tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8533977110508171892012-02-08T08:53:45.028+05:30Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.comBlogger421100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-63245147610439344492012-01-26T08:48:00.001+05:302012-01-26T08:48:21.613+05:30

Rephrase the preamble and make it an integral part of the constitution And make every citizen responsible for the growth of the country along with his or her growth and let every citizen grow up with the belief that  ‘Me &My Country- We Grow Together’ The preamble to our constitution begins with ‘We the People of India’ have solemnly resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign Socialist

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-86698503415808036332012-01-13T11:21:00.003+05:302012-01-13T13:03:27.575+05:30

What technology has done to our seconds, minutes, hours, days, months and years. Now we track the time of our life through watches, cell phones, laptops and ipads – there was a time when that stern grandfather clock on the wall and the stark calendar on the wall helped us know the hours, days and dates . How childhood memories are entwined with stern clock and stern calendar ! Clock As a

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-91503200560950863582011-10-27T17:16:00.000+05:302011-10-27T17:16:19.338+05:30

going to bali ....was like walking through an antic gallery or may be through history when we drove past the serene roads of Bali. To see Garuda, Yudhistar or Lord Shiva standing majestically at different cross sections of roads was a reminder of the legacy of Hinduism left behind by cholas. Needless to say that God is the perception of the devotee, Indonesians perceived shiva and ganesh and

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-41051820886901045962011-10-08T18:32:00.002+05:302011-10-08T18:36:10.372+05:30

Is the demand for development, the domain of a few politicians ? Are others not responsible for development ?In schools we teach that democracy is for, by and of people. That fundamental rights are guaranteed by constitution and fundamental duties are to be fulfilled by every citizen. Public opinion is meant to be a strong tool to measure the democratic process. Law of rule protects people

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-69006182420033258272011-04-29T13:03:00.003+05:302011-04-29T13:11:56.150+05:30

Dear Mark Zuckerberg You are remarkable. Perhaps you will go down the pages of human history for creating the most successful social network- THE FACE BOOK. Your acumen for creating a software to make people come together socially is commendable because the otherwise anti social have turned highly social albeit on FB. Your fame as ‘programming prodigy’ in your Harvard days will surely be

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-45305799991842162602011-01-24T12:13:00.002+05:302011-01-24T12:16:23.221+05:30

24th Jan is marked as National Girl Child Day.This is to all the girl children of my country....Goldilocks, Little Riding hood, Cinderella, Pink frocks, frills and laces, Barbies and doll houses a wonderland of girls where only dreamers like Alice can wander into ! A fairy world where girl citizens of ‘India shining’ are also natives! But no, there is no entry for the girl citizens of ‘Bharat’

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-6347692459548788132011-01-13T19:44:00.003+05:302011-01-13T20:03:29.238+05:30

My dear friend Renu Chhabra’s Lori wishes this morning propelled me into writing this ‘ode to Punjabi culture’ which was singing inside me since I saw ‘Band Baaja Baaraat’ two days ago. To write about the vibrant boisterous Punjabi phases of my life !When we moved to Ambala in 1982, we had to live in a reimbursed accommodation due to shortage of service accommodation.We moved into a huge

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-25206964972578631982011-01-02T22:57:00.005+05:302011-01-02T23:07:30.453+05:30

Non- aligned movement- Nehruji may have been active in not aligning with the US or erstwhile USSR in their cold war days ! Non alignment movement gained a lot of attention in those days and consequently in all our text books . I remember studying the NAM in my social studies textbook with pictures of Nehru . while that was a heroic stance to be non-aligned with the two most powerful countries of

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-46997677127592397472010-12-25T18:33:00.003+05:302010-12-25T18:43:05.743+05:30

In the last one month I attended a conference on ‘Schools of Tomorrow’ and a panel discussion on ‘IT access to education’. The first hosted by an educational entrepreneur and the second by a social wing of CII. I appreciate the zeal of this educational entrepreneur who has evolved from organizing adventure tours for schools to providing pedagogical solutions to schools. I have been following

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-8411141437897354552010-12-05T18:11:00.002+05:302010-12-05T18:17:20.037+05:30

When I was invited to give a presentation on our school in the Annual Regional Conference of IBO held in Singapore this march, I was very excited. I guess our uniqueness lies in the fact that we transformed an existing school affiliated to state board into a school with student centric methods as developed by IBO. I have my own reservations about calling it an international school because the

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-30973905794258711522010-09-22T21:12:00.003+05:302010-09-22T21:22:10.559+05:30

I had the (mis)fortune to attend a celebration of teachers day where hundreds of government teachers were invited for bhashan, lunch and promises. The brown sahibs arrived one after the other in their heirarchical order of their political position. Eachone came with an entourage of apparent chamchas and gave darshan to the sarkari teachers.The pranams to the political gods were what even real

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-24279686311427243132010-06-20T19:11:00.006+05:302010-06-20T19:36:33.375+05:30

A new session begins. Teachers and students embark on new missions. Each year the challenges of the mission increases, the number of students increase but the number of teachers is not proportionately increasing. Where are teachers? Society is not manufacturing teachers anymore. Everybody is becoming an engineer or a doctor or a business analyst. Nobody has the inclination to take teaching as a

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-88480519157772939362010-05-05T15:35:00.009+05:302010-05-05T16:00:00.588+05:30

How peer pressure can make life good bad and ugly ! I will start with my students in Shillong who are now working in different parts of the world , running family businesses, or pursuing their passion and yet making life a super hit. ‘Good’ examples Amit: Belongs to one of the wealthiest business families in the north east. A good Samaritan and pure heart. I am yet to meet someone as clear

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-16954890829972069982010-04-27T20:59:00.005+05:302010-04-27T21:56:15.328+05:30

Three years of PYP journey made us cross many milestones. Making PYP actually happen since the preliminary visit in June 2007, Passing through the 'lens' of the pre-authorization visit team in April 2009, and then...Invitation from the IBO to give 1 hour presentation to an international audience on our good practices and

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-64014819197895562852010-04-09T23:34:00.007+05:302010-04-11T22:42:07.782+05:30

The enigma called International schools Or Concept schools We in India add either of these nomenclatures to our schools very commonly. May be because of our centuries old fascination for all that is ‘foreign’ and our misbelief that anything international is better than our own national status. The graffiti on our walls and the hoardings above our heads scream about International schools,

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com246tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-18845927703796454952010-01-26T13:58:00.003+05:302010-01-26T14:07:52.495+05:30

Watching the Republic Day Parade has been a habit with me since the time DD has upgraded to live telecast. It always evoked emotional attachment to this feeling called ‘my country’. As years went by we moved to Delhi and I think we were indeed privileged to have lived 20mtrs off the Rajpath. Raksha Bhavan on the Mansingh Road housed the staff and course members of the National Defence College. If

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com68tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-11670985826638402962010-01-10T11:05:00.005+05:302010-01-10T11:29:34.825+05:30

If the entire year of 2009 had various events and problems, the month of December alone had a share of more than a year’s happenings. A storm in ‘T’ cup led to a ‘T’ movement- (no) thanks to the media who brewed the tempers on all sides without any restraint. May be we could award the AP electronic media for ably aggravating a movement for their ratings. As far as the movement is concerned the

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-3862868478337448612009-12-10T19:07:00.002+05:302009-12-10T19:20:52.626+05:30

When I studied about democracy for the first time in my 8th Class, I read the literal meaning of the Greek word –demokratia- which means-"the power to the people"And then we were taught that democracy means- ‘For the people By the people & Of the people’ !In Class 10, I read that features of democracy are ‘Rule of Law’ !!!One of the factors

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-78488033228343652462009-11-30T13:27:00.004+05:302009-11-30T13:48:49.311+05:30

There are many interpretations and assumptions as to what IB methodology can do to Schools and students. Many think that it gives an international branding to schools and makes students study in an international curriculum. In fact one teacher working in a CBSE school in a suburban area asked me as to how our students will learn about Lord Ram and Gandhiji if they are studying in international

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-15842677077842536852009-11-01T08:30:00.005+05:302009-11-01T08:50:03.520+05:30

If Dr Abdul Kalam hopes to see positive media that helps in improve the society- I pray that there should be socially & ethically responsible news reporters who have the gift to discern between news and useless facts.Similarly I hope that our legislators will fulfil their role as people’s representatives- not representatives of their own political aspirations.Since March’09 the print and

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-79619860166276180752009-10-19T22:58:00.015+05:302009-10-22T12:25:27.683+05:30

In my post on 21st June I had written about public behaviour of adults. Adults chiding children to behave well is a common sight. But more common than that is –adults’ misbehaviour.As the Principal of a School, I have the pleasure and pain of meeting the adults of my students in different situations. I have already written about parents and PTMs. But parents and school functions- is another saga

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-14533364342267343172009-10-04T09:04:00.004+05:302009-10-04T09:08:01.096+05:30

A society that is increasingly recognizing brands and material worth as the status of a person, guess we need to bring in a new era where people are recognized for their individual worth.Today’s society thrives on brands. People find an identity for themselves if they possess a branded accessory. Probably it gives an assurance they otherwise lack as individuals. What if we work developing

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-8246757623232004232009-09-20T19:19:00.003+05:302009-09-20T19:26:44.569+05:30

Its that time of year when Gods and Godesses are intensively worshipped...whether navratras ramzan or deewali. All of us make all kinds of arrangements –to pray elaborately, eat mercilessly and buy lavishly. Wonder on what basis they (Gods) allot their blessings. The magnitude of the puja celebrations or the intensity of prayers!!! Wonder how ‘He’ or ‘She’ can discern between genuine prayers and

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-90806497252965856412009-09-09T09:54:00.004+05:302009-09-09T10:02:43.250+05:30

I saw many movies of Rajnikanth who acts faster than the wind and Indian heroes who beat up many with one hand...b’coz the other is busy wiping the Rayban glasses or twisting the cigarette. Clint Eastwood or Robert Redford only learnt how to shoot quietly..but our Indian heroes are superfast like our Dashing HRD Minister- The Real Quick Gun Murugan ! Hatsoff to Kapilji ! As an educator I feel

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-14407441417586867112009-08-30T12:37:00.005+05:302009-08-30T13:16:31.773+05:30

These days me and the Senior Wing teachers are spending extensive time on identifying curricular priorities for our Grade 7 to 9 students. It is not that NCERT has not spelt them out; in fact it is easy to follow the NCERT syllabus and complete an academic session. When I was in Shillong, the text books would reach as late as September. We could teach science, math political science and English

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-60852258704263040382009-08-21T14:27:00.003+05:302009-08-21T14:39:14.596+05:30

2004 Hyderabad: Returned home for good with my husband taking voluntary retirement from the Airforce. I thought that my experience in different towns and cities does not matter much in front of the ‘big schools’ that Hyderabad has now. I somehow was under the wrong impression that education is very much ahead of what I know of it in Hyderabad. I felt that schooling patterns in hyd are so modern

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-51332220300054457482009-08-16T13:03:00.007+05:302009-08-16T13:28:36.712+05:30

Contd from my previous post (in case you missed it plz..go to the archives) If what I learnt from Mrs Katre is zeal for life, my zest for life began from then. I had this incessant need to do something more than what I am doing. Teaching, organizing events, attending parties and knowing a little more than what I should know was not enough for me. Life has to have more purpose and more focus..but

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-26861441124650122482009-08-09T10:36:00.007+05:302009-08-09T21:50:30.385+05:30

If there is a leader in me its because..there are certain circumstances and people who made me into a leader.We don’t realize our potential till situation demands it..we don’t realize our abilities till someone points out to us.The environment in my school for the last 2 months has been so exciting..a new building for the Sr wing...where besides making them enjoy the learning phases of their

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-79416726431695136412009-08-01T21:32:00.008+05:302009-08-01T21:52:53.077+05:30

Until now friendship is a feeling but once I started studying it I am beginning to see multitudes of properties in this ‘feeling’ called friendship. Guess it will be a good idea ...It is actually worth including it as a proper science lesson in class VII or VIII cause that is when we begin to teach science as physics, chemistry and biology.To observe that friendship is a fantastic combination of

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-19157603744520500692009-07-22T22:25:00.008+05:302009-07-22T22:52:39.937+05:30

The news that state board schools will adopt CBSE syllabus from the next session-is indeed welcoming. That they have finally realized Math & Science as universal concepts and not state definitions-is a step ahead. Last year I was very happy when, our Chief Minister had proposed to convert the government schools into CBSE pattern of teaching-But I was unhappy to see the vehement opposition from

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com83tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-6223719522894482912009-07-20T00:21:00.005+05:302009-07-20T00:31:57.556+05:30

Finally........We are talking ‘EDUCATION’Newspapers and Television channels, people and parties..have a new topic. Education !Honourable Minister Kicked off the campaign ‘EDUCATION’...he set the ball rolling and tongues wagging. He set the minds thinking and people pondering.At least in metros like Delhi and Mumbai, concerned people are talking. To a ‘little extent’ our metro-Hyderabad is also

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-31345086411866901162009-07-12T23:08:00.004+05:302009-07-12T23:34:23.642+05:30

The Principal Ponders! My objective in having my own blog is to share my thoughts and experiences with all my friends that I meet or don’t meet regularly. There are people I meet professionally or personally who are not exactly friends or just acquaintances, but someone I would like to include in my list of friends on this planet. In the last one month of my ‘blogging days’ I have realized how

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-90843514300416961972009-07-10T23:44:00.008+05:302009-07-11T09:17:26.582+05:30

There are many nostalgic memories from our childhood and growing years that keep us bonded to our roots. Siblings, pampering parents, loving grandparents, a doting aunt and a Santa like uncle ! As much as people are part of our childhood, we also have toys, dolls, clothes, gifts, books, school, park and many more that constitute our nostalgic constellation. If I have to recall my memories from

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-7949505800335996332009-07-07T06:55:00.004+05:302009-07-07T07:04:18.709+05:30

Guru Purnima....The day when we offer our reverences to all those who imparted knowledge , wisdom and skills to us. I remember all my teachers and people in my life from whom I learnt something or the other. While some are remembered almost everyday, there are some that I make it a point to remember them on this special day . Last year when I was talking in the school assembly on this occasion,

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-57990383851076498802009-07-01T23:57:00.006+05:302009-07-02T00:06:42.063+05:30

Probably I support the reform for cancellation of board exams in X only• Because my concern is on the emotional dynamics of students• Because the purpose of basic education program is lost in the race for higher marks.• And majorly because of the meaningless examination system that we have in our country.Demand & SupplyI am not pessimistic to say that the entire system is hopeless. If we have

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-74294202595506930062009-06-27T09:33:00.004+05:302009-06-27T09:46:05.014+05:30

Dear Honourable Minister for HRDI heard your lectures many times in Delhi when you addressed the august gathering in National Defence College during the mid nineties. At the time I felt that you are a knowledgeable lawyer and during the tea-time talk I felt that you are a man of convictions too!Well I do hope that the fiery lawyer in you is still alive to defend your stance and the man of

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-33187276885517827312009-06-24T10:35:00.003+05:302009-06-24T10:39:05.578+05:30

I start the academic year with a salute to all teachers!Another academic sessions starts and a new challenge begins. Schools are geared up and students are ready, most of all the teachers are battle –ready! I believe that the schools may have a mission or vision but it is the teachers who make it all realize with their influence on children. It is their ability to relate to the children that

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-40931631663014149492009-06-21T19:12:00.002+05:302009-06-21T19:18:39.297+05:30

Adults go to Salsa classes, cookery, personality development and also Organizational Behaviour, but what about ‘Personal and Public Behaviour’?Adults play multi roles: As parents, as grandparents, as neighbours, as young adults who just started to earn, adults who are newly married, adults as drivers, adults as customers at restaurants, adults as movie-goers, adults as professionals, adults as

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-63625114948498589932009-06-17T22:48:00.008+05:302009-06-17T23:09:09.169+05:30

When I returned to AP in 2004, after almost 20 years of being away from my home state I was surprised to see the change in the definition of schools and colleges.Schools and colleges are in my opinion, centres for learning. To learn and understand what is age appropriate!God has given us all physical age to mostly match with the mental age. There are exceptions where this matching works

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-46330608284802059292009-06-15T20:45:00.004+05:302009-06-15T20:53:33.715+05:30

If I thanked Lord Bentinck and Macaulay in my previous post for giving me this English language as a medium to express through the WWW, today I would like to thank IT evangelists in India who empowered me with a ‘Web that I can weave World Wide ’ !I am obliged to thank only Indian IT evangelists ‘coz without their consent, the so called demonized tools of capitalists would not have entered our

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-61098158319746154352009-06-11T16:22:00.006+05:302009-06-11T21:15:58.498+05:30

The Principal Ponders!My objective in having my own blog is to share my thoughts and experiences with all my friends that I meet or don’t meet regularly. There are people I meet professionally or personally who are not exactly friends or just acquaintances, but someone I would like to include in my list of friends on this planet.When I read other blogs and the comments on the write ups in it, I

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-853397711050817189.post-38676480115713621342009-06-08T11:23:00.000+05:302009-06-08T13:20:56.639+05:30

The Principal Ponders!!! My objective in having my own blog is to share my thoughts and experiences with all my friends that I meet or don’t meet regularly. There are people I meet professionally or personally who are not exactly friends or just acquaintances, but someone I would like to include in my list of friends on this planet. When I read other blogs and the comments on the write ups in it

Seetha Murtyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12627958097418632612noreply@blogger.com18