Canada’s Crown Jewel

...The Sathya Sai School in Toronto

“I am an eleven year old girl. And I am learning about the world around me, and yes, inside of me too. Every morning I look forward to coming to school as there is a warm environment welcoming me. It was like that on my first day of school and seven years later, it still is.

My training ground is extraordinary; every wall, ceiling and door is made up of love and sacrifice. I feel it everyday. This is something that can never be recreated. We’re all one big family.

And to tell you the truth, this school is my motivation, because it fuels me to only do what I know is right. Here, I am taught to respect everyone, because each of us is special and unique and no one can ever change that. I have learnt to be understanding of the differences around me, and most importantly I am learning to accept who I am. I can say that we are trees that stand strong in the garden of life.

Another wonderful aspect is that here every student, just like me, has a close relationship with their teacher. We have the freedom to express ourselves and feel the love and respect that vibrates in the environment. It is this sublime milieu that has made me achieve so many goals and dreams. I am truly, truly grateful. I know God has created this entire universe for a reason, and we all are on this earth to find our purpose in life.”

- Confessions of a Grade 6 North American student

  Myth or Fact?

		Grade 6 student Prarthana Tirikollur

Anyone familiar with the life and challenges of a typical Grade 6 student in a North American school is likely to dismiss the above confession as a myth or a utopian fantasy. Some may define it as a concoction of someone’s wishful thinking; yet others may consider it to be every educator and parent’s dream, and quite understandably so. The realities of a typical 11 year old girl’s school life in North America tend to be a stark contrast to the above confession, and the experience is universal, be it in California or Calgary, Tulsa or Toronto.

The issues more likely to dominate the “tween” scene are peer pressure, stress, low self-esteem, poor body image, weak impulse control, rebelling against parental and teacher authority, excessive TV, internet and cell phone dependency, obsession with clothes, make-up and may even include anorexia, bulimia, and experimentation with substance abuse – a far cry from the wishful reflection above. Yet, there is a very real girl named Prarthana Tirikollur and the utopian scenario painted above is no myth for her. It is indeed a page from her life, her experience and her truth. And yes, she lives in a North American metropolis. It is her reality.

Ontario Wakes Up to Character Education

Given the state of our world, it is not surprising that one of the great conversations of our times has centered on the issue of education, its aim and purpose. Recognizing the poverty and stark disparities around us as symptomatic of the systemic decay in our values, stemming largely from ignorance, greed and insensitivity towards others, policy pundits in North America and elsewhere have been calling lately for the renewal of ethical commitment and deepening of the spiritual sense among all people.

	Toronto, capital of Ontario, Canada’s largest province

Shocking incidents such as the recent massacre at Virginia Tech or the Columbine high school killings a couple of years ago in the USA send educators scrambling to the drawing table, seeking solutions for a system that is increasingly failing to deliver. Some of the buzz words emerging as possible solutions from this animated dialogue are “character education” or “values-based learning”, “environmentally sustainable development” and “carbon footprints”.

Recently, Canada’s largest province, Ontario appointed a special task force to oversee the development and implementation of the province’s Character Education program for Ontario’s public schools and to develop appropriate teaching aids and methodologies, a move received warmly by observers and parents. While some see it as the government’s response to the growing problems of indiscipline, bullying, racism and such in Ontario schools, others point to Character Education as the key to making Ontario’s schools relevant to the current reality and its challenges.

Values Education – The Need of the Hour

As we strive to progress in a world that has shrunk into a global village with economic interdependence, as well as social and racial osmosis, cultural sensitizing is now the critical driver to harmonize diverse peoples and aspirations and to ensure what emerges is not chaos, but a fragrant potpourri. Business magnets today are waking up to the realization that Character Education makes good business sense in a world where corporate conglomerates are more multicultural than ever before. Political leaders are realizing that a values-based, tolerant, environmentally responsible and transparent work ethic and an equitable work environment are the keys to both, political longevity and long term profitability. Suddenly, being smart is not enough. Good is in, and the term ‘character’ has a ‘cool’ ring to it!

A policy paper entitled “Finding Common Ground” published by the Ontario Ministry of Education, states:

"From sea to sea" - only peace

“Quality education includes the education of the heart as well as the head; it includes a focus on the whole person—the cognitive, affective and behavioural domains of learning. It means preparing students to be concerned citizens who have empathy and respect for people within their increasingly diverse communities. It means providing opportunities for students to understand deeply the importance of civic engagement and what it means to be a global citizen in an increasingly interdependent global community. An approach to teaching that is infused with character development is education at its best.” - Avis Glaze, 2006 - Finding Common Ground, Character Development in Ontario Schools, K-12

 

For those versed in Sathya Sai Education, the above quote sounds so familiar. For decades now, Baba has emphasized the holistic approach to education that harmonizes the head, the hand and the heart. “True education should make a person compassionate and humane. It should not make him self-centered and narrow-minded. Spontaneous sympathy and regard for all beings should flow from the heart of one who is properly educated. He should be keen to serve society rather than be preoccupied with his own acquisitive aspirations. … A person should strive to use every talent and skill they have, not only for their own benefit, but for the benefit of the whole world. Understand that society is the source of whatever pleasure one derives and whatever wealth one achieves in life. We owe everything to society and should be grateful to society for all that we receive from it. We have to repay this debt by helping at least as many people as we can." - Sathya Sai Baba

"Education should confer humility" - Baba

  The Sai Mission Unfolds…

While the government initiatives aimed at reviving the place of values of acceptance and tolerance in the school systems in North America are still in their infancy, it was way back on November 17, 1999 that Swami approved the founding of the very first school in North America that would specialize exclusively in Character Education. It was to be set up in Toronto, Canada – a school whose motto would sum up the Sri Sathya Sai philosophy of education, namely “the End of Education is Character”. For all the activities in the school, the following advice from Swami has become the eternal guide :

Love as thought is Truth.
Love as action is Right Conduct.
Love as feeling is Peace.
Love as understanding is Non-violence.

While Canadians embarked into the 21 st century with the first Sathya Sai School in North America taking shape in a Toronto suburb, the Sathya Sai Education in Human Values (SSEHV) program had, in fact, already been successfully implemented in Canada and elsewhere in the world for over three decades by then, encouraging millions to live selfless lives, helping, loving and serving anyone in need, inspired by the personal example and teachings of Baba.

	Dr. V. P. Singh, Chairman of the Sathya Sai School Trust

Dr. V. P. Singh, the Central Coordinator of the Sri Sathya Sai Baba Organization in Canada and Chairman of the Sathya Sai School Trust, points out that “SSEHV classes were being conducted across Canada at Sai Centres and in some public schools, many years before the Sathya Sai School of Canada was established in the year 2000. Training of teachers in Education in Human Values (EHV) is continuing, with the aim to bring awareness of the eternal human values into the public school system. School boards and other educational institutes are also being contacted and informed of the SSEHV program. Presently, in Canada there are large numbers of volunteers who are dedicated to serving humanity and propagating Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s message of Human Values.”

"The school is My project" - Baba

Going down the memory lane, Dr. Singh recalls,

“In the year 1999, Swami answered our prayers to start the school in Toronto. He blessed the school and gave specific instructions as to how the school should function. His instructions were clear - the education in the school should be based on the Human Values of Love, Truth, Peace, Right Conduct and Non-violence. The Sathya Sai School is unique as it combines the standard curriculum offered by the provincial school boards along with character building human values education. It teaches the mind and reaches the hearts of the children.”

		Values vibrate in this holy seat of learning in vibrant colours!

“I bless you and the project. I am always with you,” Swami had said while approving the setting up of the Sathya Sai School of Canada. He had further added, “Land and building do not make a school. It is the children who make a school... First, start small, and then grow big. Yes, the school is my project. I will protect and bless you...”

	The multi-faith and multi-ethnic magnificent students				His Presence is always felt

		Mr. Dayal Mirchandani, President, Sri Sathya Sai Education Trust of Canada

Recalling that blissful morning of November 17, 1999, Mr. Dayal Mirchandani, President of the Sri Sathya Sai Education Trust of Canada, says, “When He called me into the interview room, He said, ‘I am always with you, make this happen and take charge’. He then asked me to open my mouth and with His divine hands, fed me a clove and then granted me padanamaskar.”

With His guaranteed blessings, the school blossomed.

Demonstrating a New Dimension…

It is interesting that Baba chose Canadians, the peacekeepers to the world, the nation with the longest unguarded borders, safe haven for displaced peoples from around the planet’s disturbed areas... “the true north strong and free” as the seat for reviving perennial values that are as old as civilization and as relevant to our lives today as love, fresh air, and life itself.

Founded by a teacher of such unparalleled vision and wisdom, the Sathya Sai School of Canada was inaugurated on September 2, 2000 by Dr. Art-Ong Jumsai, the Director of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Education, Thailand. Within the first six years of its operation, the school attracted much attention from mainstream educators and the media, and recently it once again made national headlines for its perfect score in the province’s standardized examination, making it to the number one spot in terms of academic excellence with 15 other schools in the Greater Toronto Area and 36 others in the entire province of Ontario, out of a total of 2812 public, private and separate schools.

	Honourable Bas Balkissoon, MPP and City Councillor Raymond Cho at the school’s inauguration				Dr. Art-Ong Jumsai unveils Baba’s picture during opening ceremonies

	Mr. Pillay, then the Principal of the school, hoisting the Canadian flag				Dr. Michael Goldstein with Mme. Myriam Josza and other members of the Canadian Sai organization

The February 14, 2007 edition of the Scarborough Mirror, a popular Toronto newspaper, ran the following front page story:

	School makes headline news				Fraser report rates school’s performance at #1

“Scarborough’s Sathya Sai School has a unique recipe for outstanding achievement. Start with dedication to academic excellence balanced with character education so students of the private, non-denominational school learn the value of civic responsibility. Finally throw in light meditation in the morning and yoga exercises in the afternoon to keep the pupils calm and focused. The blend has resulted in a winning combination for the school on Ellesmere Road, east of Warden Avenue. The English-language co-educational school of 160 students is one of 37 elementary schools to receive top grade in an annual report card released this week by the Fraser Institute. ”

School Scores Perfect 10 in Academics

The Fraser Institute, the British Columbia based think tank, awarded the top Ontario schools perfect ten score based on Reading, Writing and Math tests administered to Grade 3 and 6 students by the province’s Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO). It meant every single student had met and/or exceeded the expectations of the Ontario curriculum in the province-wide standardization test.

Academic Success Only Part of the Equation

With this superior rating, the Sathya Sai School has emerged as a key player in the field of academic excellence on the Canadian national scene. Yet, its academic success is only a part of the many laurels the school has won in its young life of a mere six years, and this ranking comes as no surprise to those who are familiar with the vision and mission of this unique school.

		School’s Founding Principal, Mr. T.R. Pillay

Founding Principal of the School, Mr. T.R. Pillay, believes the report validates not only the excellent work of the teachers, and the calibre of the students, but also the school's mission to balance character education with academic excellence.

“This high ranking of the school is reassuring, and further proof that the Sathya Sai ideals of education and its unique school climate bring out the best in the children. I am convinced that if our students were tested on moral issues and ethical values, they would shine with equal brilliance.”

To read more of Mr T R Pillay's reflections, Click here.

If the school has become a resounding success story today, it is largely because of the highly trained and dedicated educators who serve the Sathya Sai School of Canada with unparalleled levels of commitment and sacrifice, drawing their inspiration directly from the personal example of Baba, who is not only the Founder but also the soul and the life-force of the school.

Mrs. Koushi Premachandran, who has been teaching Kindergarteners since the school’s inception, explaining her program’s phenomenal results, says,

“I always seek God’s input and guidance to make the most of my time with my students. In the year 2002, while viewing the exhibition on the five elements at the Chaitanya Jyothi museum in Prashanthi Nilayam, I had an epiphany that made me revisit my teaching strategies and methodology.

	Kindergarten teacher Mrs. Koushi Premachandran with her little scholars

Upon my return, I rearranged the entire Ontario Curriculum for Kindergarten to align with the five elements, the five senses and the five values to better facilitate the children’s understanding of the interconnectivity of all life. I redesigned all my long range plans, ensuring all aspects of the curriculum were covered but the units were layered in sync with the rhythm of the creation of our universe. The net result was that not only did we successfully meet all the Kindergarten expectations, but exceeded them beyond the wildest imagination of my fellow teachers and school parents. Since then, each year, every single graduate of my Kindergarten program exceeds the curriculum expectations in Reading, Math, Science and Writing. Several of them have reading skills comparable to Grade 2 level Ontario curriculum expectations!

The Supreme Teacher, beloved Baba is responsible for this achievement for had it not been for His wisdom, we would never have known that a simple reordering of the topics will exponentially enhance students’ learning ability.”

 

		Grade 2 teacher Mrs. Aditi Jain

For Grade 2 teacher Mrs. Aditi Jain, every day at the school holds a surprise. She says:

“As we go through our daily lesson plans, there is that special moment, when a student does, says or asks something so precious and priceless that it jolts me out of my complacency, making me wonder if such a profound eureka moment would ever have been possible in a school system without character education? That one spark of divine radiance that flashes from deep within a child illuminates the atmosphere in the classroom, charging us all with renewed energy…

“This rare combination of sublimity and wisdom can only arise when a pure mind is plugged into the Universal Intelligence.”

The school's character education program and a values-permeated environment are greatly responsible for the students’ wholesome attitude to learning, keen sense of engagement and service to the community. Swami says, “Education is for life, not merely for earning a living”. Even as a good report card from the Fraser Institute is welcome news, it is only a part of the school’s greater goal, to promote human excellence by balancing academic excellence with character education.

	Kindergartners listen attentively				Students pray before snack and lunch time

	Group presentations encourage cooperation				Presenting group projects to peers

Since its inception in September 2000, the Sathya Sai School has been a pioneer in integrating values into the core academic curriculum. All members of the school’s teaching faculty have outstanding professional qualifications from leading universities in Canada and abroad as well as additional training in integrating the SSEHV program into the academic curriculum throughout the school day. One example of successful integration is the annual Science Fair. It integrates the learning of Science with the Sathya Sai Education in Human Values program while providing a perfect opportunity for family bonding, a practice highly encouraged in the school’s culture.

	Presenting Science Fair projects … Kumaran Subendran, Gr. 4				Sureka Selvakumaran, Gr. 6

	Raajat Gupta, Grade 6				Krupa Mistry, Grade 3

	Chinmay Potdar, Grade 2				Darini Hariharan, Grade 2

		Grade 3 students celebrate their successes

To know more about the Science Fair, Click here.

		Spelling Bee contestant Sudarshan with Mr. Pillay and Grade 5 teacher Miss Tanushree Das

Grade 5 teacher Miss Tanushree Das says:

“While integrating each strand of the curriculum expectation with values, my students come up with insights that make them realize that nothing stands in isolation. All aspects of our awareness, learning and experience are interconnected. True learning occurs when we unearth this fundamental that all is connected within precious life lessons. A water cycle is nothing but a cycle of karma, or as Swami says: reaction, reflection, and resound.

 “I am blessed to teach 10 year olds in a grade 5 classroom. These students come to me with well defined basic skills of logical thinking and daily classroom behaviour, thanks to my hardworking colleagues in previous grades. Most of them have been in the Sathya Sai School system and are at various stages of articulating their emotional growth and seeking a definitive spiritual path, which has a personal meaning to them. This seeking comes through in their questions which are at once simple and profound, like: “How can I control my mind?” or “Who is the ‘I’ and what exactly is ‘my’?” Their ability to articulate their process of “becoming” gives me an opportunity to break down the discussion to explain such concepts as consciousness and ego.

It is pure joy, the high point for me as an educator to be able to explain the different levels of consciousness and perils of letting our ego take over. I have to know, and practice myself what I am attempting to explain. The profundity of the students’ aspirations forces an inner learning and growth for me. To be effective, I must walk the talk myself. I must be the change I seek in them. I must first practice what I profess, or else the lesson will be lost.”

	Mr. Greenwood watches over reading buddies Raghav and Sindujeyan

According to Michael Greenwood, Grade 6 teacher, “The teaching profession is fundamentally based on spiritual principles.” For him, “Service rendered to the students is service to Swami Himself” and teaching is not a profession, rather, “ a sadhana or a spiritual practice to realize God” which has to be done in utmost purity and sincerity.

It is this enlightened attitude of the teachers which has made this school so special. Looking back at the many trails the school has blazed in the past six years, fundamentally because of its adherence to the five human values, the school’s now retired Founding Principal Mr. T.R. Pillay describes his tenure here as the ultimate high point of his career of over four decades as an educator. He left the school with a treasure trove of priceless memories. He recalls: “I shall remember the student who was asked: What is the difference between a dream and reality? And his reply: ‘They are just different levels of consciousness’.

“I will treasure memories of individual achievements and individual acts of concern for fellow men. One student spelt his way to the Regional Spelling Bee Finals three times and even donated his prize money to the school. Another student showed kindness and caring when he offered his chair to a visitor who had been standing too long in his classroom or to his Principal who had dropped in to watch a class presentation. I shall remember the earnest plea of the student who wanted me to send light and love to her every morning as she was moving to another part of the province; and the student who reminded his mother who was about to punish him: ‘Hands are for helping, not hurting’”, Mr. Pillay reminiscences with pride and nostalgia.

	School choir singing at a community event for victims of Tsunami in South Asia				Spelling Bee champion Arun Thayanithy (school alumnus) with Mr. Greenwood and Mr. Pillay

	UN Team in the school to observe its unique values program and peace initiatives				Students with MPP Hon. Bas Balkissoon during their field trip to the Ontario Provincial Parliament

Overwhelming Response to the School’s Annual Open House

	School Principal Dr. Revathi Chennabathni

According to Principal Dr. Revathi Chennabathni, the school’s 7th annual Open House on April 4, 2007 saw the gym packed with nearly 300 interested families eager to understand the unique vision and mission of the only school in Canada and the USA that offers what may be termed a full-time “Character Immersion” program.

Over 150 applications were received for 20 spots in the Junior Kindergarten program and against any possible vacancies that may arise in other classes (Senior Kindergarten to Grade 6) should any of the existing students leave the school. The school caps class size at 20 students per grade, the optimum number recommended by the Ministry of Education.

With each passing year, the buy-in by potential parents continues to be overwhelming. Despite the many demands that the school’s programs place on them as partners, Canadian families are drawn to the school for various reasons.

		Kristian Akimov, Grade 6

For Eugene and Inesa Akimov, the parents of Grade 6 student Kristian Akimov, it was the self-confidence of the Sathya Sai School students that struck a chord.

“Our first visit to the school was during the Open House. We were impressed by the students’ ability to express their opinions and thoughts clearly and with confidence…it felt we were speaking to grown up persons.

We also noticed the teachers and students shared a relationship of deep and sincere respect and every student was treated as a unique individual.

“After our son Kristian joined the school, it is a great insight for us as parents to learn and practice the five human values together with our son in our everyday lives.”

	Students addressing a peace rally				Students MC school’s special assemblies

As North American parents, we wanted our children to grow in an environment where the fundamental five human values defined the culture - values that are timeless and can be easily related to regardless of one’s culture, race, faith or religion,” say Shanthi and Bob Balakumar, parents of Alagan, in Junior Kindergarten and Paary, in Grade 1. “After extensive research, the Sathya Sai School emerged as the ideal and only choice for us. We love the atmosphere that engulfs us as we step in through the doors of the school. We appreciate and value the creative teaching methodologies used by the teachers. As well, the partnership and communication between the staff at the school and parents ensures that the children receive care and coaching almost 24/7.”

	Lavanya Sivakumar and Divakshi Rohan, Gr. 2 learn to use a thermometer				Exploring Medieval Times - Knights in shinning armour

	Reading buddies Praven and Parnika				A group Art activity

	Grade 5 students dressed as Latin Dancers - learning to feel one with every culture and creed				Drama teacher Miss Chandrakanthan teaching Performing Arts to Grade 3 students

For Mullafer Shanawaz and his wife Kaushy, the draw of the school was the universal appeal of the virtues the Sathya Sai model of learning promotes.

“My wife is a Hindu and I am a Muslim. One of our challenges was which religion our daughters would follow and, more importantly, what values they should practice in their daily life. Frequently we tend to forget that all faiths point to the universal values and a life of peace, tolerance and compassion. We wanted to provide our daughters Shivaani and Shaayini the best possible education with proper guidance. Initially, I was skeptical about the Sathya Sai School’s claim of balancing human excellence with character education. I then visited Prashanthi Nilayam personally to check out the claims. The trip was a life-altering experience. Upon return we were determined to seek admission here. Today, this is the best gift we have given our daughters. This is the only school we can relate to. It offers the best character based education that is academically superior too.

“Our girls are more fortunate than us. We didn’t grow up learning these values and broad-mindedness. We were only told what is good and bad and that our religion is superior to all other religions. Today, when both our kids talk to us, we can see their maturity and their respect for everything in the world, from human to animal life and from stones to plants. Amazingly, we are learning more about being good human beings from our children than we are teaching them…my wife and I are both practicing our respective faiths and maintaining our culture without any discrepancy while practicing the five human values as a family - values that are common to both our faiths. We have all grown after our daughters joined the school.”

	Celebrating Canada’s diversity – a special Sankranthi assembly				Celebrating Baisakhi in the school through unique programmes

	Darini Hariharan makes an in-class presentation on Christmas				Students wear traditional clothes on special occasions

It is a variety of facets of the school such as daily universal prayers (which are conspicuous by their absence in the public school system where even the term “God” is a taboo) to the school’s loving discipline policy, smart uniform, high academic standard, weekly yoga classes, daily tuning-in time, insistence on healthy and vegetarian food, and so on that has attracted Canadian parents.

Junior Kindergarten student Dante Morris’ mom Michelle Ward admits:

“My interest in the Sathya Sai School of Canada peaked when I discovered this school still believed in saying a school prayer, which I believe, is very important for any child. As I accessed the school website, I was in total awe because it was at this time I realized how much the school had to offer and I right away decided this would be Dante’s school, without even contacting anyone at the school. I was most impressed with the fact that the school started the day with a prayer and even three 3 year olds were taught meditation and silent sitting and basic yoga techniques. To me the school on the whole is one that other schools should do their very best to model after. I feel very proud to say my son Dante attends the Sathya Sai School of Canada and I feel very blessed to have him there.”

	Students pray before writing exams				Praying before lunch and snack time

		Tuning-in time or meditation begins in Junior Kindergarten

Aruna and Mohan Gopal, who have been associated with the school since its inception, recalling how it all began, say,

	The happy Mohan Gopal family

“In the spring of the year 2000, we were at the crossroads in terms of where we would be sending our daughter to study for her first year at school…we were keen to provide her with a firm foundation of human values that had to be interwoven into the regular academic curriculum and would permeate the entire school environment. At that very juncture, we attended a presentation on the opening of the Sathya Sai School of Canada…this was indeed an answer to our prayers and could not have come at a more opportune time.

“Over the years, our daughter Kavita Anjana Gopal, currently in Grade 5 at the Sathya Sai School of Canada, has blossomed into a beautiful person, showing a deep understanding of the human values in her words, actions and choices.”