Reflection on the Preventive System of St. John Bosco

After I heard that we were tasked to compose our own reflection paper on this topic, ideas came out of my mind that I should go to the library and find a book that suits this kind of topic. I gathered as many related books as I can. And while reading, I discovered that there are two systems of education, the repressive and preventive system. One of these systems was used by St. John Bosco the founder of the Salesian Congregation and this system is still currently used by his followers, the Salesians. Some people choose the repressive system and not the preventive system. They have different reasons why they choose it but as for me, I will choose the system which Don Bosco shared to us because I know that loving presence is more important than any other thing regarding of dealing with the young.

The preventive system of Don Bosco is not scientific or scholarly work on education; it is rather a succinct statement of some of the educational principles he got from his experience with young people.

His preventive system has three pillars namely, reason, religion and loving kindness. This was his guide as he educated the young people. Base from the readings that I had, all of these are based from his experiences and understanding of the different attitudes of the young. When I heard the word preventive system, the first term that would come out from my mind is protection, protection in the sense that you need to safeguard all your students in any danger. I just discovered that being a teacher will not just do purely teaching but also guiding his/her student to become a better person.

The preventive system of Don Bosco focuses more on the teacher than on the students. The phrase, “this method is more tiring and difficult for the educator, but more comfortable and salutary for the students” I got from one of the books I have read attest to this. I realize that I must be well prepared and today I must have a deep foundation in my studies so that when the time comes that I will be teaching it will just be easy for me to follow the system of Don Bosco.

I learned something from the prevented system of Don Bosco that as educators we must know our true reason for wanting to teach and we must also let our students know the reason they are studying. I am very inspired by the works of Don Bosco and how he dealt with the youngsters during his time. Recalling his time, the youngster were very vigilant that they harmed, fought and even killed each other but Don Bosco made something that could touch their heart and bring them back to the Lord. It was the prevented system that he used that he was able to win the hearts of the youth. Until now this system is still used by different Don Bosco schools and youth centers. This activity helps me to realize what I should do when I am already an educator, foresee the problems that may occur, and the upcoming needs of my students. I hope that I will be ready for my future ministry in the world of education and be able to use the system that he shows us.

Reflection on the Dream at Nine of Don Bosco

“At this point, the wild animals had turned into lambs, gently gamboling lambs, bleating a welcome for that man and lady”

Last June 20, 2009 Saturday, I asked my classmates whether our professor in principles of teaching gave us any assignments since I was absent during that day. They told me that we have two reflection papers to make: first, the Dream at Nine of Don Bosco and second, the Preventive System. Upon hearing the first task which is to make a reflection paper about the dream of Don Bosco when he was still nine years old, I asked myself why our professor included this kind of topic, what is the relationship of this one to our education subject we took up? What kind of value that he wants us to know while reading the dream of Don Bosco?

I have already heard about his dream at nine and I never expected to encounter it in our education subject. But then after few minutes of thinking, I finally got the answer maybe it is because there are many values that we can grab from it and use it in our future ministry as educators. As what I have understood from the story, the Lord and our Blessed Mother showed little John his future works as a priest and for me they were also giving him a sign to be a priest.

After reading the dream at nine, I am amaze at the message of his dream. Don Bosco really understood the meaning of his dream and following it by doing an apostolate for the young even if he was then still young. Truly, I was correct in saying that I might be able to get something from his dream and use it in my future ministry. I get a phrase from his dream and it says, “You will have to win these friends of yours not with blows, but with gentleness and kindness”. If I will be an educator someday, I will remember this phrase in order to remind me that I will not harass my students and I will treat them as my friends so that they will love and enjoy education and this will also help them in learning.

As you have noticed, the introduction of this reflection paper was started by a phrase. I choose this phrase because it has touched my heart and I just realize that being an educator is a tough job. You are not just doing teaching works but also guiding your students in the right way. Going back to the phrase that I wrote in the beginning of this paper, at the point that the wild animals had turned into lambs it was the time that gentleness and care were shown to the young people. The young people were described as the wild animals and in order for them to become a good and loyal sheep you need to catch their hearts by showing love, care and concern to them.

Seeing myself in the future makes me think that I need to learn a lot from all kinds of matter from physical, emotional, spiritual aspects in life in order to be well prepared in my future ministry as an educator.