The DSOBS delegation at the Arthur Foot Academy

The Doon School Old Boys' Society is a member of the Good Schools Alliance.

Photo courtesy: Instagram handle @thedsobs

5 March 2025
The DSOBS delegation visited Arthur Foot Academy (AFA) to understand its educational endeavors and extend a hand to support the Good School Alliance (GSA) work as part of the Dosco Impact initiative.

An Aristocracy Of Service

The motto of the Doon School Old Boys' Society (DSOBS) is An Aristocracy of Service, borrowed from Arthur Foot's statement at the formal opening of the school on 27 October 1935: "Truly, we mean that the boys should leave the Doon School as members of an aristocracy, but it must be an aristocracy of service inspired by the ideals of unselfishness, not one of privilege, wealth or position.

In honour of Arthur Edward Foot's ideals, a dedicated Old Boys of The Doon School led by Asad Khan joined forces to create a lasting legacy for their first Headmaster, the Arthur Foot Academy. The academy is committed to providing a well-rounded education to the children of Bandarjhud, a small village near Dehradun. 

As a member of the Good Schools Alliance, the academy is committed to nurturing each student's personal and social growth, focusing on service, skill, sport, and study. The school's mission is to prepare students to face the world confidently. #JoyOfLearning.

Culture of trust and learning

Exciting news! Learning Forward India Foundation has teamed up with the Arthur Foot Academy, backed by the incredible duo Asad Khan and Feroza Khan of the AFZAL KHAN FOUNDATION! Together, we are on a mission to equip the village's children to thrive in the world. 

We are excited to announce our transformation of the Library into a vibrant Community Learning Centre equipped with WiFi and digital learning devices. This Centre is vital to the world. Each week, teachers, students, and local community members will gather for engaging Zoom sessions, discovering the joy of learning together. 

We encourage you to join us in supporting the Arthur Foot Academy and helping create meaningful change. Your contribution goes beyond a donation; it is crucial in advancing our initiative. Together, we can positively impact the world. Your support is essential to our mission!

Websites:
The Doon School Old Boys' Society: www.dsobs.net
Arthur Foot Academy: www.ArthurFootAcademy.org
Learning Forward India Foundation: www.LearningForward.org.in

Coming soon:

Find out more at https://schooleducation.com/my-good-school-retreat

 

Classics or present-day creations? - Rishona Chopra

 

Graphic by Rishona Chopra

Are oldies better than the music and movies of today?

That is one of the biggest debates today. Both of them are unique in their own way but I believe that there is something special about classics and oldies. As intriguing and modern the latest creations are, oldies seem to bring family together. As a millennial of Gen Z, I usually watch/listen to the latest creations but watching classics is a refreshment for the mind. It reminds one of the time when things were simpler and life was less hectic. 

The past can be a great source of inspiration and old music is a wonderful way to access it. Moreover, old music has stood the test of time. It has been around for decades and even centuries and it popularity is a testament of how great it is. Yes, there are changes in the world but that doesn't mean we forget the past and the old. Old is NOT gold. It's vital to accept and look at latest creations too but immediate dislike for the classics isn't great either. 

Labeling classics as "boring" is completely one's choice but often we just neglect it directly without even taking a look at oldies. The most popular songs today are in fact remixes of earlier classics. Popular artists have taken inspiration from several classics such as "These are a few of my favourite things" , "Do re mi fa so la ti" and literature pieces like "The Great Gatsby". 

One of my favorite classics is definitely Mary Poppins. I honestly haven't watched that many classics but 1964 Mary Poppins tops for me. It is a fictional story but it indeed has a lot to teach. First of all, it teaches us to live life. Life is a gift and even despite the tough and rough times, it's always good to keep a positive attitude in life. It also teaches us to be kind and not judge people. Mary Poppins did receive a little opposition from the children's father but that didn't bring her down because she was confident and did what was right. One of my favourite parts about it is the unique use of words. "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" is that word that brings a smile to my face when I say it. For me, it carries a cheerful vibe all together.

As interesting and full of mystery and excitement the  new creations are, I don't believe that they carry some meaningful lessons with them but of course if we are young teenagers who are combating other evil people and plan on saving the world then sure they do have some advice. 

To conclude, I would say that its good to sometimes look back and see some interesting and appealing classics like "Mary Poppins" or "Sound Of Music". Their simple stories stirred with a drop of magic are heart warming. 

Rishona Chopra
Grade VII
Gyanshree School

Fun - Aria Gupta

"You don't stop playing because you get old. You get old because you stop playing".

I think everybody likes to have fun more than work. But why are some things fun while others are not? Work may be stressful and create anxiety, while fun is full of joy. One way to make work fun is to forget all that stress and anxiety; instead, think about the joy you feel when you're having fun. Another way to make work fun is to gamify it. For example, if you have to finish tons of homework, I make a fairy list for all the assignments. After doing one, you may ask an imaginary fairy to grant a wish, a small one like watching TV for 30 minutes or playing with your friends for an hour. Fun is compelling in motivation, so you should add some fun to work.  

Aria Gupta

Grade IV-F

Gyanshree School