SCAFFOLDING

 

Adam Grant on 'Scaffolding'

In construction, scaffolding is a temporary structure that enables work crews to scale heights beyond their reach. Once the construction is complete, the support is removed. From that point forward, the building stands on its own.

In learning, scaffolding serves a similar purpose. A teacher or coach offers initial instruction and then removes the support. The goal is to shift the responsibility to you so that you can develop your own independent approach to learning. 

For this, the coach sets up temporary structures to give his team the opportunity and motivation to learn.

These structures act as the first bit of scaffolding  for the members of the team.

There had been a gentleman carrying this out with his siblings as they grew up without ever  knowing the term scaffolding  and the implication. He had done it with his juniors where he had been employed. He had done it with his  wife and his children as well.

He used to stretch his palm and tell them that he was supporting them, letting them stand on his palm. He would tell them, he would take off his palm when he saw or felt they were good enough to stand on their own.

He knew, this is how you develop the second line, the next one who would succeed you. To him, this is how you bring out the best in everyone around.

The gentleman referred to is no psychologist which Adam Grant is, without parallel.

However, the gentleman affirms, as he read through Adam Grant on 'scaffolding'  he could see  this was what he had been unknowingly carrying on all through his life.

For him, Adam Grant was a revelation.

Professor Dr. Origan Vasanth Jathanna

 

Adam Grant writes in 'Hidden Potential'

"The true measure of your potential is not the height of the peak you have reached, but how far you have climbed to reach there.

When we admire the great achievers, we focus narrowly on their performance. It leads us to elevate the ones who have accomplished the most and overlook those who have achieved the most with the least."

It was forwarded to Rev. Dr. Santy. S. Paul who teaches at the KUT Seminary, Kannammoola, Trivandrum.

He responded:

"It makes me think of my professor Dr. Origan Vasanth Jathanna, who is still an amazing personality in my theological journey, who  had secured a PhD from the University of Basil, Switzerland, taught at UTC for more than three decades and was the Principal for a term of seven years and after stepping down taught as an ordinary teacher for a couple of years under his colleague. Even as being an exemplary critical - creative mind who has instilled the spirit of theological enquiry in the minds of hundreds of students (may be a few thousands) he hasn't published widely despite his doctoral dissertation and a few  academic journals. Recently he wrote a letter to one of his students who was designated to be the principal of a theological College. It was 14 pages much richer than a theological document.

He has allowed his student to publish his letters posthumously, but not now.

That is the person."

"Adam Grant takes us to the mode of evaluation in which the process is much more significant rather than  the end.

This is indeed a challenge to the marauding philosophy:

"End justifies means."

Thanks for sharing 

The response was brief:

"A wonderful discourse. Brought out the best in you. You are certainly an enigma.

And Prof Jathanna. When brilliance and humility combine, we have him before us. 

He is miles ahead of us all."

CHRISTMAS 2025 AT KUTSEMINARY

                                                                             

               

       

                                                                             

                                                                                 

                                                                                

                                                                              

                                                                           

                       

                                                                                     

ST. THOMAS SCHOOL IN TRIVANDRUM

 

This was a  post to the Secretary. St. Thomas Educational Society, Trivandrum

My sister Leela's daughter in law, Simi,  is in Australia.

What I gather from Leela is Simi works with children at the KG level. Leela tells me, in Australia, they are very much concerned at the development of children from the very young age. Leela adds, the job pays much better than other positions in Australia.

Right now I am reading 'Hidden Potential' by Adam Grant. He's a well known author.

He writes:

The success that students achieve as adults could be predicted simply by looking at who taught their Kindergarten Class. A study  by Raj Chetty, one of the World's most influential economists revealed that by age 25, students who happened to have had more experienced kindergarten teachers were earning significantly more money than their peers.

To the question why, the intuitive answer is that effective teachers help students develop cognitive skills. Early education builds a solid foundation for understanding numbers and words. Sure enough, students with more experienced teachers scored higher on maths and reading skills at the end of kindergarten.

Forwarding because:

1. You are heading St.Thomas

2. Anoop tells me he regrets he couldn't be in St.Thomas

3. Looking at a recent performance of Leann, at the Pattoor Church and certainly of the students at the STRS annual School day, I can understand what Anoop missed.

4. Not that Christ Nagar was bad, but it didn't give him what St.Thomas has been giving over the years

5. Once when Anoop completed SSLC, we wanted to put him at St.Thomas for the 11th. Lila had a relative teaching there. We met him with Anoop. He asked Anoop, "What's your name?"

6. There was a scared expression on his face, on the enquiry in English, before he answered. 

7. Years later, I was at the Foreign Exchange seat at SBI Tvm. One day, an engineer at the state govt. visited the office. He wanted traveller's cheque for his son who was proceeding to US for higher studies after CET.

8. I responded it could be done. The next day he returned with his handsome son.

9. I asked the young man what his name was.

10. The response was similar to Anoop's a few years back

11. Though I guessed correctly, I asked him where he did his schooling. Christ Nagar was the answer

12. No wonder I thought.

13. Those days every beam in the school exhorted,"Speak English."

14. My consternation was most of the students didnot know how to speak in English, let alone good English

15. It's why St.Thomas is way ahead.

16. I can understand very well why, when Anoop mentions what he lost, by not being at St.Thomas.

17. Yes, to me St.Thomas is much more than a mere school, that churns out good results.

18. St.Thomas influences the wholesome development of the child entrusted to its care.

MANDATORY

 

We are regular Church goers.

The frequent invocation of the word MANDATORY at the Church, we felt was a little too much.

I wrote to the people who mattered.

"Of late, we hear the word MANDATORY from the altar and from church announcements in the WhatsApp 

To be honest my knowledge in the language English is very limited. I had my education in Malayalam  medium in the school.

All the same I detest the word MANDATORY. To me it lacks civility. 

I checked the web.

I found few alternatives.

INDISPENSABLE 

ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL

COMPULSORY

NECESSARY 

PREREQUISITE 

There could be many more

To me MANDATORY is autocratic. Authoritative. Final. Holding it back for a final assault, that would never be required, is a better option.

To me people are sensible. They understand. 

Please go mild. Please be suggestive. 

They'd positively respond.

Force them. 

They'd ignore the exhortation.

Forgive me for writing on the word."

RARE MOMENTS WITH THE GREAT// WHEN THE PRESIDENT SENATE OF SERAMPORE COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY VISITED US ON 11TH DECEMBER 2025 AT OUR HOME

                                                 REV.PROF.DR.C.I.DAVID JOY

                                           RARE MOMENTS WITH THE GREAT 

           WHEN THE PRESIDENT SENATE OF SERAMPORE COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY VISITED US 

                                ON 11TH DECEMBER 2025 AT OUR HOME      

                                            A BLESSING AND A MOMENT 

                                                 FROZEN IN HISTORY

                                                                 TO. 

                                                 CHERISH FOREVER

                                             REV.PROF.DR.C.I.DAVID JOY

                                          IS CURRENTLY THE PRINCIPAL

                             THE KERALA UNITED THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

                                                  KANNAMMOOLA

                                         THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

AND HE WAS GRACIOUS TO SPARE MORE THAN HALF AN HOUR OF HIS PRECIOUS TIME 

                                                     AND BE WITH US

            WE WERE  INDEED BLESSED BY HIS PRESENCE AND HIS PRAYERS

                                                   WE PRAISE GOD

                                  FOR WHAT GOD HAS MADE HIM

                                     AN ASSET TO CHRISTIANITY

 

                                          THE WORLD OVER

FELICITATION ON 1.12.2025 REV.PROF.DR C I DAVID JOY NEW PRESIDENT OF SERAMPORE COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY