Why another school?
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BMS – Why it’s not Just Another School!
The newly started Bhaktivedanta Model School (BMS) which follows the syllabus of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is not just ‘yet another school’. The school, started by a group of enthusiastic volunteers to cater to the academic and spiritual needs of the children of its growing congregation uses unique styles of teaching in an eco-friendly environment. Teachers at the school are specially trained in the use of indigenous play-materials, special teaching methodologies such as learning-by-doing and several other innovative academic aspects that will emphasise character training and moral conduct in society at large.
People often ask us why we have started yet another school in Pune, which is already saturated with so many educational institutions,” said Tulsi Das, Director of BMS. “We started the school because there is a clear gap in the current education system. We need schools that provide all-round education needed for a child to flourish in all aspects of life.
Green Vision Initiative
Why do we need a Green vision? Eco-friendly, Vedic & as per current trendWhat are we doing to protect our environment?
Using eco-friendly building structures, stationery items, etc.
Using energy saving lighting & fuels.
Using eco-friendly building structures, stationery items, etc.
Using energy saving lighting & fuels.
How do we intend to fulfill our Green vision?
Inculcate the 3R’s of eco-friendliness:Reduce, Reuse & Recycle.
Develop long lasting environmental awareness amongst children.
Inculcate the 3R’s of eco-friendliness:Reduce, Reuse & Recycle.
Develop long lasting environmental awareness amongst children.
Premises:
Building structure: Made from mud blocks or Jambori bricks. Reduce usage of cement and other modern construction material
Methods: Water recycling, Rainwater harvesting, Natural lighting, Solar lamps, Waste recycling
Playground: Traditional sports like Mallakhamb, Kho-Kho, Kabaddi, Kusti etc
Plantation: Have big trees on premises and regularly have few classes under it. Also have around 1 acre to grow small plants by children.
Goshala: Have 2-3 cows near school where children serve them. Have tie up with bigger goshala so once they are more in number you can transfer them to bigger one.
Areas to focus apart from teaching:
Gardening: Children actually doing it. Keep an acre for this. Allot small piece of 10x2 ft to each child and they can cultivate different plants. Let them put hands in mud and cow dung and let them experience crop cultivation themselves. They should know what is polished and unpolished grain, their benefits.
Sports: Traditional (mentioned above). Encourage Vedic harmless games. Also have modern games.
Nature: All children should know different types of plants, trees, birds, their sounds, flowers, their smell, pet and wild animals etc.
Health:
By 10th, they should be very good in Yoga, Ayurveda. E.g. Surya namaskar and what to eat at what time and what should not be eaten after what. Should know etiquettes for health.
They should know how make ‘Dinacharya’ and ‘Ritucharya’ – daily timetable and timetable as per the seasons
Life skills to learn:
Girls: Cooking, dance and jewelry making
Boys: Construction of wall from mud bricks, cleaning goshala and little cooking
Other Skills: leadership skills, human relationships, public speaking, interviewing skills
Academics:
Vedic Maths: Teaching trigonometry with Vedic sutras and many other topics
Learning Science, History, Maths on the field.
Vedic math and Sanskrit is must. Each child should know 4 languages. Language is the key and they should have good command over it.
Teach them basic ideas of Economics. E.g. if you have so much money, how much you will spend on what and how much you save. Teach them value of savings and not wasting money and things unnecessarily.
Values to focus:
Children should be taught these values of conservation and reuse. Earlier the books and dresses were passed to next year’s students. Throw away as less as possible reduce waste.
Awareness programs to impart these values to children. E.g. stick small printed suggestions like ‘Please use less water’, ‘Close tap after usage’ near sinks, wash rooms etc.
Spirituality:
Learn couple of stories from scriptures every day. Children should know all stories from Ramayan, Mahabharata, main stories from Srimad Bhagavatam, other prominent stories from Puaranas like origin of Ganges by the time they pass 10th.
Use examples from nature to prove how God made perfect things around us. E.g. tree root as perfect water pumps.
Basic religious study of other religions
Projects:
Grow cotton in one part of ground, make children pick it, teach them weaving. Have one handloom machine and teach them how to spin and make thread, how to create natural dyes and then finally how to make cloth that we wear. Then take them to factory and show how they make cloth now. Ask what difference they feel. Tell them how the world has come so far and also how far from nature and God - it’s pros and cons.
Have projects about how to make handmade paper, pottery as art and craft.
Teachers can handle the negative effects of media like internet by creating awareness amongst children about its benefits and harm, when to use and how to use.
Our aims & objectives:
> Stimulates student in a "Home away from home" environment.
> Take time to know each student individually in a comfortable & secure environment.
> Develop students to their full potential, so that they posses the knowledge to face the future.
> Encourage students to have a sense of belonging, purpose and positive self image that values God-given uniqueness.
> Develop trust through building & nurturing loving relationships.