The St. Joseph’s Boys’ Higher Secondary School, Kozhikode One of the Oldest Educational Institutions in India

Por Fr. Sunny Jacob SJ
Nov 3rd, 2017

St. Joseph’s school, Kozhikode, the first Jesuit school in Kerala, is a landmark educational Institution not only in Kerala but also in India. This year the reputed school is celebrating its 225 anniversary. Two Centuries and a quarter is a great reason to celebrate the history of an education Institution.Educational Institution from Kerala

A Brief History

In 1793 Fr. Gabriel Gonzalves was the vicar of Mother of God cathedral. Of the two schools established during this period, one was for the Portuguese and the other for the Malabarees. The primary goal was to equip the children of the Christian parents employed in companies, providing them with enough of education, both physical and spiritual. Today’s St.Josephs’ Boys’ H.S.S., the true grandpa of educational institutions had been established for the Malabarees as European School. Very limited are the pieces of information regarding the school during 1793 to 1860. The school today has two streams: the English and the Malayalam media. Very few ancestral schools like this could retain their cultural heritage, welcoming the new curricular transformations and trends.. The school is believed to have gained its composite progress under the reign of the Carmelite priests in 1861. Their administration extended from 1861 to 1878.

The Jesuits meanwhile set its mission in North Malabar and South Canara . In 1878 that the unflinching Loyolites took up the responsibility of the school from the Carmelites. Fr. A Muller.S.J was the first Jesuit manager. The strength of the school then was about 100 students. In 1888 premetriculation 4th forum ( today’s 8th std) was appended. On 12th January 1904, the D.P.I. approved the request to begin 5th forum ( today’s 9th std). The same year on 10th August the school got the sanction for the 10th std. In 1906 the school got recognized by Code of Regulations and became the EuropeanHigh School.. On March 15th, 1909 the school got 50% grant and thus the new school was inaugurated in 25th July 1910. It is noteworthy that the school could uphold its over all performance in education, arts and games. The school released its first ever magazine » Josephite» in 1913. On 1914 a two-storied building was set up for the boarders.

In June 1936, the new Indian school began functioning combining both the European school and St. Antony’s Middle school. In 1945 ( during the Second World War ) the 10th std got 86% result.. In 1946 Malayalam medium classes started from 1st to 4th std. On 17th November 1951, the bishop of Calicut diocese laid the foundation stone for the new building. The four rooms of the first floor were used as drill-sheds. The strength of the school then was1142. In 1952 the new block was constructed . In 1955 Fr Varkey Pullan, the first Malayalee Jesuit, became the Head master. During the time of Fr Antony Manjil ( 1957-1961) both St.Antony’s U.P.School and St.Joseph’s Middle School were separated. St. Joseph’s Middle school began to function at the spot opposite to T.B.Road. In June 1961 it was discussed to shift the U.PSchool from T.B.Road to St.Joseph’

On 15th January Fr. Pedro Aruppe. S.J.,the then Superior General of the Jesuits, visited the school and laid the foundation stone for the new building complex. In 1969 the 10th std public exam’s result went up to 97.2%.. Fr. Thomas Anthraper S.J. during his long 12 years of administration led the school to higher and higher level of excellence in various fields. He bagged the «Best Teacher Award» of KeralaState. Fr. Joseph Kallepallil S.J. took over the mantle from Fr Anthraper and he planned and ably executed the grant bicentenary celebration of the school, even bringing Mother Teresa here. Very many developmental projects sprang up during his time including the bicentenary block with a grand auditorium. The school got Higher Secondary section in 1998 with all three streams, Science, Humanities and Commerce batch. On several occasions the school got 100 result in S.S.L.C. exams and always above 95% in Plus Two exams.

In short, the school stands proudly holding its head ever higher in the centre of Calicut city attracting a vast number of students for admission in all classes. The number of students studying in the school from 5th to 12th STD is almost 2000 boys, mostly from poor economic background. The former students adorn very many important posts in all over the country. With the full hearted support and cooperation of staff, parents, alumni association and well-wishers we hope to move forward more proudly as years go by.

St. Joseph’s is a Catholic and Jesuit School where ethical and spiritual values are central.
These values are expressive of human wisdom, informed and animated by contemporary ideals of the Society of Jesus. The Jesuit tradition of education has a distinguished history spanning five centuries. St. Joseph’s is one of the 6 Jesuit Schools run by the Kerala Jesuit Province. Here are five characteristics that explain the Jesuit method of education which undergirds the entire experience of teaching and learning at St. Joseph’s.

1. Context – What needs to be known about learners (their environment, background, community, and potential) to teach them well?
Cura personalis – personal care and concern for the individual – is a hallmark of Jesuit education, and requires that teachers become as conversant as possible with the context or life experience of the learner. Since human experience, always the starting point in a Jesuit education, never occurs in a vacuum, educators must know as much as possible about the actual context within which teaching and learning take place. Teachers need to understand the world of the learner, including the ways in which family, friends, peers, and the larger society impact that world and effect the learner for better or worse.

2. Experience – What is the best way to engage learners as whole persons in the teaching and learning process?
Teachers must create the conditions whereby learners gather and recollect the material of their own experience in order to distil what they understand already in terms of facts, feelings, values, insights and intuitions they bring to the subject matter at hand. Teachers later guide the learners in assimilating new information and further experience so that their knowledge will grow in completeness and truth.

3. Reflection – How may learners become more reflective so they more deeply understand what they have learned?
Teachers lay the foundations for learning how to learn by engaging students in skills and techniques of reflection. Here memory, understanding, imagination, and feelings are used to grasp the essential meaning and value of what is being studied, to discover its relationship to other facets of human knowledge and activity, and to appreciate its implications in the continuing search for truth.

4. Action – How do we compel learners to move beyond knowledge to action?
Teachers provide opportunities that will challenge the imagination and exercise the will of the learners to choose the best possible course of action from what they have learned. What they do as a result under the teacher’s direction, while it may not immediately transform the world into a global community of justice, peace and love, should at least be an educational step towards that goal even if it merely leads to new experiences, further reflections and consequent actions within the subject area under consideration.

5. Evaluation – How do we assess learners growth in mind, heart, and spirit?
Daily quizzes, weekly or monthly tests and semester examinations are familiar instruments to assess the degree of mastery of knowledge and skills achieved. Ignatian pedagogy, however, aims at evaluation which includes but goes beyond academic mastery to the learners well-rounded growth as persons for others. Observant teachers will perceive indications of growth or lack of growth in class discussions and students’ generosity in response to common needs much more frequently.

First Jesuit school in Kerala

Activities for students:

NCC
National Cadet Corps is a Tri-Services Organisation comprising the Army, Navy and Air Force, engaged in grooming the youth – ‘The Leaders of Tomorrow’ – into disciplined and patriotic citizens. The School has got an active NCC Unit here.

SPC
SPC is a voluntary student organization which has its goal on the moulding up of a vigilant, peaceful and development oriented society by inculcating sense of responsibility, social commitment and the readiness for selfless service in young minds. The School has an active SPC Unit here.

NSS
NSS is an Indian government-sponsored program under the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Government of India. It was started in 1969.The motto of the National Service Scheme (N.S.S.) is «Not Me, But You».This programme is to inculcate the social welfare thoughts in the students, and to provide service to the society without any prejudice.

Scouts
The Bharat Scouts & Guides is a voluntary, non-political, educational movement for young people. The purpose of the Movement is to contribute to the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, social and spiritual potentials as individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of local, national and international communities.

JRC & Traffic Club
Through JRC Children and adolescent also represent a substantial part of the membership of Red Cross for its humanitarian commitment. Young volunteers can make a significant contribution to meeting the needs of the most vulnerable people within their local communities through Red Cross programme.The Traffic Club regular the traffic through joining with local Traffic Police.

School Parliament
School Parliament aims at developing leadership qualities and democratic values in students. It functions to maintain general discipline in the school.

Vidyarangam Kala Sahitya Vedi
The objective of Vidya Rangam Kala Sahitya Vedi is to discover the potentialities of students and promote them. The activities are formulated for Library Empowerment and develop interest towards reading.

Science Club
Science Club aims at improving the inventive capabilities of students and to develop an interest towards Science.

Nature Club
Nature Club, Forestry Club and Harithasena function effectively with a view to make the pupils learn the significance of protection of environment and develop interest towards farming.

KCSL
KCSL – Kerala Catholic Student’s League, the first and oldest association of Catholic Students, has been functioning actively at St. Joseph’s for deepening faith and helping Catholic Students to grow in Jesus with the motto of faith and service.

AICUF
AICUF-All India Catholic University Federation is a movement of university and Higher Secondary Students with a vision for a new and just society. Progressing in a history of constant rediscovery and re-creation.

Social Science Club
Social Science club aims at instilling democratic values and love of country in students.

IT Club
I T club caters to make the students Computer Literates. In this modern world,it fosters them to handle computer at ease.The Club also organizes various computer training programmes for its members.

Gandhi Darshanan Club
Gandhi Darshan Club functions to make the students associate themselves which Gandhian principles and ideals.

Maths Club
The mission of Maths Club is to promote enthusiasm and interest in mathematics.

Oratery & Debating Club
The Oratory & Debating Club in St. Joseph’s is a Club that helps members improve their communication, public speaking and leadership skills.

English Club
The English Club exists to make English at school as fun and fulfilling as possible.

Tourism Club
This club gives students opportunities to have excursions and field trips in our country.

Career Guidance & Counselling
The club is designed to help students understand the link between their current academic studies and their future career choices.

Arts Club
To stimulate and encourage creative works in the arts.

Philately Club
To help the students to know the glimpses of global cultures, flora and fauna of the world through collecting stamps.

Health Club
To promote the awareness on health among the students and to the community through the students.

Film & Photography Club
The Film Club encourages the study and appreciation of films and filmmaking and to help increase the creative potential of its members. The Photography Club imparts the knowledge of photography and develops the skill of photography.

As the school celebrate the 225 years of its glorious existence and its valuable contributions to nation building, JEASA and Educate Magis wish the school all the success.