“Amma, just ten days for parents day” my daughter was excited. The count down was running every day at home and I assured her that we will definitely be there. “Anna, please stop here” I guided the auto driver and got down. Harshu’s energy was so high and she was so proud to take me to her school.
“Ma’am, do you want to register for Pictionary?” the student at the entrance warmly smiled. “Let’s try” we enrolled. He guided me to the event and also mentioned the time when it would start. As we walked further, we saw fathers and kids cooking without fire. It was an exclusive event for fathers – “Share the load. It’s not just a woman’s job” – was this the message the school wanted to share to their students? Lovely!
Sports with parents on one side and kids on the other. “Do not be afraid to compete with elders. You can do much more” yet another message. Students organising events with confidence. Their approach towards strangers, politeness, smile and warmth – learn to communicate and collaborate – this was the message.
Pictionary – while I drew a dog for a horse, my daughter still found it was “horse riding”. While every parent became a child, each child became a parent. Kids drawing with innovative ideas – “think out of the box. You don’t have to be perfect but just know to convey your message” – came out the flavour.
“Amma, let’s go to my class” she was excited. We walked across the floors and what I saw touched me. “Be a Buddy, not a bully” was the theme. Much needed message for this society. Lovely posters and paintings designed by students. Every class entrance had smileys and positive ways to greet including “shaking hands, hi five, fist bump” start the day with a greeting and a smile.
Every class had a section called “Affirmations” which encouraged children to appreciate each other. There were gratitude messages from kids for sharing pencils and books, for being friends, for helping and many more sweet messages. The act of acknowledging people was being taught in this school – it was deep.
Every class had a display of this strong message “Blowing out someone else’s candle does not make yours shine any brighter” – what a lovely theme that needs to be taught to children in this competitive era where each one becomes a predator hunting other humans just for their living!
“A picture speaks a thousand words” this was proved true. “A man stamping on another man was displayed made up with words of depression, anxiety, sadness, failures and many other negative emotions” – this is the state of the world today and I felt moved!
There were images and messages on how you should be a friend and not bully people. Each message had a different flavour and made very simple for kids to understand.
The highlight of this was a section which displayed “how I felt when I was bullied”. Kids had written little stories and incidents when they were bullied and how they felt. Isn’t this the first step towards expressing ourselves and our emotions openly? Isn’t this the need of the hour in our society where emotions, stress and mental health remains a taboo?
One step further was the counsellor room where the kids have a chance to talk openly to the counsellor when they don’t feel good. If this is encouraged in school, definitely the future generation will break the cages of letting out the feelings and emotions.
There were many other class activities, regular educational activities displayed but I was sure that a school teaching moral values would make great humans tomorrow.
I remembered my day started with Moral science classes in my Fatima school, Chennai. They taught us important lessons for life – “being humble, modest, friendly, honest, caring, sharing, empathic – makes you a human” and this is what I value.
“Whichever field my daughter chooses as her interest, whatever she achieves or fails and learns, I’d only be proud if she has great moral values. That makes her a human” I was assured that this school is making great humans for the future!
Hats off to CMR National Public School!