Educate with love
Bosco was his surname, and John his name. Fondly called “Don Bosco”, this educator has catalysed the birth of thousands of institutions in 130 countries, worldwide. Indeed, Don Bosco (1815-1888) — whose feast is celebrated on January 31 — could give us a few tips in times when we’re critically evaluating our educational establishments.
“Education” etymologically derives from the Latin ducere and the preposition ex, meaning, to “draw out”. Drawing upon the wellsprings of his own God-experience, Don Bosco held that the essentials of effective education are but three: reason, faith and loving kindness. Tapped wisely, these three treasures work wonders.
First, children are “reasonable”. Show them that what you demand is for their wellbeing, and they’ll willingly obey. Further, as children of God, everyone carries the stamp of the divine; thus, educate the child in morals and s/he will respond responsibly to others and to God. Finally, since we all long for love, shower love lavishly on kids and you’ll reap rich recompense.
“Spare the rod and spoil the child” is so drilled into our adult consciousness that almost every teacher believes that it’s his/her sacred duty to wield the stick on tender bottoms. Don Bosco thought different. Faced with two possibilities, i.e., the “repressive” system based on rules and punishments and the “preventive” one based on trust and loving kindness, Don Bosco chose the latter with incredible success.
Born in Becchi, northern Italy, John lost his father when he was just two. His mother, Mamma Margaret, slogged to make both ends meet for herself and her three sons. Poverty drove John to work as a servant on a farm. He realised how difficult it was for those of poor backgrounds to study. He vowed that he’d work to change things.
As a young priest, Don Bosco spent his time and talents with uncouth youth who swore and gambled. Like the pied piper of Hamelin he would attract street urchins with juggling, sleight-of-hand tricks, telling stories, tightrope walking and playing the violin. Once they were held spellbound with his antics, he’d impart basic education in a shed.
Don Bosco’s remarkable success can be gauged from the fact that he took 300 convicts on a day’s outing unaccompanied by guards. The prison authorities warned him that he was doing a crazy thing since many would escape. His assurances assuaged the anxieties of the authorities who were astonished that every single prisoner returned, refreshed after a picnic!
As in his lifetime, so after his death, Don Bosco attracted collaborators to use his three principles effectively. Thanks to his tireless toil, we have Don Bosco institutions today that still weave webs around youth who, using reason and with deep faith, continue his labours of love.
Francis Gonsalves is the principal of the Vidyajyoti College of Theology, Delhi.
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