JSSW Jan 2010

8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

1/36

8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

2/36

8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

3/36

01

Price Rs 20.00

Journal of

School Social Work

Journal of School Social W ork,

8 (New 14), Sridevi Colony, Seventh Avenue,

Ashok Nagar, Chennai 600 083

Mobile: 98406 02325 E-mail:[email protected]

Note:Views expressed by the contributors are not necessarily the official view of the Journal.

Focus: Future Leaders

Hony. Special Editor: Dr (Capt) DVP Raja, MA, DSSA, Ph D, D Litt,Founder& Chairman, Madurai Institute of Social Sciences, Madurai

RB Charitable Trust, SPREAD and Capt DVR Foundation for HRD,Chairman, Centre for Local Bodies, IIPA, Madurai Branch.

A National School Social Work monthly dedicated to networking of parents and teachers.

Volume Issue Contents January 201008VI

Editorial

Leadership in theSchool Setting

Personality Development Cells in

Schools

Can We Make Good Leaders?

Leadership to Ensure

An Impressive Personality

Leadership in Community Health

Leadership during StudentshipIndispensable Leadership Skills

Nurture and Cherish the

Future Leaders

Tavitamma PDr Hymavathy K

Gnana Sekar M

Dr Kalaiyarasan G

Dr Bigi Thomas

Rani Manda

Vijayalakshmi N K

Ramesh K SBala Muthu Murugan

Hanna Evangeline Sangeetha

Dr Sailaxmi Gandhi

Page

02

03

09

12

15

21

25

27

30

Journal of SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK January 2010

8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

4/36

02

Two children were playing a video

game. The younger one waited

patiently for his turn and once hegot the console and joystick he

was absorbed in playing the game

under the watchful eyes of the

elder sibling. The latter did not

interfere or do any back seat

driving. He allowed his brother to

play until a stage was reachedwhere the younger one had lost

almost all the chances and

resources so meticulously

gathered by the elder sibling. He

took over from the youngster and

started playing himself, without a

comment. The exclamations fromthe younger one suggested that

the elder one was navigating

nimbly and making a steady

progress. Once again the elder

one voluntarily gave the console

and the joystick to his younger one

and went away.

This familiar situation which is

commonplace in many households

is a veritable lesson in leadership

and mentoring.

The non-assertive leader took

charge of the situation, accumulated

resources (artifacts or weapons) and

more chances (lifes in video game

parlance). He allowed the younger

one to play without interfering. The

leader was absolutely in control and

the follower believed in him. The

leader was goal-oriented and

voluntarily passed on (without being

asked) the opportunity to play.

A true leader allows the follower

to grow at his own pace and neverpushes.

Anticipates disasters and

provides buffers or cushions or

resources to tide over the crises.

Assumes responsibility only when

continuing in the same line is self-

defeating.Mentors the novice gently guiding

him and providing him with an

opportunity to learn by watching and

not by theorizing or explaining.

Gives sufficient hands-on

experience.

Adults would do well to take note of

the leadership traits found in the

young, elder brother and with such

leaders abounding, India has nothing

to worry about. These young leaders

will grow into management gurus fine

tuning the progress of our country.

Let us just allow them to blossom.

A Lesson in LeadershipEditorial

Journal of SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK January2010

8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

5/36

03

Introduction

Leadership is the process of helping

others to discover themselves and their

potential for achieving objectives which

an orgnization has set for itself. Theseactivities are usually looked after by the

headmaster/ principal of the school.

Thus, the important components of any

school system are the headmaster or

the principal, teachers and students.

For effective functioning of the

institution, the above three components

have to play different roles.Meaning of leadership

According to social psychologists,

leadership evolves from a dynamic and

interacting group that is held together

by loyal ties to an individual, and is

concerned with the goal of the group.

Thus, a leader may be anyone who is

recognized by individuals or by thegroup as an available source of help.

The leadership behaviour must

adequately recognize the importance of

each individual in accomplishing the

task by the contribution of the individuals

through group activity. Power and

position may not be the criteria for

Leadership in the School SettingTavitamma P*

Hymavathy K**

Tavitamma P, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Social Work, Sri Padmavathi MahilaUniversity. Tirupati. e-mail: [email protected], cell: 98668 69640.

Dr Hymavathi K, Senior Research Assistant Young Lives Project, S P M V V

Tirupati. e-mail:[email protected] ,mobile: 94402 06551

leadership. Leadership evolves from

groups. These groups are usually

unified around mutually agreed upon

goals. The individual in the group who

works for attainment of the goals getssupport and affiliation of the group.

Members of the group accept the

proposals made by such individuals and

accept them as their leaders. In an

educational setup we find many types

of leaders.

Types of leadership

There are many types of leaders asgiven below:

Visionary leader is the one who has a

long-term perspective, who is externally-

oriented and has a broad interest in

industry, economy, regulations and

politics. His tasks include forming a

mission statement, vision and values.

He is supposed to transform andstructure the organization to ensure

survival and growth. Example of

visionary leader can be a director, senior

executive, chairman and head of school

or a senior partner.

Integration leader is the one who has

medium-term perspective. He has an

Focus


8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

6/36

04

inside out orientation where his main

focus is on his own organization. His

main function is to develop

organizations systems and processes.He reconciles conflicting interests. He

develops and champions a strong

culture.

Fulfilment leaderis one who has a short-

term perspective. He is a knowledge

expertwho is result-oriented and who

has customer service thinking. He

pleases the customer by deliveringresults on time. He makes continuous

improvement by unlocking individual

potential and optimum usage of

resources.

Transactional leader takes the initiative

in offering some form of need

satisfaction in return for something

valued by the employees, such as pay/promotion.

Transformational leadership is the

process of engaging the commitment of

the employees in the context of the

shared values and the shared vision. It

is particularly relevant in the context of

managing change. It involves

relationship of mutual trust between theleaders and the followers.

Transformational leadership has

following components:

Idealized influence involves having

a clear vision and a sense of purpose.

Such leaders are able to win the trust

and respect of the followers. They build

a base for future mission, which

enables them to obtain extra efforts

from the followers.

Individual consideration involvespaying attention to the needs and

potential for development of individual

followers. It also involves delegating,

coaching and giving constructive

feedback.

Intellectual stimulation involves

soliciting new ideas and new ways of

doing things. Inspiration involves motivating

people, generating enthusiasm, setting

an example and being available to

share the load. An ideal example of

transformational leadership would be

Mrs. Kiran Bedis achievement with

Tihar Jail inmates. She brought about

a complete transformation in thefollowers as well as the institutional

processes.

Charismatic leader

The personal charm of some person

influences us. They are known as

charismatic leaders. Swami

Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi are

examples of charismatic leaders. Thecharismatic leaders have the ability to

carry the masses with them. They have

a great deal of emotional appeal. Some

characteristics of the followers of

charismatic leaders are as follows:

Accept the leader unquestioningly.

Obey the leader willingly.Journal of SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK January2010

8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

7/36

05

Share the beliefs of the leader.

Trust the correctness of the leaders

belief.

Autocratic, democratic andlaissezfaire leaders

Autocratic and democratic styles of

leadership are classical forms of

leadership. An autocratic leader takes

decisions and imposes them on the

groups. Democratic leaders invite

suggestions in setting the direction for

success. The laissez-faire leader is toopermissive which is not desirable .

Qualities of a model leader

To be strong, leaders need to

possess numerous skills and

qualities, ten of which are listed

below:

Vision is the clear picture a good

leader has of the objectives of the

organization and also the objectives of

the team and individuals in it.

Clear strategyis needed to achieve

these objectives, and the ability to form

a strategic plan is essential too.

Ability to make decisions is an

essential leadership quality. Goodleaders show strength in making

difficult and unpopular decisions; they

have confidence in their own ability and

the strength of their own convictions.

A good leader understands that

indecision on their part wastes time,

resources and denies the organization

opportunities.

Risk taking also forms part of any

list of leadership qualities. Leaders

must have the strength and courageto act in situations where they are not

guaranteed success. A good leader is

willing to risk failure.

The ability to motivate others is the

most important quality of a leader. A

good leader articulates his/ her vision

to others, persuading them of the worth

of their ideas and inspires people inworking towards the objectives of the

organization as well as ensuring that

they achieve their personal goals

pushing the individual to achieve and

develop for the benefit of themselves

and the organization as a whole.

Team building ensures that they

draw the best from each individualand the team as a whole through

collaboration, consensus and resolving

conflicts.

Self-knowledge/ awareness also

features in the list of leadership

qualities. A good leader knows his

own strengths and weaknesses, able

to view his behaviour objectively andalso reflect on his own practice. They

need to demonstrate the ability to

acknowledge feedback, act upon that

and make changes where necessary.

Integrityis amalgamation of outward

actions and inner values. A person of

integrity is the same on the outside andJournal of SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK January2010

8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

8/36

06

on the inside. Such an individual can

be trusted because he or she never

veers from inner values, even when it

might be expeditious to do so. A leadermust have the trust of followers and

therefore must display integrity. Honest

dealings, predictable reactions, well-

controlled emotions, and an absence

of tantrums and harsh outbursts are all

signs of integrity. A leader who is

centered in integrity will be more

approachable by followers.Pursuit of lifelong learning is a key

quality in leaders. To continually learn

and develop they must show openness

to new ideas. Reflection is a key

element of lifelong learning if leaders

are to improve, develop and adapt to

the constantly changing environment.

Communication takes the highestpriority in any list of leadership.

Leaders have to communicate their

ideas to a diverse group of people

and adjust their style in meeting the

needs of the people they lead.

Leadership qualities that

characterize effective living arespecific, measurable and can be

learned.

Leadership at school

School is a formal setup of education,

wherein students learn through

interaction with each other and

teachers. The quality of interaction

enhances the quality of learning

outcome. For enhancing the quality

of interaction, many factors have tobe controlled and this cannot be done

by a single individual. So, a

hierarchical administrative structure

is created in schools with different

leadership positions. The usual

leadership positions that exist in a

school are principal/ headmaster,supervisor, teachers and students.

The headmaster of the school is

considered as the leader of the

school, because he/ she looks after

all academic, non-academic and

administrative functions of the

school. Similarly, teachers prepareunit plans, instructional plans,

evaluation techniques and co-

curricular activities in the school.

Students also have a different type

of leadership role in the school.

People involved in different positions

at school hierarchy tend to perform

leadership roles at their levels.Teacher as a leader

The National Policy on Education,

1986 stated that no system of

education can rise higher than its

teachers. A teacher is the most

important element in the educational


8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

9/36

07

process. A teacher is the vital

component in teaching-learning

process.

Leadership roles of students

Pupils are the legitimate actors in a

school. It is for them that all

educational activities are organized

and undertaken. They occupy the

focus or the limelight of school

activities for which curricula are

planned and designed, school plantis set up, qualified teachers and

principal are recruited and auxiliary

services are organized. Student is

a leader in a classroom. The quality

of interaction in the classroom

enhances the quality of learning.

Students have to take part activelyin classroom process. In a teaching-

learning process, students and

teachers are the wheels of a cart and

they should move simultaneously to

move ahead. The other type of

leadership arises in co-curricular

activities. Many a time, school

provides opportunities to students to

organize co-curricular and extra-

curricular activities in the form of

monitoring the class and school,

organizing school prayer, cultural

programmes, celebrating the days of

importance, conducting competitions

among students in the school and

among schools and maintaining the

dignity of the school. Usually, school

pupil leader, with the help of class

leaders, organizes these activities.

Of course, the involvement of

teachers is also there but stops at

guiding the students in organizing

activities. Students are responsible

for the success of the activity.

Role of teachers and parentsGuiding the development of children

should be a co-operative endeavour,

it is a two-way process between

parents and teachers. Parents and

teachers need to see the child as a

whole in order to provide appropriate

guidance in shaping thepersonality.The quality of teacher-student and

teacher-parent relationship during

the period will have an influence upon

the child throughout the formative

years.

Summary and conclusions

A leader is one who is recognized by

individuals or by the group as an

available source of guidance, support

and help. Headteacher is a leader

for both administrative and

instructional process in the school.

Teachers are the key persons in

developing and promoting


8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

10/36

08

leadership characteristics and

inspiration for students. Therefore,

the school should be a model

institution for developing a strong andReferences:

Abrams D (2001): Hiring Teachers Gets Trickier for Other Counties. Montgomery

County Gazette. from http://www.gazette.net/search

Blair J (2001): Lawmakers Plunge into Teacher Pay.Education Weekfrom http:/

/www.edweek.org/edsearch.cfm

Barth R S (2001): Teacher Leader.Phi Delta Kappan 82, (4).

Bradley A (2000). Presto, Change-o. Teacher Magazin.from http://

www.edweek.org/edsearch.cfmDoyle D (2001): A Liberal Education. The School Administrator. Arlington,

VA: American.

Harris A and Muijs D (2005): Improving Schools throughTeacher Leadership.

MPG, UK

Kluwer Smith, N. W. (2001). Current Systems in Psychology: History, Theory,

Research, and Applications. Academic. Wadsworth, UK.

Lieberman, A and Miller, L (2004):Teacher Leadership, Jossey-Bass, San

Francisco.

ideal future leaders through key

catalysts: teachers, head masters

and school environment. Parents

have a pivotal role too.

GratitudeWe are grateful to Dr (Capt) D V P Raja, MA, DSSA, Ph D, D Litt , Founder and

Chairman, Madurai Institute of Social Sciences, Madurai for readily agreeing

to be the honorary special editor for this issue. We thank him for his

timely editorial and all the help he is extending from time to time. We tahnk

him for co-opting Dr Pandi S (Professor and Head, Dept. of Social Work,

Arignar Anna Govt. Arts College, Karaikal) and Dr Paranjothi Ramalingam

J (Prof and Head, Dept of Social Work, Amrita Vishwa VidyapeethamUniversity, Coimbatore)as honorary committee members for this month.

We extend our thanks to them for their immediate service for the cause of

school social work. we are grateful to Dr Pandi S for his consent to be the

honorary special editor for the month ofFebruary 2010. The focus is Rural

Mental Health. Already two articles had been received and contributors

are requested to send articles before 25th January 2010. ~Ed.


8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

11/36

09

Introduction

The well known educator and

counsellor, James J Gill in Educating

for Leadership says, The essential

qualities and skills involved inleadership can be learned and

developed through education and

experience. People can learn to

communicate clearly, to make

effective decisions, to motivate and

inspire, to maintain and show respect

for and trust in subordinates, to bejust in making judgments, to instruct

clearly and to be patient with

mistakes, to be loyal to followers and

tough on their behalf, to be humble

and open to new ideas and different

opinions, to keep a sense of humour

and to know how to relax. All the

above qualities can be developed

through educational institutions by

providing proper stimuli to their

students.

Leadership activities in schools

Generally all type of schools from

nursery to higher secondary are

giving chances to students to develop

their leadership qualities. The various

forms of leaders in schools are class

leaders, sports leaders and different

club leaders like science club, enviroclub and various groups and

movements like Scouts and Guides,

NCC, JRC, RSP and NGC. All these

groups and movements train

students according to their aims,

objectives and resources through

specific activities. However, toenable our students to face

competitions we need to focus our

attention on life-skills trainings to our

students through yet another club or

activity forum, which may be called

the personality development cell.

Personality development cell

Personality development club or cellis already existing in some schools

of Tamil Nadu offering various life

coping skills to their students. This

group would be more suitable for high

and higher secondary students. The

following life-skills are imparted to

Personality Development Cells in SchoolsGnana Sekar M*

Kalaiyarasan G**

*Gnana Sekar M, a Ph D Scholar in Education, Alagappa University and a PGTeacher, St.Gabriels Higher Secondary School, Broadway,Chennai-600108.

**Dr Kalaiyarasan G, Associate Professor in Education, Alagappa University,

Karaikkudi-630 003.

Focus


8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

12/36

10

students by the personality

development cell:

Self-actualization skills

Academic achievement skills.Time-management skills.

Decision making skills.

Communication skills.

Team building skills.

Problem-solving skills..

Self-management skills

Creativity skills.Volunteering skills.

Interpersonal skills.

Media utilizing skills

According to the need and availability

of resources many other skills can be

offered to students.

Life skills and leadership

According to Stogdill, the following

psychological traits are very

important in deciding the

characteristics of leadership:

Capacity (Intelligence, alertness,

verbal facility, originality, judgment).

Achievement (Scholarship,

knowledge, accomplishments).Responsibility (Dependability,

initiative, persistence,

assertiveness, self-confidence,

desire to excel).

Participation (Activity, sociability,

co-operation, adaptability, humour).

Status (Socio-economic position,

popularity).

Situation (Ability, needs,interests,

objectives and tasks of group).From the above it could be inferred

that situational opportunity is very

essential to develop leadership

characteristics. Opportunities can be

provided by different activities in

various platforms to students to

develop traits like capacity,achievement and responsibility. The

way they are trained in schools and

colleges will be the deciding factor

for acquiring status of their future.

Leadership skills

According to Bill Hybels a leadership

development plan has to address

these three phases:

1.Indentifying emerging leaders.

2.Investing in the development of

emerging leaders.

3.Entrusting responsibility to

emerging leaders.

These three phases can be

effectively achieved throughPersonality Development Cell in

schools by following some or all of

the following:

Talent exposure programmes.

Frequent interaction with experts.

Creation of models and exhibits.


8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

13/36

11

Volunteer works in school

assemblies, functions, programmes

and visiting old age homes,

orphanages to develop caringattitude.

Industrial and company visits .

Camps for yoga, meditation and

breathing exercises.

Communication workshops and

language lab.

Article display in notice boards.Publishing school magazines with

student participation.

Participation in radio and TV

programmes.

Media analysis workshops.

Team works like team building

games and activities.

Periodical tests, puzzles and quiz.

Critical analysis of the content

and modus operandiof events like

exhibitions, symposiums and

seminars attended or organized by

them.Conclusions

The qualities of leadership are basic

ideas derived from sharp

commonsense that can transform

anyone into a more dynamic leader.

So, teachers can build leadership

skills in their students and empowerthem to motivate and influence

others. Developing life-skills through

personality development cell is a felt

need of todays education system.

Heads, teachers, authorities of

educational institutions and the

controlling boards have to encourage

such cells in every educational

institution to create future leaders.

References:

Alphonse A (2001): Developing the Adolescent Personality, Better Yourself

Books, Mumbai

Antony Dsouza (1995): Leadership, Better yourself Books, Mumbai

Atul John Rego (2002): How to Develop a Pleasing Personality, Better Yourself

Books, MumbaiBill Hybels (2002) Courageous Leadership, OM Books, Secunderabad.

Chandru Gidwani (2001): Secret to Your Balanced Successful and Happy Life,

Better Yourself Books, Mumbai

Gill James (1983): Educating for Leadership,Human Development, vol.4

Stephen R Covey(1992): Principle Centered Leadership, A Fireside Book, New

York

Stogdill Ralph MA(1981): Handbook of Leadership. A Survey of Theory and

Research, Free Press, New York.


8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

14/36

12

Introduction

Children are good or bad depending

on what we make of them. They are

like plain sheet of paper which we

use a pencil to write on. If we dont

want to be disgraced by a spoilt child,

then we must train them to berespectful, and courteous. If you

want your children to be better than

you, then give them the tools they

need, build them up to have the right

mindset and offer them necessary

skills that will be beneficial to them.

Foundation for future leadersThe leaders of today were children

of yesterday. Likewise, future leaders

of tomorrow are our children. So,

whatever we want our future to be

like is what we make of our children.

People make places and places dont

make people. These people are our

children. If we raise misinformed

children, we will definitely have

misinformed leaders of tomorrow.

The stage of childhood is the

foundation.

How we build this foundation matters

a lot. We build children with the

Can We Make Good Leaders?

Bigi Thomas*

*Dr. Bigi Thomas, I/C Director of Department of Social Work, S. P. University,

V. V. Nagar, Gujarat. Email- [email protected]

words we speak, the things we do,

what we make important to them, the

experiences we share with them, the

things we allow them to see on TV

and or internet amongst other things.

We mould our children through our

lives.Trust and leadership

Leadership is not just about being

one who tells others what to do.

While that may be a part of what

leaders do, it only works successfully

after they have earned the trust and

respect of others. Trust in others,persuade others to trust you, as

respect for others encourages others

to respect you. Teaching your

children to trust and respect others

will go a long way in making them

leaders. Good leaders should be able

to make others leaders, not followers.

For many the drive for leadership is

intuitive, something they are simply

born with. While winning the trust of

others is essential to leadership, it is

not always easy for some to do.

Those who can do it well will be

successful leaders later.

Focus


8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

15/36

13

Identifying the leader

A child may exhibit leadership

qualities when he varies the rules of

a familiar game to make it moreexciting for friends or when a child

arbitrates a disagreement among

friends or when she seems to take

the group in a particular direction. You

must train, teach and guide your

children to see the positive aspects

of people and situations and applythe problem solving skills whenever

needed.Aspiring to make your child

a leader can be a good thing but its

not necessarily the right thing for your

child.

Is leadership good for all?

Ask these questions yourself to

decide whether children will benefit

from leadership:

Do they seem comfortable in large

groups of children?

Do others respond well to their

suggestions?

Do they have an interest in setting

the direction or style of play theirpeers participate in?

If yes, then maybe they have some

natural leadership qualities within

them. Taking the initiative, making

suggestions, providing direction and

being sympathetic to the problems of

others are all characteristics that can

make great leaders. These are also

behaviours that can be encouraged

in all children. Leadership is bestfostered by parents who model not

only the qualities of leadership, but

also reflectively share their decision-

making processes and provide

opportunities for their child to decide.

Provide your child with a variety of

opportunities to interact with othersin both formal and informal settings.

Participating in organizations gives a

child the opportunity to encounter a

variety of leadership role models, and

from that, formulate a style that best

fits.

Characteristics of a leader

Is liked and respected by peers.

Influences others to work toward

goals.

Takes charge of the group.

Judges the abilities of other

children and finds places for them

in the group activities.

Figures out what is wrong with anactivity and shows others how to do

it better.

Is often asked for ideas and

suggestions.

Is sought by others when

something must be decided.


8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

16/36

14

References:

Campbell C (2006): Are Your Children Leaders? Retrieved December 19, 2009,

from http://ezinearticles.com/?Are-Your-Children-Leaders?&id=360778

Carol Fetig (2005): Help Your Children Become Good Leaders. Retrieved

December 19, 2009, from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/3262/help_your_children_become_good_leaders.html?cat=25

Emslie M J (2006): Encouraging Leadership in Children. Retrieved December

19, 2009, from http://ezinearticles.com/?Encouraging-Leadership-in-

Children&id=338745

Jarreau E (2009): The Characteristics of a Good Leader. Retrieved December 19,

2009, from http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Characteristics-of-a-Good-

Leader&id=3447082

Senses what others want and

helps them to accomplish it.

Enters into activities with

contagious enthusiasm. Devotes time to worthwhile

endeavours.

Conclusion

Parents can help their children

develop leadership skills by honing

their listening skills. Hear them fully

before offering your suggestions/instructions so that the child also

follows suit. Surround your child with

competent people. As you make

decsions, voice them. Think aloud

so that the child understands the

process of decision making. Give

due credit to other people around sothat the child understands the need

to recognise the strength of others.

Participate in organizations and

involve the child in decision making

process. Above all teach what is right

and wrong and make the child

morally strong. Armed with theleadership skills, the future leader is

prepared to take the bull by the horn

and shoulder the responsibilities.

Future FocusFeb 2010 Dr Pandi S (AAGC, Karaikkal) Rural Mental Health

Mar 2010 Dr Sunitha K (AP) Essentials of Health and Hygiene

Apr 2010 Dr Chindhai Jayaraman Essentials of Self-confidence

May 2010 Dr Visvanathan S (AU) Acceptance of Differences

Articles have to be sent before 15th of the preceding month to facilitate

peer review. Please append references in APA style. ~Ed.


8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

17/36

15

Leadership to Ensure

An Impressive PersonalityRani Manda*

*Rani Manda, Academic Consultant, Dept. of Social Work, VikramasimhapuriUniversity, Nellore, 524001, AP.

Focus

Introduction

Leadership is defined as a process

through which an individual

influences or motivates a group of

individuals to achieve a common

goal. Although, leadership andmotivational abilities are very closely

related, the strong motivation is an

essential ingredient of a good

leadership. Keeping in view of the

fact, leadership has been defined as

the ability to inspire.willing action,

emphasis is placed on willing, but to

understand leadership, we need to

delve a little deeper than what is

expected. The ability of a potential

leader will vary from one illustrious

leader to the other, but if the attributes

of the good leadership are upheld

then the benefits will be of immense

value to the society at large. Adopting this view point, it can be

said that the teacher who inspires

young children and motivates them

to act also imbibes the essential

qualities of being a leader. Generally,

a leader or teacher does not actually

develop another person. They

encourage and inspire that person to

develop themselves from within.

Thus, leadership is self-initiated.

Once the qualities and characteristics

of admired leaders are understoodand identified such skills and traits

can be developed.

Qualities required for leadership

A potential leader needs to be

intellectually bright. Skills which are

included in developing intelligence in

school children are good verbal

communication, math literacy (logical

thinking, power to analyze and

calculate), keenness to read and

learn and control emotions.

Concept of leadership

The following are the conceptual

framework for developing leadership:

Firstly, leadership denotes amutual behaviour pattern between

the leader and followers.

Secondly, leadership is a two-way

affair. The followers influence the

behaviour of the leader in as much

as the influence their behaviour.


8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

18/36

16

Thirdly, the concept of leadership

can be understood only in the

context of followers. Without

followers there can be no leader.Fourthly, leadership involves the

element of willing and voluntary

obedience on the part of followers.

Leadership is based on co-

operation and good will. Sheer

threat and force cannot maintain

one as a leader for long.Lastly, leadership is specific to a

situation. A person cannot be a

leader in all the fields.

Functions of leadership

There is no unanimity of opinion as

to what the functions of the

leadership really are. Generallyspeaking, leadership functions are

related to achievement of the group

goal and to hold the group together.

1.Maintenance of membership is

achieved by the closeness of the

leader to the group and the

frequency of his interactions. Of

course, he has to be accepted as a

leader in the first place.

2.Objective attainmentis the basic

responsibility of the leader. He has

to monitor the work patterns of the

group and mentor the weak

members to achieve groups goals.

3.Group interaction facilitation is a

particularly important function of a

leader.

Qualities of a leaderQualities of leadership in children are

not tough to develop if you give them

a pat on their back for doing a good

job, and encouraging them to excel

in a particular activity and by

motivating them in times of their

emotional needs. Thus, the followingqualities are important for leadership

apart from the intellectual

development which is currently under

study.

Integrity, character: Children

always look up to their parents and

so only they can set a good examplein front of the children about their

character, honesty and integrity.

Confidence: Confidence springs

from what is achieved in life. Such

confidence has to be manifested by

the parents so that their children can

make the better of it.

Courage: Confidence and brains

are not enough; grit and gumption

to get and achieve the targets and

goals play a major role. Children

should guided by the parents. Once

the parents decide on something

they should stick to their decision,


8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

19/36

17

come what may.

Sense of responsibility: if any

error happens, it should be owned.

Explain this to the children at its veryonset. Similarly, the same can be

the characteristic of a leader. Also

in the time of glory, a leader always

takes a back seat and lets other be

in the lime light.

Independent mind: Help children

develop an independent mind andcreative thinking of their own .This

will go a long way in enhancing their

personality as well. Posing

questions to children and making

them think before they answer is a

good way to cultivate this tenet.

Leadership in children

If qualities of leadership in children

are fostered from a very young age,

the little ones can grow up to have a

great personality. Instilling leadership

in children is to invest in making an

all-round impact and motivating them

to work towards a goal. A perfect

leader has yet to be born. There isalways room for self-improvement.

However, at least the following five

qualities seem to be important:

Enthusiasm is the first of all the

great traits for a potential leader. No

man or woman can instil much

enthusiasm in anyone else for

something about which they

themselves are not enthusiastic.

Genuine enthusiasm does not meana glib, back-slapping, or insincere

attitude. More often, the leaders

enthusiasm has to be genuine and

quite natural. It is shown by the

manner in which they go about their

work. Unless a person feels right

down in their bones that the workthey are doing is worth the while,

they can never consistently act as

they do. So, if they have any

misgivings or doubts about the

importance of their work they

cannot develop enthusiasm about

it. Those around them can easily

recognize that their attitude is

merely a put-on.

Courage is another quality a true

leader has. When the going gets

tough, the tough get going. The

ability to take it when the going gets

rough, often helps the leader to

keep whole organizations moralehigh. The leader has to face up to a

new problem all the time. Indeed

many successful leaders approach

each day with the resolve to take

up the challenge. Courage in

leadership sometimes takes


8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

20/36

18

unexpected turs; it may mean

defending a principle and taking

even an unpopular decision in the

larger interest of the society thanpersonal gains or groups

advantage. For example, in a school

setting, the SPL may desist the

groups desire to go on strike when

the examinations are announced.

Self-confidence is an important

requirement for the leader of today.However, in making decisions about

schoolmates, their motivations and

the way they act or react, the leader

can never feel completely sure that

they are right. The best they can do

is to make an educated guess based

on the dependable facts they gather,past experience and unbiased

interpretation.

Integrity refers to the fusion of

inward feelings and outward actions.

When they dont coincide the result

is disastrous.

Interestin and a respect for people

as individuals is essential for a leader

because large percentage of any

leaders day is spent working directly

with individuals.

Humour plays an important role

in our lives. It converts tense

situations light. Everyone including

the leader should have a sense of

humour. Only then he can keep his

cool.

Leadership can be learntIt is never too early or too late, to start

developing leadership qualities and

with the right encouragement and

support children can realize their

natural potential and enhance the

leadership skills which will help them

succeed throughout life.Building-blocks of leadership

Many activities help children develop

leadership skills and qualities. In fact,

many of the extra-curricular and co-

curricular activities often provide

opportunities to develop leadership

qualities. For example, activities suchas swimming, cooperative and team

building games, workshops,

presentations, music, story-telling,

role plays and drama will build up

their competence levels. Many

outdoor sport activities help to

improve self-esteem, self-reliance,

and self-respect. Community service

activities are a wonderful way to

promote concern for others and give

children the opportunity to share their

resources with the rest of the

community. It enables them to build

confidence and teaches them the art


8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

21/36

19

of giving to others without a sense of

superiority. This can be done through

an involvement in health

programmes, voluntary work foranimal husbandry, assisting in charity

works, fund raising activities for

specific causes that generally help

the elderly, infirm or disabled.

Team building activities

Team building activity can help

children to develop team work andunity and also enhance group

dynamics. Although competitive, the

activities require the children to learn

trust, co-ordination, planning and

problem solving together. Perhaps

in sports children learn team building

activates and leadership. Whetherthey are elected as the captain or

simply a member of the team, it may

provide a great opportunity for them

to practise working together towards

a common goal, in an often

pressurized and competitive

atmosphere.

Primary purpose

Different children enjoy and excel in

different activities depending upon

their individual interests, abilities, and

potentialities. It is not so important

what specific activities a child takes

part in, but rather finding leadership

and team building activities that he

or she enjoys and will benefit from.

Not only these activities teach them

effective leadership skills but alsoreinforce good behaviour and provide

role models for facing challenges in

life and overcoming them.

Parents role

Indeed, parents have to inculcate

leadership qualities in children right

from their childhood. It provides foroverall development in their lives. But

the million dollar question is that how

these qualities can be inculcated in

the children. Because, dealing with

children is not an easy task. In

addition, making them understand an

issue like leadership seems quite anuphill task. However, qualities of

leadership in children can be

cultivated in a systematic manner

with the fund of knowledge available.

Leadership drive also involves the

best use of available resources and

grabbing the initiative at every

opportunity. Mentoring and finding

suitable mentors from among

relatives and friends takes the burden

away from working mothers.

Benefits of leadership activities

Involving children in leadership

activities can have several benefits


8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

22/36

20

such as enabling them to become

more self-aware and look at the

positive and negative aspects of their

own behaviour. It helps children findtheir weaknesses and strengths and

encourage them to improve

themselves. It strengthens their self-

esteem and morale. It helps them

to others and develop their overall

personality and promote cando

attitudes. Children start takingresponsibility for their actions instead

of whining and clutching to apron

strings.

Conclusion

Many people debate that leaders are

born but leadership skills, like

anyother life-skills, can be developedand nurtured in any child at any age.

It can be achieved only through

consistent and coordinated efforts on

the part of parents, teachers,

significant others in the family and the

community as a whole. After all it

takes a whole village to raise a child! As John F. Kennedy said:

Leadership and learning are

indispensable to each other.

References:

Vidya Bhushan, Dr. Such Deva (1990): An Introduction to Sociology, Kitab Mahal,

Allahabad.

h t tp : / /www. leadersh ip-andmot iva t ion- t ra in ing .com/qua l i t i e s -of

goodleadership.htmlhttp://www.germseducation.com/server.php?show=conwebdoc157

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/qualities-of-leadership-in-children.html

http://www.leadershipexpert.co.uk/leadership-building-activities-for-children.html

ThanksWe are thankful to all the contributors whose articles had been published

and also those whose articles could not be published owing to space and

time constraints. Kindly send the articles sufficiently in advance for

consideration.

We are thankful to our subscribers Ms Kanakam U (6511011), Ms Swadesin

Mahapatra (6521011), Shri KannanG (6531114), Shri David Karunakaran

(Chennai Bal Vikas Kendra - 6541112), Ms Kausar Tasneem (6551111),

Principal (College of Social Work, Amravati, MS 6561210), Dr Pandi S

(6570112), Shri Sivakumar K (6581211), Dr Noel M (6591112) and

Dr Kalaiarasan G (6601112) . ~Ed.


8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

23/36

21

IntroductionGood leaders are made not born.

If each individual has the desire

and willpower, he/ she can become

an effective leader ~Anonymous

Leadership is a fascinating social

phenomenon that occurs in all groups

of people regardless of geography,culture, or nationality. Most of the

young people today aspire to

become leaders through a never

ending process of self-study,

education, training, and experience.

Definition of leadership

Various authors have given differentmeanings to the word Leadership

According to Jon P. Howell and Dan

L. Costley, Leadership is a process

used by an individual to influence

group members toward the

achievement of group goals in which

the group members view the

influence as legitimate.

The current understanding of

leadership is that it is a long-term

relationship or partnership between

leaders and group members.

The trigger

For many the drive for leadership is

Leadership in Community HealthVijayalakshmi N K*

*Vijayalakshmi N K, Research scholar, Madras School of Social Work.

intuitive, something they are simplyborn with. They know how to inspire

trust from those around them.

Others can try to learn the

characteristics of leadership and core

behaviour patterns of leaders shown

as figures 1 and 2 in the following

page.Children as leaders

The leader must use the behaviour

patterns in an effective manner. When

leaders fail to use needed behaviours

or use behaviours in an inappropriate

way, followers are confused.

Leadership requires anunderstanding of the greater goals or

purpose, as well as trust and example

setting. Among children natural

leaders will be those who assume

initiative whenever the opportunity

arises.

Behaviour patterns

Research evidence supports the

conventional wisdom that effective

leaders are also effective

communicators. Children can

communicate with their friends, family

and with their community people.

They can be participative or be

Focus


8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

24/36

8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

25/36

23

charismatic leaders who deliver the

message to the community and they

learn responsibility, diligence,

discipline and empathy for others.

Developing leadership skills

A leader to be chosen by his

peers as a leader must be strong in

basic ethics and values.

Leadership, like charity, begins at

home. So, children should be

involved on decision making,planning, execution and evaluation

of the tasks at home and in school.

Discussion on general topics and

debate on recent events help them

to develop independent thinking.

Seeing real life examples make

him more disciplined and beingproactive can make him stand out

and be successful.

Reading can be a great source

of inspiration for aspiring leaders.

Display of concern

Recently The Hindu, (Young World)

dated 15 December, 2009 gave the

role of school children in acquiring

leadership qualities and helping the

needy people in the community.

The girls at Paljor Namgyal Girls

school,Gangtok, Sikkim, took up the

responsibilities of donating clothes,

books and toys for their community.

Students of Christian Higher

Secondary school, Nagaland, met

the corporate and got financial help

for the poor students.In RV Public School Bangalore,

Karnataka, 7 children went from

door to door and created awareness

on blood donation and enlisted

volunteers for donation.

Students also presented skits to

kindergarten kids and taught theimportance of washing hands and

drinking boiled water.

Awareness on TB

TB is a major killer disease in our

country. Children can communicate

the right message to the people. They

can be good advocates with regardto tuberculosis. They can give

information to the family and the

community on the early symptoms of

TB and suggest to consult doctor and

use street play, skit and drama.

Children can distribute pamphlets ,

stick posters, organize rallies and

advocate precautions and

environmental cleanliness.

Need for leaders

Develop leadership qualities among

children, says Karnataka minister in

Bangaluru (The Hindu, Tuesday, Jul

15, 2003). The Minister for Primary


8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

26/36

24

and Secondary Education, B.K.

Chandrashekhar in an inaugural

function, stressed the need to develop

qualities of leadership and promotevalues which were humanistic in

nature among school children.

Prannoy Roy, NDTV President,

emphasized the role of both the

teachers and the parents in nurturing

the inherent talent of children. He also

added that there is a need to breakaway from the tyranny of the average

which was a hindrance to the

realization of the full potential of the

children.

Conclusions

Statement made by children as

leaders who campaigned for TB

awareness under the writers

supervision in Shenoy Nagar and TP

Chatram in 2004.

1. I will stick the posters in my house

first and then to all the houses inmy street.

2. I will tell people not to spit on the

road and in common places.

3. I will take the people to the doctor

if anyone has symptoms of TB.

4. I will not look down on a friend

who is having TB.5. I will tell people not to smoke or

drink.

7. I will go from door to door and

distribute pamphlets on symptoms

of TB.

This shows that given a chance,

children can successfully assume

leadership qualities and roles.

References:

Jon P Howell and Dan L.Costley (2006): Understanding Behaviour for Effective

Leadership. 2nd edition, Prentice-Hall of India Limited, New Delhi.

Chemers, M M (2002): Leadership. Research Findings ,Practice and Skills, 5th

edition, Dreamtech Press, New Delhi.

Richard L Hughes, Robert C Ginnett and Gordon J Curphy (2007): Leadership:

Enhancing the Lessons of Experience. 5th edition, Tata McGraw-Hill PublishingCompany Limited, New Delhi.

The Hindu, Jul 15, 2003.

Emslie, Mar J (2006): Encouraging Leadership in Children, accessed on 26 Oct,

2006 EzineArticles.com.

http://www. Brainy-child.com

The Hindu, Young world, December 15, 2009.

Peter G.Northouse (2007): Leadership Theory and Practice, 4th edition, SAGE

Pubilicaitons, New Delhi.


8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

27/36

8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

28/36

26

granted. Many agitations and

movements are initiated under the

name ofchild welfare/ rights activism,

but lack representation from childrengroup. The leadership development

among this group is being left out and

the word child leader has been

always taken over by adults at all

times much like youth leadership

conferred on elderly politicians.

Give them a chanceEveryone of us has experienced and

seen that children exhibit their

leadership qualities at very young

age as early as two years during their

play activities. In school, they get the

formal opportunity to excel

themselves as class leader, school

leader, project team leader or leaders

in NSS, NCC, sports and cultural

events. A significant one among

many initiatives is children s

parliament. In everyone of the above

activity, children have proved that

they are equal to many of the so

called adult leaders if not better.Every child leader is found to possess

qualities necessary for leadership

such as vision, trust, charisma,

emotional intelligence, leading from

the front, delegation, team building,

communication, event managementcapabilities and creativity. The

magnitude can vary but it can be

identified, assessed, nurtured and

developed. Providing more

opportunities to exhibit their

leadership skills is the way to create

child leaders. The ability to influencea group toward the achievement of

goals summarizes the concept of

leadership. Therefore, the child

leaders must be empowered to

mobilize their counterparts, to

discuss and debate on their own

needs and challenges, bring out the

necessary but practical solutions and

motivate them to apply.

Conclusion

A child should lead other children.

They should not be led by adults.

Adults can take the alternate roles of

a guide, advisor, motivator or trainer.

Let us allow the child to be a leaderof not only the future but also the

present.References:

Stephen P Robbins (2005): Organisational Behaviour, Pearson Education, New

Delhi

www.CensusIndia.gov.in accessed on 20th Dec. 2009

www.PopulationCommission.nic.in accessed on 20th Dec. 2009


8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

29/36

27

Introduction

Leadership is the process of social

influence in which one person can

enlist the aid and support of others

in the accomplishment of a common

task. Leadership is about the

capacity to listen and observe, to use

ones expertise as a starting point to

encourage dialogue at all levels of

decision-making, to establish

processes and transparency in

decision-making, to articulate ownvalues and visions clearly but not

impose them. Effective leadership is

the ability to successfully integrate

and maximize available resources

within the internal and external

environment for the attainment of

organizational or societal goals. Ourability to relate with and influence

others can enhance our

effectiveness.

Leaders and followers

Leaders personal qualities, the

demands of the situation, or a

Indispensable Leadership Skills

Bala Muthu Murugan*

Hanna Evangeline Sangeetha**

*Bala Muthu Murugan,Lecturer, Department of Social Work, Loyola College,

Chennai 34

**Hanna Evangeline Sangeetha, Lecturer, Department of Social Work, Loyola

College, Chennai 34

combination of these and other

factors attract followers who accept

their leadership. Leaders are

recognized by their capacity for

caring for others, clear

communication, and a commitment

to persist. Those skills are

behavioural and are not traits or

styles. They will be interrelated and

overlapping and the effective leaders

are multi-skilled. The following are

the required personal andinterpersonal skills:

I Personal skills

1. Self-awareness is the first step in

the creation process. As you grow

in self awareness, you will better

understand why you feel what you

feel and why you behave as youbehave. That understanding gives

you the opportunity and freedom to

change those things youd like to

change about yourself and create

the life you want. Without fully

knowing who you are, self-

Focus


8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

30/36

28

acceptance and change become

impossible. Self-awareness

includes recognition of our

personality, strengths andweaknesses and likes and dislikes.

It is often a prerequisite for effective

communication and interpersonal

relations, as well as for developing

empathy for others.

2. Stress management is all about

taking charge of ones thoughts,emotions, schedule, environment

and the way one deals with

problems. The ultimate goal is a

balanced life, with time for work,

relationships, relaxation, and fun

plus the resilience to hold up under

pressure and meet challenges headon.

3. Creative problem solving is the

process of clarifying and

understanding the problem,

analyzing causes, identifying

alternatives, assessing each

alternative, choosing one,

implementing it, and evaluatingwhether the problem was solved or

not. Flexibility/ open-mindedness is

an essential part of being able to

solve problems, whether it is in

personal life or on-the-job. When a

person has difficulty imagining a

solution to a problem, it is because

he is overwhelmed with the details

of the problem and lacks the ability

to break down the problem or seethe big picture. Information,

brainstorming, critical thinking,

innovation, lateral thinking and

creativity are all useful strategies

and techniques that can assist an

individual to become better at

solving problems.II Interpersonal skills

1. Supportive communication is

interpersonal communication that

has the goal of preserving the

relationship between the leader and

members, while addressing the

problem at hand. Supportivecommunication is imperative for an

effective personnel management

interview programme. At times of

crisis, supportive communication is

the recommended style which

implies communicating empathy,

concern, respect and confidence in

the abilities of the affected person,as well as practical information.

2. Power and influence: An

essential part of leadership is to

influence the people one manages

so that they do what one wants them

to do. The influence of a leader over


8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

31/36

29

his followers is often referred to as

power. Influence is the key factor

in shaping how a man is able to

stand taller than the rest, it is theauthority that takes the role of

leadership in an organization. But

generally, influence is what binds

organizations, strengthens

relationships, the defining thought

in a somewhat difficult thought

process. Common beliefs point toinfluence as a trait among those

possessing advanced knowledge,

sizable wealth, a better career path,

physical charm, assertiveness with

a stronger character among others.

Influence can lead to persuasion

which can sway other people to

follow their line of thought or accept

their idea.

3. Motivating others is a combination

of factors that lead people to

achieve their goals. There are

people who redefine their goals and

ambitions from time to time in order

to fill them with newer levels of

enthusiasm to achieve greater feats.4. Conflict management: Conflict

management is the process of

planning to avoid conflict where

possible and organizing to resolve

conflict where it does happen, as

rapidly and smoothly as possible. In

our society diversity itself may leadto conflict between individuals and

the leader must be alert to prevent

conflict and resolve it whenever it

rears its ugly head.

Conclusion

Leadership is not age dependent.

While adults theorize, children

humanize! With proper application

of those personal and interpersonal

skills, leadership is sure to come to

the fore especially among young

children.References:

www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leadership

www.hss.iitb.ac.in/courses/hs490/leadershipwww.vtaide.com/lifeskills/self_awareness.htm

www.selfcreation.com/awareness/

www.helpguide.org/.../stress_management_relief_coping.htm

www.exforsys.com/career-center/problem-solving.html

http://www.youcaninfluence.com/

http://www.motivation.co.in/

http://www.etu.org.za/toolbox/docs/building/conflict.html


8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

32/36

30

Introduction

India is one of the leading countries

in the world when it comes to

technology, research, launching

satellites in space and education.

However, unless efforts are made to

nurture and cherish children thefuture leaders, India cannot be called

as a developed country.

Indian scenario

Walk into any of the remote villages

in India and you will see

malnourished children wearing

tattered rags begging for alms!!Similarly, take a peep into the slums

of the so-called A grade cities

(Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai)

you will see our potential future

leaders engaged in substance

abuse, robbery and pick-pocketing.

Maybe, a very grim picture is being

painted! However, this is the stark

reality. Dr. Dhanasekara Pandian R,

the honorary special editor of the

December 2009 issue ofJournal of

School Social Work, had rightly

pointed out that the Census of India

(2001) estimated more than 449

million children are below the age of

18 out of whom 35 million live in

difficult circumstances and are in

need of care and support. A large

proportion of these children suffer

from worst forms of deprivation,

poverty...Politicians in India squander public

money at the time of elections. After

the elections, no one seems to even

notice the way-side grimy child with

palm stretched out for alms! Recently

one of the space ships launched by

ISRO failed to function. Thegovernment has spent crores of

public money on this project! What

will the poverty-stricken, innocent,

wide-eyed, illiterate slum child do with

information gleaned by space

satellites regarding presence of water

on the moon? The same moon whichsmiles down sadly at India and her

poverty-stricken and neglected future

leaders!

Teacher as a motivator

As Mahathma Gandhi, the countrys

greatest leader, rightly stated in his

autobiography My Experiments With

Focus Nurture and Cherish the Future LeadersSailaxmi Gandhi*

*Dr.Sailaxmi Gandhi, Assistant Professor in the Department of Nursing,

NIMHANS, Bangalore, Karnataka.


8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

33/36

31

Truth, a childs textbook is his

teacher. A teacher is a tremendous

force in a childs life and is the major

factor in shaping our future leaders.Every child has a right to be regarded

as a potential leader. Hence

leadership skills such as creativity,

originality, public speaking, team

work, communication skills and

problem solving need to be taught

to children. The teacher has toidentify these qualities as well as

nurture and nourish these virtues.

The teacher should be creative and

identify ways of instilling leadership

qualities through games, role play,

drama and storytelling. A teacher

who motivates and reinforces the

child positively is the one who will

succeed in creating a future leader.

Samuel Paul, founder and chairman,

Public Affairs Centre (TOI, 2008),

described his English teacher as

follows:

The reason why he was one of my

most beloved teachers is becausehe was one of the first teachers who

went beyond the classroom. What

he taught me were things that could

never have been learnt in the

classroom... He would call upon

us to say a few words in front of the

whole class. That is how I picked

up public speaking skills... The point

is, had it not been for this teacher, I

would not have had the courage togo up on stage in front of a sea of

people.

Parents can motivate too

Parents too play a vital role in

shaping the countrys future leaders.

An understanding, mature and

democratic parent identifies,encourages and nourishes hidden

talents in the child. An unintentional

insult can have a deep impact on the

young mind and even create future

mentally ill citizens or criminals and

not future leaders. Hence, parents

should spend time with children,

stimulate curiosity in the young mind

and not curtail their independence.

Parents should motivate children and

positively reinforce all accepted

behaviours at the same time

withdrawing attention when the child

engages in unwanted activity.

Role of school nurseA nurse, especially a school nurse,

and a mental health nurse can

contribute her mite by counselling

youngsters, and by helping teachers

formulate ways of teaching children

Life skills.


8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

34/36

Published and owned byP. Jayachandran Naidu. Published from

8, Sridevi Colony, 7th Avenue, Ashok Nagar, Chennai 600083 and

printed by T. Rajaguru at TRK Press, 39, Saidapet Road, Vadapalani,

Chennai 600026. Editor:P. Jayachandran Naidu.

Journal of School Social Work English Monthly.

Registered with Registrar of Newspapers for India underNo.TNENG/2004/14389.

Postal Registration TN/CC(S) Dn/ 47 / 09-11.

Licensed to post underWPP No. TN/CC(S) Dn/ 34/09-11.

32

Communication skills.

Teamwork.

Similarly, other mental health

professionals too play a vital role in

the community by

Teaching parenting skills.

Identifying psychopathology inthe family.

Providing family therapy.

Teaching children life skills.

Training teachers to be

counsellors.

The role of Government

The Indian government coulddefinitely do a lot to improve

childrens lot especially those from

low socio-economic background.

Child abuse should be actively

penalized and more effort taken to

provide quality teaching to children

in rural sectors. The government

should be proactive in providing

compulsory education, character

building and life skills training to slumchildren.

Conclusion

Any countrys strength is always her

children! A country which takes care

of the children, the future leaders,

can only be proudly proclaim itself as

a developed nation. Nourish thefuture leaders and cherish their

leadership to help the nation march

ahead in prosperity!

References:

Khangwir D(2008): He Went Beyond the Classroom, Education Times, Times of

India, June 9th 2008, pg 08

Pandian D (2009): Never Abuse Child or Substance,Journal of School Social

Work, Volume VI, Issue 7, Dec. 2009 pg 2-3

Two articles (one of which from abroad!) had already been received for the

month ofFebruary 2010. We congratulate the early birds! ~ Ed.


8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

35/36

8/14/2019 JSSW Jan 2010

36/36

Documents

JSSW Jan 2010