St. John Bosco (popularly known as Don Bosco) founded the Salesian Congregation. He had an immense love for the young. He played with them, laughed with them, cried with them, took care of them, and built schools and boardings for them. He spent his entire life for the young! His followers are called Salesians. All over the world, following in the footsteps of this great saint, they devote their lives for the growth of the young, especially the poor and the abandoned. Today the Salesian Society has established all over India, schools, colleges, technical and agricultural schools and colleges, Non – Formal Institutions, Institutions of Higher Learning, and have even set up a University. In keeping with the times, the Salesian Society in India has also opened up institutions for remedial education for school drop – outs, special facilities for counseling and guidance and assistance to mentally challenged students in schools and at our specially opened Centers. We provide boarding facilities for orphans and single parents, for expats who seek an education in India, as well as Educational Homes for the marginalized in society i.e. School drop – outs, street children and youngsters who are victims of drug and alcohol abuse and seek a recovery option.

              THE DON BOSCO WAY OF EDUCATION – PREVENTIVE + EXPRESSIVE
  * Its innovativeness and relevance today.

Methods of education have undergone tremendous change over the ages. The early systems were REPRESSIVE. They were adult – centered rather than child – centered.

The word education comes from the word educare which means `to bring forth’. Hence, a repressive system, that does not allow the student to `express’ himself or herself, actually misses out on the true purpose of education.

St. John Bosco (1815 – 1888), popularly known as Don Bosco, founded the Society of St. Francis de Sales, in 1859 in Turin. Its members are called the Salesians of Don Bosco. Don Bosco was a pioneer in educating the poor, during the time when education was a privilege only for the rich.

The Don Bosco Method of Education is not a method of teaching a subject; rather it is a method of building a relationship between student and teacher which transforms and energizes the students to develop all their potentialities – Physical, intellectual, emotional, spiritual and social.

The DON BOSCO WAY is a tried and tested system that is followed in all Salesian Institutions in over 120 countries around the world.

WHAT IS THE DON BOSCO METHOD OF EDUCATION FOR SCHOOLS?

The PREVENTIVE SYSTEM that Don Bosco proposed and followed with the children and youth under his care was opposed to the repressive system. He believed that educators should take the lead in conversing, advising and correcting pupils in a kindly way.

He emphasized the importance of activities outside the classroom teaching. Hence outdoor games, music, theatricals and outings are given importance. Therefore, it is an EXPRESSIVE SYSTEM in its essence. It provides avenues for expression of students’ interests and talents as well as a constructive channel of their energies. Thus, Co – curricular and extra – curricular activities form an integral part in schools. These activities also provide opportunities for better teacher – student rapport.

Students are always under the vigilant eye of the teacher and thus any wrong that they do can be corrected in a loving way. Don Bosco did not propagate corporal punishments as he felt that repression may stop a negative behaviour but will not make the offender better. He advised that once the educator wins the love of the pupils then even a reproachful look or the withholding of praise will become effective corrective measures.

THE THREE PILLARS OF THE DON BOSCO METHOD OF EDUCATION.

Many of the educators of his time thought of education, as the art of the classroom which only involved how to teach and how to make students read and write. For Don Bosco, education meant the total salvation of the young, both in this world and the next, both of body and soul.

The three principles which form the main pillars of The DON BOSCO WAY are:-

1. Reason

2. Religion

3. Loving Kindness (Rapport)

1. REASON

Reason is the first tool in the hands of the educator towards child – centered education, understanding and discipline. Since humans are rational beings, every behaviour is governed to a large extent by reason. The light of reason deals with objectivity and truthfulness. This holds especially true in the lives of the young.

As Don Bosco sees it, students do wrong, more often out of thoughtlessness rather than out of malice. Their actions are the outcome of impulsive behaviour which is characteristic of the young. He argues that if a person or friend were to make the erring child aware of the unreasonableness of his or her behaviour then they would surely act differently. Don Bosco wants the educator to take the role of that friendly intervention. In today’s fast – changing and ‘high – tech’ world, the young are always questioning and searching for explanations and answers to questions and doubts they are bombarded with through the internet and mass media. It is the duty of the educators to provide this through reason which signifies good sense and simplicity. If students find their teacher authentic, optimistic and reasonable they will be willing to listen to and obey him or her in the classroom as well as outside. Through persuasiveness and a spirit of dialogue the child’s conscience is formed which will gradually lead to personal responsibility and freedom.

2. RELIGION

Don Bosco based his system of Education on Religion. True, he was a priest and therefore he lived in a Christian environment. However in the multi – religious context of our schools today what is Religion for Don Bosco? Religion is faith in God, a supernatural being. In his system of education, especially where students of different faiths come together, the common aspect of every religion is what is sought after. Don Bosco believed that God helps the students to become better citizens with right conscience, compassion and justice. It is a fundamental aspect in this educational system. For Don Bosco, education is the matter of the heart and no one knows the heart of a child better that the Creator of the Universe – God. In the heart of a child there is a great longing for joy, the need to know and understand, to love and be loved, to find significance and complete happiness. According to Don Bosco, a well – educated and mature person is one who considers the knowledge of God the most important and hence in the hierarchy, Religion holds the apex position. In Don Bosco Institutions, Value Education and Religious instruction hold utmost value. Assemblies are Value – based and teachers strive to inculcate a core value through every lesson taught in the classroom too. REASON AND RELIGION mutually interpenetrate each other, such that Reason illumines, clarifies, and enlightens what Religion proposes. Religion in its turn provides the motivation, the ultimate meaning, significance and orientation of life governed by Reason. Together, Reason and Religion build an integration of Faith and Life, which is the goal of every sound education.

3. LOVING KINDNESS – RAPPORT

Reason is the rational relationship between thought and action; Religion is the relationship between God and humans; Rapport is the relationship between human beings.

Loving kindness is the cementing factor that binds the teacher to the student. Don Bosco gives us three keys to establishing rapport in any educator student relationship:

a) “Love what the young love that they may love what you love.”

b) “It is not enough to love; they must know that they are loved.”

c) “Familiarity breeds affection. Affection breeds confidence.”

Gone are the days when the teacher had to maintain a distance from his / her students, in a formal education set – up. Today effective teaching and learning can happen only if there is a good rapport between the two.

Education is not mere teaching. While the latter is a one way transmission of knowledge from teacher to pupil, the former is the ability of the educator to draw out the best from the educand. For this the PRESENCE of the teacher is essential. This presence should rise from being merely a physical presence to being:

* an ACTIVE PRESENCE wherein the teacher actively participates in activities of the students;

* an ANIMATING PRESENCE through which students are encouraged to be creative;

* a CHALLENGING PRESENCE by which students are motivated to set goals and achieve them;

* a LIBERATING PRESENCE which enables students to be free from the shackles of ignorance and immorality.

Way back in 1883 Don Bosco advised his followers, “to understand and adapt ourselves to the times in which we live.” The Don Bosco Way has proved its versatility across continents, cultures and contexts, regardless of the differences. This foresighted educator gave to us a guide to ensure all – round development of a child – to truly provide holistic education to our students.

The `educative community’, which comprises the school and the parents, all strive to pool their resources to achieve the common goal of moulding the child into a mature, responsible and self – confident adult who can stand firm in his or her convictions in this extremely fast – changing world.

Don Bosco School and Junior College run by the Salesians of Don Bosco seeks to impart quality education to that our students so that they may go on to become ‘responsible citizens of our country and good human beings with well integrated personalities’. The motto of the school and junior college is SOAR HIGH. We believe that each young person is blessed with immense God-given Potential which we must help them tap, first of all by making them aware of their talents and then by helping them through various educational initiatives to grow to become the ‘best’ persons they can be.

A Brief History of the School

Don Bosco School began in the year 1996. Bro. P. M. Thomas of happy memory was its first principal. It was he who worked tirelessly to get permission from the civil authorities to start the school. He was helped in this task by Sr. Catherine Pereira FMA. Bishop Thomas Bhalerao blessed the new school building that was build on the vacant plot opposite the Salesian Training Institute [STI]. In the first years Bro. P. M. lived at STI and when the community of Don Bosco School and Parish was established in 1998 he moved there.

The school has had some very distinguished principals over the years: Bro. P. M. Thomas was followed by Fr. Anthony Pinto who build on the good foundations that Bro. Thomas had laid. Fr. Anthony Pinto was followed by Fr. James Nigrel, Fr. George Carlos, Fr. Diego Nunes, Fr. Solomon Rapol, Fr. Francis Kharjia, Fr. Blaise Fernandes, and Fr. Anthony Goyal each of whom contributed to the growth and development of the school. The present principal Fr. Anthony Fonseca took charge of the school in June 2016.

Right from the beginning the school gave special preference to children from the economically and socially weaker sections of society. It is a matter of pride that many children of parents who have not had even a high school education have passed through our school and have done very well. The students of the school have achieved great results at the S.S.C. BOARD examinations. In recent years the school has consistently achieved cent percent results. In fact, at the March 2016 board exams – and again at the March 2017 exams – one of our students passed with an unbelievable 99% marks.

The school was initially a ‘boys only’ school. But in 2004 the school opened its portals to girls for the first time. The first batch of girls passed the S.S.C EXAMS in 2016. In the year 2011, Fr. Diego Nunes, one of our distinguished principals started the Junior college with Science and Commerce Streams. The Junior College too is much sought after and has achieved cent percent results consistently in the few years it has been in existence.

The School at present has a strength of around 1500 students where as the junior College has around 320 students. The school and junior college combined has a staff of around 60 [teachers + support staff combined].

 

RECTOR’S MESSAGE

It gives me great joy to write these few words as we set up the NEW WEBSITE of the DON BOSCO SCHOOL AND JUNIOR COLLEGE NASHIK! This initiative, the brainchild of Fr. Anthony Fonseca sdb our principal, is a timely and immensely useful service which will benefit the educative community of Don Bosco – students, parents, staff, teachers, and management – a great deal. On this website besides finding information about the school, its regular programme, the new initiatives taken, and the achievements of students and staff, one will also find detailed information about each student, his or her biodata, progress record, achievements, and also some recommendations that might help teachers, parents and the student personally, to pay great attention to his or her overall development. Needless to say, all this information will remain private and available only to the students, his or her parents and teachers via password. In addition to thanking Fr. Anthony for this initiative, I want to congratulate his whole team of teachers and collaborators who have worked tirelessly for long hours to ensure that this project sees the light of day.
God bless you all!!

FR. ASHLEY MIRANDA
Rector / Manager
Don Bosco High School and Junior College, Nashik

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

Dear Students, Teachers, Parents & Well Wishers,
Don Bosco Nashik is a Salesian School run by the Fathers of Don Bosco. Rev. Fr. John Bosco, well known as Don Bosco is founder of the Salesian Congregation. Don Bosco School, Nashik started in the year 1996, is a co – ed. School both for boys and girls. Lately we have also started Don Bosco Junior College. The school functions on the Educational pedagogy of Don Bosco known as the preventive system. Reason, Religion and Loving Kindness are the 3 main pillars of this preventive system. The school has a very good infra – structure, with all latest facilities. The school caters to the students of all classes. The vision of the school is to ‘Soar High’ in all the fields, at the same time keeping in mind the mission of school to educate the poorest of the poor. The Salesian Fathers and Brothers along with the dedicated staff and parents of goodwill have succeeded in keeping the vision and mission of the school alive. A sincere word of thanks, to all the past Students, Teachers and Parents for shaping Don Bosco, Nashik.

FR. ANTHONY FONSECA