St. Paul's School, Belgaum

Infobox Secondary school
name = St. Paul's School

motto = Induamur Arma Lucis
campus = St Paul's High School, Camp, Belgaum - 590001, Karnataka.
city = Belgaum
state = Karnataka
country = India
telephone = [phone]
headmaster = Gerald Furtado, SJ
grades = LKG-10 (SSLC)
students = 2256
established = 1856
type = Government Aided -All Male
colours = Blue,Red,Green and Gold
website = [http://www.goajesuits.in/stpauls/index.htm]

St. Paul's High School is a Jesuit-run High School located in the Cantonment area in Belgaum, India. It was founded in 1856. It has celebrated its 150th year in 2006. It is a boys' school and is recognized by the Government and managed by the Society Of Jesus.

The school has an outstanding tradition in Sports; mainly Football, Hockey, Cricket and Athletics. The Father Eddie Memorial Football tournament for Senior Boys (Under 17) and the Indal Trophy (Under 15) are conducted every year on St. Pauls 'A' ground, while the Royceton Memorial Trophy (Under 14) is conducted on 'B' ground. The latter draws a big crowd with teams from Goa, Kolhapur, Bombay, Pune, Bangalore and other cities taking active part.

The school divides its students into four Houses namely Gold, Green, Blue and Red.Each house colour is depicted on the student's uniform,either as badge oras full coloured shirt.Competition is fostered among the pupils of each house in sports and studies alike.The school magazine is the Paulite. It was known as the St Paul's Annual initially.

Location

The school is situated in the city of Belgaum (North Karnataka), along side the girl's school St. Joseph's Convent High School and the Fatima Cathedral.

History

The school was founded in the year 1856. Back then Fr. Charmilliot, an Austrian Jesuit first stepped into the compound of St Paul's as the chaplain of Our Lady of Mount Carmel chapel, that existed on these premises. From that day the Jesuits never left these premises even though the person and their nationality might have changed. First the school had Austrian and German Jesuits fathers. After a long time they were replaced by the Portuguese Jesuits. It was started by the German Austrian Jesuits of the Society of Jesus, who then handed over charge to the Portuguese Jesuits. These have gradually been replaced by the Indian Jesuits of the Goa Province, who now run the school.

Growth

From humble beginnings of 4 class rooms and 66 students the school has grown to over 2000 students. Though it was started primarily for the Catholics, it has opened its doors to students of all religions, castes, ethnic backgrounds and colour. Chances and opportunities to develop their talents and qualities are provided to all, whether rich or poor. Admissions are not decided on the basis of economic status or religion. At present scholarships and help are provided to those who are economically backward.

Academic Standing

The school got its recognition on 30 November 1868 from the then Bombay University because it was part of Bombay Presidency. The first batch appeared in the Matriculation Examination in 1917. It was given government grant-in-aid already from 1917.The school, right from the beginning, has had a very good academic record and has provided students opportunities to develop their talents in dramatics, elocution, sports and various other fields. Its students have bagged many prizes. The number of distinctions obtained by the students of the school has been the envy of many other schools. The Inspector, Mr. H. Davies wrote with great pride in 1936, “The upper classes are extremely well graded and taught, the School’s record in the Matriculation Examination being one which over a long period has entitled it to respect….The percentage of passes (24 sent up and 20 passed) is therefore 83% as against the University general average of 35% and the school stands first among the English Teaching Schools of the presidency. The best English education is given here and conversation in English is compulsory unlike the other schools in the city. Discipline in language, dressing and mannerisms is the priority of this rich institution. It has earned distinctions at ten times the average rate for the presidency and has once more secured the Latin prize.”

After the advent of the new millennium, the school has undergone a drastic transformation with the long-standing principal Fr. Jacob Carvalho retiring. The school faces new challenges in retaining its rich heritage in the absence of the senior staff who all retired after completion of their tenure.

Expansion

By the 1950s English education gained importance through out the country. From St. Paul’s, Jesuit Fathers pioneered in setting up other High schools - Vidya Mandir High School, Nesargi; Sarvodaya Vidyalaya in Khanapur, and St. Xavier’s High School in Kolhapur. Later these institutions were handed to various other groups to be continued.

Reorienting Goals

In 1974 a lot of rethinking was being done about education, especially in Jesuit institutions. The boarding, which had been started, had for some years a supplementary section called the orphanage, which catered to destitute children whose parents had died in the plagues or other epidemics of the time. In 1974 there was a rethinking of the hostel project. The old hostel was totally closed. In its place the hostel reopened its doors to the boys from the villages around. Their education is highly subsidized.

In 1981 the school celebrated its 125th jubilee. Many an ex-student together with the parents, also helped the school cater to the less privileged through whole sets of scholarships and prizes not only because of individual achievement and competition, but simply to give those less privileged a head-start so as not to fall out on the way side in this whole process of education especially because of their economic condition.

Working for the under-privileged

At the same time the Jesuit Fathers began to rethink a lot of their educational work all over the world especially in India. A goal the Fathers set themselves was to uplift of the less privileged, simplicity in their institutions, while at the same time making the best education available, especially for the economically less privileged. While the rich and middle class were not excluded from the school, yet the Jesuits were determined to give equality of opportunity to those who could not buy for themselves a better education. Further they were determined to stretch out to the masses untouched by formal education, and to educate not merely for exams or to help people climb the social ladder, but rather to educate for life and the uplift of the world around us. Therefore there are Jesuits of the Goa Province today organizing the marginalized—women, shepherds, the rural population working for their own uplift through self-help schemes, leadership training for rural people in running their own villages etc.

A New Vision

These are the works and the dreams of the Jesuits that started with a humble beginning in Mount Carmel Chapel. The chapel has gone, but the message preached in that chapel goes on in different forms.

In 2006 the school celebrated the 150th Jubilee of the school with this new vision of an India where Love, Equality of opportunity, independent of caste, language, or creed, Brotherhood, Peace and Unity will prevail.

The 'motto of the school' has been: ‘Put on the armour of Light’, which in ordinary language is: Be a Light to others. Bring Light to the world around you by your words and above all, by your actions.

150th year Celebrations

The 150th year celebrations of the school were held in 2006. On 10 February the school had the inauguration of the 150 years Jubilee celebration of the school, together with the passing out parade of the S.S.L.C jubilee batch. Throughout the year the school conducted various extracurricular activities and ceremoniously celebrated the jubilee year. The school conducted a cultural fest in October 2006 known as the Anand Utsav which proved to be very popular among students. The school held the valedictory ceremony of its 150th year from 7 December to 10 December. On 7 December the school held celebrations for the present students and parents. In the morning there were several programmes and a magic show by Junior Marcos. On 8 December there was a grand celebration for the ex students and teachers. Prayer services and dances were held on the occasion. On 9 December the main valedictory function was held. On this occasion a skit was held which depicted the events from the birth of man to St Paul's in its present state. On 10 December the famous singer Shaan graced the stage and delighted the crowds with his famous songs.

Notable Alumni

Many of St. Paul’s school’s ex-alumni have done the school proud and have been quite outstanding in the fields into which they entered, whether serving the country in the Armed forces (as Vice-Chief of Naval Staff, as Lieutenant General, Air Vice Marshal, Vice Admiral, as well as in lower ranks), in Government service at the central or state level (as I.A.S. or K.A.S. officers), in education (as Vice-Chancellor), in Multi-national Corporations and even the Business field or private enterprise. Others have served abroad and two have been honoured by the Queen of England. Some have shone in the international arena on the sports field. We are proud of having trained and nurtured five future Olympians. Ex-Alumni have served and are serving in various areas all around the globe from the Far West to the Far East, thus bringing glory to the Alma Mater that nurtured them and to their country.

*Vice Admiral John Desilva
*Dr Hermano Fernandes
*Olympian R.S.P.Dalgado
*Mr Ajitsingh Nimbalkar I.A.S retd.
*Bishop Peter Machado
*Olympian Reynold D'Souza
*Dr Fr. Walter de Souza S.J.

The Paulite

The school magazine, the 'Paulite', as it came to be known later on, or the 'St Paul's Annual', as it was known initially, was the brainchild of Fr. Claude Saldhana S.J. who taught the matriculation Class for a number of years. He published the first annual in 1941 mostly with articles by staff members and ex- students. But by the next year the main contributors were the boys. By 1946 the committee that published the annual consisted of senior students. The 'annual' became a magazine, which was published 3 to 4 times a year under the name 'Sevak.' It contained articles by students as well as letters from the ex-students. After that, staff members took it upon themselves to publish the magazine changing the name to 'The Paulite.' Fr pat de Lima S.J. with a little help from various teachers, in particular from Fr. Thomas Ambrose S.J., took over from them and published the magazine for many years until he retired from the school. After 1992 there was a big break. It was only in 2004, that some parents, who were ex students, published the magazine thrice or four times a year. In the year 2006, with the school Jubilee, a concerted effort was made to revive the 'Paulite' to give the boys a chance to practice their skills at communication in prose and poetry.

House system

The school students are divided into four houses. They are Green, Red, Blue and Gold Houses. The houses are led by the four house cabinets.

This year the four houses are led by
*Blue House : Master Harshwardhan Rawoot,
*Gold House : Master Sukrut Gejji,
*Green House : Master Sumant Welling,
*Red House : Master Krishna Yelji.

Passing Out Parade

The School conducts a passing out parade for the S.S.L.C.batch. It is conducted in the month of February every year. The S.S.L.C batch marches for the last time on the hallowed turf of the school ground. The junior students put up dance performances to entertain the occasion. All the High School students of Std VIII and IX salute the Xth Std students. When the S.S.L.C. students march for the last time with lamps, the song 'Now is the Hour' is played.After the Passing out Parade is completed, the students pose for snaps with their teachers.

Criticisms

There have been recent criticisms regarding the deteriorating quality of education at St.Paul's high school.It is a problem common to all the institutes of Belgaum, and it stems from the funding and corruption problems plaguing the Government run education boards.

chool Anthem

The school anthem is "Cheer Boys Cheer"

Cheer boys, cheer, cheer the Blue and Gold
Hail to thee O St. Paul ! (twice)

We thy loyal trusted band
We will ever be true
Light bearers and labourers
True and pure and steadfast

Chorus: Let's put on the armour light
Glory of St. Paul
Let's put on the armour light
Fight for God and Country

Alma Mater, our friend and guide
Stay in shade and sunshine (twice)

Lend us light and wisdom lore
Ne'er to fail or falter
Be life's journey perilous
Thou to us a beacon!

External links

* http://www.goajesuits.in/stpauls/