DON BOSCO SCHOOLS INDIA
Advancing Salesian Education
"ADVANCING SALESIAN EDUCATION: An Evolutionary Analysis of St. John Bosco’s Preventive System for Peacebuilding," a lecture and presentation by Fr. Peter Gonsalves, SDB, of the Salesian Pontifical University, Rome (Mumbai Province), was warmly received by Education and Culture Coordinators, along with School Coordinators from Salesian Provinces across South Asia. The presentation took place during their annual meeting held from October 21–23, 2024, at Christ University's Kengeri Campus in Bangalore.
The talk explored Don Bosco’s Preventive System as an educational model grounded in nonviolence and holistic youth development. It highlighted the evolution of this method to meet modern educational challenges and promote peace.
Fr. Gonsalves organized his talk around six themes—dream, method, hermeneutics, universality, model, and content—focusing on the transformation from traditional preventive education to a more expressive, inclusive, and peace-centred approach.
St. John Bosco’s formative dream at nine, which emphasized “gentleness and love,” became the foundation of his Preventive System, advocating nonviolence and positive relationships over punitive measures.
Don Bosco's method avoided violent punishments, fostering respect, proactive care, and encouragement in young people. His emphasis on nonviolence and gentleness distinguished his system from repressive education.
Don Bosco’s educational approach evolved from purely preventive to include “expressive” education, which promotes the development of future-oriented competencies in youth rather than solely preventing risks.
The South Asian adaptation, DBWAY, sought to include educators and students from non-Catholic backgrounds, modifying terms like “honest citizens and good Christians” to “honest citizens and true believers” to resonate across faiths.
Research into Don Bosco’s life revealed a strong alignment with Johan Galtung’s peacebuilding principles. Don Bosco’s responses to conflicts were analysed in terms of peacekeeping, peace-making, and peacebuilding.
The article calls for developing peace education curricula inspired by Don Bosco’s principles, encouraging educators and students to be active promoters of peace, with existing resources in Salesian schools in India.
The article discusses potential concerns among Salesians about diverging from traditional methods. However, it argues that adapting Don Bosco's system to current needs is legitimate and necessary.
Fr. Peter Gonsalves's presentation is a call to advance from Preventive to Peace Education, encouraging Salesians and educators to embrace the challenges of the times by nurturing peaceful, nonviolent youth.
Mother Teresa once said, "There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread." This statement underscores the profound impact that appreciation can have on individuals, particularly students.
St. John Bosco, affectionately called Don Bosco, was not a theorist but a practical man with a compassionate heart and a zeal to save the youngsters from the all the perils and with a dream to provide them with holistic education.