Message

Mrs. Pratima M. Lall

Vice Principal

Albert Einstein said, “Education is not about learning of facts but training young minds to think.” There is a big difference between cramming up facts and learning them so that they can be applied in productive ways. At Somerville, we try to work towards holistic development of our students by providing them the tools and experiences that encourage our students to think. The aim is to create empowered minds so that students are able to decide what is good for them, differentiate between right and wrong, choose opportunities that help build them up and enable them to live in harmony with all existence. As the new Vice Principal, I am delighted that the school’s values align with my own personal values, including the importance of trust, respect, innovation and a sense of community.

One of our science laboratory assistants shared an experience with me. He was walking on a busy road one day when two girls ran to him and touched his feet. Mildly startled, and thinking it to be a case of mistaken identity, he was about to inform them of their mistake, when they identified themselves as former students of Somerville who were currently pursuing MD degree and wanted his blessings. That so perfectly embodies the character of our school; developing minds that grow up into enlightened human beings who achieve success yet are firmly grounded on earth. That is what true education is all about.

Recently, we received a letter of appreciation from Dr. Harsh Vardhan, the honorable minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, for the participation of the school towards making the Plantation Drive at Van Mahotsav in Delhi, NCR a success. The Eco Club of our school has been involved in tree plantation across the city even before the activity was made popular in schools. We boast of several green spaces that have been developed by our students and environment-related initiatives where our students have contributed to the surroundings. Parents often take pride in informing me about how their child corrects them when they litter in inappropriate places, use fire crackers, cross a traffic signal when it is red. Education imparted here is thus not confined to the class room alone but is moving beyond that. As a Chinese proverb very aptly says, “Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I’ll understand”.