by Elizabeth Kim
How does good work translate in the area of sports? Joyti Joshi of Maharaja Sawai Mansingh Vidyalaya Japur School undertook this question by targeting students who regularly play sports in the school. In a series of five sessions, Joyti used materials from the GoodWork Toolkit to help students rethink the meaning of good work.
In the first session, Joyti introduced the GWT Worksheet on “What is GoodWork” and had students brainstorm their understanding of the term. Students suggested definitions such as “work that brings rewards and achievements” and “work that is recognized by society.” Similarly designed to probe students’ notions of good work, the next session utilized a GWT worksheet with a set of statements that they had to decide if they involved questionable ethics. The third session delved more deeply into the intricate controversies of ethics: the students examined a case study from the Toolkit – To Print or Not to Print – and fervently discussed the meaning of GoodWork in this scenario. Through these activities, Joyti reported that the students’ “sphere of responsibility” broadened beyond friends, family, teams, and school, but further encompassed society at large.
In the fourth session, students reflected on their responsibilities and again closely discussed a case study— Silence is Not Always Golden – deepening their notions of what constitute excellence, ethics, and engagement. Students were prompted to engage in self-reflection and introspection in the final session, when they pondered their responsibilities with the aid of the Enjoyment and Excellence worksheet. What were their responsibilities both in school and on the field?
Students had initially struggled with the need to be perceived as the “cool dude” of the group, an identity that many young boys, especially those in athletic teams, aspire to embody. But with the continuing GoodWork sessions, the students realized that “good conduct” was more important than this social perception. They concluded that “individual personality must be a perfect blend of ethics and our conduct, i.e. conduct must be guided by our deep-rooted ethics.” In addition to performing well on the field, the boys recognized the importance of being ethical and responsible. Acknowledging the importance of the 3 E’s, both students and teachers now intend to align their professional and personal standards with clear values.
Indeed, teachers were active participants in this project. A teacher development workshop used the same GWT worksheets and case studies as had been used for students. An important outgrowth of this workshop was a significant change in before/after thoughts about good work in sports instruction. Summarized, the teacher’s change in perception about their roles as sports instructors is outlined as follows:
Before
Good work means dedication, determination, with goal in mind
Teachers should be responsible towards the work place i.e. school
Teachers should develop a strong sports culture
Teachers should help students understand the rules and regulation of sports
Teachers should help students stay physically fit and healthy
After
Teachers should go beyond the field and teach the importance of value and ethics
Teachers should help students maintain mental and emotional equilibrium in all situations, especially when it concerns winning or losing a match
Teachers should become not only instructors who teach “the rules of the sport” but also those who teach “the rules of game (i.e. life)”
Teachers should broaden the sphere of responsibility for students as well as themselves (more input on this?)
While sports and good work may at first glance appear to be disjointed, unrelated issues, Joyti was able to evidence the connection between the two. Through GoodWork Toolkit activities and deep introspection, both student and teacher alike were encouraged to see the value of the 3 E’s in their behavior in sports. The sports community at the school realized that a harmonious blend of conduct and ethics will result in “excellent performance, happiness, and satisfaction.” In this way, good work is being carried out beyond the confines of the classroom and into the field.
Next in the series, we will examine how one school was able to engage a wide range of students and teachers from schools all across Mumbai in good work.
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