Justified Criticism
The picture of the Indian Education System painted by Bro. Brendan Maccarthaigh (“Urgent Need to Move Beyond the Mess,” MAGNET, June 2019) may be dismal, but it is very close to ground realities. Three suicides among NEET failures among Tamil Nadu students this year is a clear symptom of this. It is abundantly clear that education does not prepare students for life.
Apart from imparting learning, it is imperative that the core values of education should be personal integrity, social integration, a resilient personality, spirituality. Our schools would do well to give up the corporate model with its rat race for prestige and snobbishness. Stop catering solely to intellectual development creating AI humanoids rather than human beings. After all, the brilliant students become only professionals but often world and society leaders emerge from the above average and average students and they shape nations’ destinies.
On an authentic Catholic school campus, the economically poor, the socially backward and the academically average should not feel embarrassed. Of course, the principals of such schools would lose their privileged seats in high society circles. Excellence should be sought after in such settings too because excellence is not merely bagging the top rank, but developing your full potential, according to the gospel parable of the talents, as in Matthew, Chapter 25.
Fr Matthew Adukanil SDB, Sacred Heart College, Tirupattur, Tamil Nadu
Two Types of Leaders
The power to attract people from all walks of life is vividly displayed through the content and design of Magnet. One topic that strikes me most in the July issue is “Tips for Superiors: Are you happy? How is your Mother?” At the end of the day, human touch is all what matters in a relationship. The article highlighted the way the two Superiors function in their respective communities—one who is work-oriented and the other, people-oriented. Reading this article, I conclude that not only Superiors need the quality of being human or giving a personal touch to people we encounter and work with, but is applicable to every one of us. The article aptly pointed out, “The human heart responds better to love than to punishments” and “People give their best when they are treated with respect and care—not when they are pushed around like pieces of furniture”.
Highly recommended for integral formation!
Sr. Euginia Laloo FMA, Shillong, Meghalaya
Superb!
MAGNET, July issue: The Editorial, “I Have A Rich Father,” “Parenting Today,” “Are You Happy?” – all as usual superb! The whole issue eminently practical and touching the heart.
Bishop Bosco Penha, Mumbai
Very useful to parents
I read the article, “PARENTING Today: Do’s, Don’ts and Changes.”
It is really very nice and useful to all parents. I was able to evaluate accurately what is happening in my home. Now, we are aware of so many important points, which we are doing but had not thought about. Even though all of those points were not followed by us fully, am sure that we will try to follow everything to the fullest, so that we will be good parents.
Being a mother of two kids—one in the college and the other in class five—I was glad to welcome yet another person to my family, namely, my mother-in-law, who joined us in May. I am sure that this article is of good use even to those who are like me—taking care of the elderly at home, who are actually in their second childhood; and we become a more responsible parent yet again, in another dimension.
Thanks a lot for the article.
Mrs. Roji Antony, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
A treat!
Each issue of MAGNET is a treat. The July version was so educative to people like us that we kept wondering how on earth did Fr. Joe invade the parental space and write about the joys and agonies of parenting better than a parent would ever have done it. As is the case with each story, it seemed so effortless and authentic. God’s signature sprawls across the whole magazine. Congratulations! God bless the team that toils behind this treasured visual/content treat.
Parents find themselves parents when they get the bundles of joy called children one fine day. It is expected, but anyone who is a parent will agree that it is as much a surprise too! All the pieces on Parenting starting with the Editorial lovingly compelled us to retrace our steps into our childhood and reflect with reverence on what our parents were to us, did for us. They gifted us themselves. It is a powerful exhortation for a critical examination of what we as parents are doing now. It is a quick guide for parents-to-be and it builds the sacrificial story of parenting picturesquely for the sons and daughters who read it taking the words on the pages to heart.
Thank you, Team MAGNET!
Profs. Gigy and Rekha, Changanacherry, Kerala
Captivating
Magnet is a captivating magazine. The various topics are well chosen and well-articulated. Thanks to the expertise of the writers.
“Till death do us part ” is inspiring, but as far as Kasturba is concerned very little is written about her in school level.
Liza’s story is encouraging.
“Mid-life” is what we all face and should try to overcome our disillusions.
Fr. Ravi Sagar’s article is informative.
Liza is the best for me because it is motivating.
Inspiring indeed!
Sonia Gothorp, Teacher, Tezpur, Assam
