The Man Who Saw Tomorrow

Where Passion Meets Education

In Episode 9 of Where Passion Meets Education (WPME), the last in the series WPME, Sandeep Dutt engages in a deep conversation with Aditya Datta at the Sunbeam Schools, at the Masterclass Session hosted by Sunbeam Schools in Varanasi. Shomie Das completed his journey as a mortal in 2024, which is perhaps a good time to sunset the series, focusing on his legacy of ‘Learning To Learn’.

A befitting finale to the close of Where Passion Meets Education, we celebrate the life and times of Shomie Das, who epitomises #HappyTeacher.

Thank you for the engaging and thought-provoking session at The Teacher's' Academy Masterclass, hosted by the Sunbeam Schools on December 14th, 2024, in Varanasi. The discussion on transformational education, the role of teachers, and the need for systemic changes in the education sector was genuinely inspiring.

Image courtesy Gurdeep Kaur, our Ambassador for The Teacher’s Academy;

Read more at: https://www.happyteacher.in/2024/12/following-man-who-saw-tomorrow-hosted.html.

Here are a few key takeaways from our conversation:

1. The importance of building a "cadre of dedicated soldiers in education" - teachers who are committed to their profession and see it as a calling, not just a job. Ensuring teaching attracts the best and brightest minds is crucial.

2. Addressing pay scale distortion and providing teachers with fair and competitive compensation will help elevate the status of the teaching profession and make it a more attractive career option.

3. Gender balance in the teaching workforce is significant because it creates more equitable and diverse perspectives in the classroom.

4. The delicate balance that educational entrepreneurs must strike between business imperatives and child-centric pedagogy. Maintaining this balance is key to delivering quality education.

5. The transformative power of character, citizenship, and life skills education should be woven into the curriculum, not just treated as add-ons. I'm grateful for the opportunity to participate in this enriching discussion and to learn from your wealth of experience and insights

The Teacher’s Academy

The meeting at The Teacher’s Academy focused on the transformational potential of education and the importance of teacher training. Sandeep Dutt emphasised the need for a shift from traditional teacher training to practical, on-the-job learning. He highlighted the significance of teacher pride and the balance of genders in education. Aditya Dutta discussed the challenges of attracting top talent to teaching and the need for better pay and conditions. The session also touched on the role of entrepreneurs in education, advocating for a balance between business and educational values. The discussion concluded with a call for school collaboration and a commitment to continuous learning and reflection.

Action Items

• Review the book "The Psychology of Military Incompetence" to gain insights on building a strong teaching cadre.

• Post reflections on the Teachers Academy blog post from the session.

• Reflect on why teaching is not a first-choice profession for many and how to make it more attractive.

• Explore ways to translate the inspiring stories of teachers into lessons for students.

Outline

The Vision for Transformational Education

• Aditya Dutta expresses his excitement about the session and the future of education, emphasising the need for transformational education.

• Sandeep Dutt shares his gratitude for being part of the organisation and highlights the importance of the road ahead.

• Sandeep Dutt humorously recounts signing a portrait and reflects on the concept of being conceptualised on his parent's marriage anniversary.

• Sandeep Dutt discusses the importance of clear concepts and the role of Sunbeam School in fostering these concepts.

Gratitude and Acknowledgments

• Sandeep Dutt expresses gratitude to the Good School Alliance and emphasises the importance of teachers in building a better future.

• Sandeep Dutt praises Paul Sir for making the workshop successful and highlights the importance of making everyone work.

• Sandeep Dutt shares his wish to hug all the teachers and expresses his regard for the team at Good School Alliance.

• Sandeep Dutt mentions the interns' visit to a third school and their session at Sunbeam Varuna to assess the impact of their work.

Introduction to the Book and System Reset

• Manisha Khanna introduces the session and mentions reading chapter five of the book "Shomie Das- The Man Who Saw Tomorrow."

• Sandeep Dutt discusses the broken education system in India and the need for more effective teacher training.

• Sandeep Dutt highlights the importance of teacher training at the individual school level and the need for a card of dedicated soldiers in education.

• Aditya Dutta shares his experience and the importance of taking pride in teaching.

The Role of Teachers and Teacher Training

• Sandeep Dutt emphasises the need for good teachers who can teach even under challenging conditions.

• Aditya Dutta discusses the importance of teacher training and the need to balance genders in the teaching profession.

• Sandeep Dutt shares his experience with Captain Bajaj and the importance of teacher training at the individual school level.

• Aditya Dutta highlights the need for a balance of genders in the teaching profession to create a more equitable world.

Challenges in Teacher Compensation and Gender Balance

• Aditya Dutta discusses the challenges in teacher compensation and the need to balance genders in the teaching profession.

• Sandeep Dutt shares his experience with pay scale distortion and the importance of paying teachers well.

• Aditya Dutta highlights the need for a balance of genders in the teaching profession to create a more equitable world.

• Sandeep Dutt emphasises the importance of paying teachers well and providing a conducive atmosphere for learning.

The Importance of Character and Citizenship

• Sandeep Dutt discusses the importance of character and citizenship in education and the role of teachers in building these qualities.

• Aditya Dutta emphasises the need for a change in the curriculum to teach life skills and competencies.

• Sandeep Dutt highlights the importance of character and citizenship in education and the role of teachers in building these qualities.

• Aditya Dutta discusses the need for a change in the curriculum to teach life skills and competencies.

The Role of Entrepreneurs in Education

• Sandeep Dutt discusses the role of entrepreneurs in education and the importance of balancing business imperatives with child-centred education.

• Aditya Dutta highlights the importance of entrepreneurs in the education sector and the need for a balance between business and education.

• Sandeep Dutt emphasises the importance of entrepreneurs in the education sector and the need for a balance between business and education.

• Aditya Dutta discusses the importance of entrepreneurs in the education sector and the need for a balance between business and education.

The Future of Education and Teacher Training

• Sandeep Dutt discusses the future of education and the importance of teacher training in building a better world.

• Aditya Dutta emphasises the need for a balance of genders in the teaching profession to create a more equitable world.

• Sandeep Dutt highlights the importance of character and citizenship in education and the role of teachers in building these qualities.

• Aditya Dutta discusses the need for a change in the curriculum to teach life skills and competencies.

Reflections and Closing Remarks

• Sandeep Dutt encourages teachers to reflect on their experiences and share their thoughts.

• Aditya Dutta emphasises the importance of collaboration and competition in raising school standards.

• Sandeep Dutt highlights the importance of collaboration and competition in raising school standards.

• Manisha Khanna shares information about the Teachers Academy and the importance of continuous learning and reflection.

Thank you for the engaging and thought-provoking session at the Teachers Academy today. The discussion on transformational education, the role of teachers, and the need for systemic changes in the education sector was genuinely inspiring.

Dil Jeeto is winning hearts in Hindi only at https://diljeeto.com/.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Jugjiv Singh, Manisha Khanna, Gurdeep Kaur, Kunal Rajpurohit, the Learning Forward India Foundation team, and the Sunbeam Group of Schools for hosting the event at Varanasi.

#HappyTeachers spread #JoyOfLearning.