Even though the surface was too slippery
they did not give up.
'Wow,
they are pretty amazing when you think about it,' he said.
'So
I'll ask you again. What are you going to do with those?'
Peter
looked up, but the lady had gone. Puzzled, he looked up and
down the lane, but she was nowhere to be seen. She had simply
disappeared. He felt a little sad. He had liked the lady with
the smiling face. Still Peter knew what to do and gently put
the jar onto the ground. He felt a nice warm feeling inside
and found himself smiling as he watched the creatures scuttle
free.
Questions
1. How did you feel when you heard this story?
2. Would you have liked the lady? Why?
3. How did the lady's manner help the situation?
4. Would it have helped Peter if the lady had simply told him
to let the bugs go?
5. Why not?
6. Why do you think that Peter didn't want to tell the lady
that he intended to kill the bugs?
7. Do you think that really he knew that it was cruel and wrong?
8. Was Peter happy before he went outside to collect bugs? Why
not?
9. If he had killed the bugs do you think that it would have
changed how Peter felt about his schools books?
10. How did not killing the bugs help Peter?
11. What have you learnt from this story?
12. Why is it important to keep trying even if things sometimes
seem impossible?
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Training
Update
Lark
Beecham writes of a recent Intensive Foundation Course:
An
intensive course in SSEHV took place over eight days in August
at the home of Carole and Robert Alderman at Pegwell Bay, Ramsgate,
Kent.
Participants
came from London, Madrid, Ontario and Nova Scotia, as well as
Sussex and the local area.
Carole
and Bob opened up their home, situated on the cliff top overlooking
the bay, and surrounded by natural beauty. We were treated to
long, hot, sunny days with shimmering sea views and glowing
sunsets. Some stayed in the house, some in a hired caravan nearby,
and myself in a tent in the garden.
Everyone
joined in taking turns to shop and cook, and a happy and lively
group atmosphere filled the house with fun and laughter. This
was a group of predominantly young people, and their enthusiasm
and energy inspired us all. There was never a wasted moment
as everyone applied themselves to the full time intensity of
it ; lectures, group exercises and sharing, storytelling and
acting, singing, silent sitting, studying and homework, as well
as cooking, gardening, walking and visiting the town. Our human
values were drawn out of us and celebrated throughout the whole
experience.
Some
of the participants travelled great distances for this opportunity
to learn and share how to take SSEHV into schools and communities.
I am now confident and happy that there are true ambassadors
for the values who will be living and teaching SSEHV, with many
children and parents and communities looking up to them.
Forthcoming
Training Courses
All
SSEHV courses are free to attend, although a refundable deposit
of £10 may be required at registration (this is to cover
photocopying costs of the extensive handouts provided at the
course for you to keep). Details of all our training courses,
together with contact information and dates can be found on
our website at www.ssehv.org.uk,
in the Training section.
The
next course is:
Cheam,
Surrey - Foundation Course - Contact Lark
Beecham
Sept 22nd, 29th; Oct 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th; (optional) Nov 3rd
& 4th
If
there is no course scheduled in your area but you would
like there to be one, this can be organised, as long as there
are a minimum of ten people who would like to attend. Please
contact the editor
for more information.
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Copyright
© 2007 British Institute of Sathya Sai Education (BISSE).
BISSE is a non-profit organisation committed to promoting human
values in education.
Registered address: The Glen, Cuckoo Hill, Pinner, Middlesex HA5
2BE United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8429 2677 Email: feedback@ssehv.org.uk
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