General Impression of the Year 2010.
To write about North Point, is a task in itself as this House of Education can not be summed up in just a few lines. As the Lower Division Coordinator these are my general impression regarding the education system at North Point under Jesuit Education of Ignatian Pedagogy, to educate the adolescent of present high tech consumerist culture.
Adolescence is the period of transition between childhood and adulthood. At this stage as Erikson noted that the chief conflict is one of identity versus identity confusion. Hence the task for adolescents is to develop individuality. Keeping this in mind St. Joseph’s School North Point has been successful in “bringing out” the best among the Students’ individuality by the Principle of Cura personalis – personal care and concern for the individual that has been a Hallmark of Jesuit education system. The holistic development of a child depends upon the situation and circumstances provided around him at the time of his formative age. The centuries-old nature-versus-nurture debate concerns the relative degree to which heredity and learning affects individual’s development. Both genetic traits and environmental circumstances are likely to be involved, although the amount each expresses depends on the individual and his circumstances. Hence North Point provides over 100 years enriched tradition and culture as well as the Modern Educational Schemes to every individual irrespective of cast, creed or culture, equally but uniquely.
The true education does not consist merely or mainly in the training of the intellect or in the acquirement of knowledge as these words are generally used. “True education consists in the harmonious development and balancing of all the faculties”. Weekly tests and semester examinations are familiar instruments to assess the degree of mastery of knowledge and skills achieved by an individual. Ignatian Pedagogy, however, aims at evaluation which goes beyond academic mastery to the learners’ well-rounded growth as man for others. Jesuit education is a call to human excellence, to the fullest possible development of all human qualities. It is a call to critical thinking and disciplined studies, a call to develop whole person, head and heart, intellect and feelings.
As per Howard Gardner the nine types of intelligence are – Naturalist, musical, logical-mathematical, existential, interpersonal, bodily-kinesthetic, linguistic, intra-personal and spatial. Therefore, I consider North Point as a Complete House of Education as I witness the amount of effort put into each of these spheres of intelligence where the introduction of Awarding “Blue Coat” in every field, apart from sports, encourage and challenge our students to shun mediocrity and strive for excellence (MAGIS).
“Morning Prayer for a North Pointer” – includes the following lines “Keep me strong that I may help the weak. Keep me uplifted that I may lend a hand to a faltering brother” and every North Pointer is expected to live up to the Motto of the school “SURSUM CORDA” (Lift up your hearts).
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our inspired Rector, Rev. Fr. Kinely Tshering sj for entrusting in me the responsibility of Lower Division Coordinator, the new post created to mentor the boys from classes 6 to 8. It is my privilege to be with these young geniuses at their formative age. With the Principle of Tantum Quantum (that which works better is adopted and assessed and proved ineffective is discarded), “our home in the mountains” endeavour to be better and better as a perfect Jesuit Institution. The galaxy of “Master Learners” is the pride of North Point under the able leadership of Rev. Fr. Rector. For every individual, to shoulder responsibilities, at North Point, the School of Excellence and Competence, is really a great honour.
SURSUM CORDA
Suraj Tamang
