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Children’s Day Message – Dr. Mona Mehdi, Jain Heritage A Cambridge School, JGI Group of Schools, Hyderabad

Each child is special. Their uniqueness lies, as much as in their skills and talents, as in their questions, imaginations and sense of wonder. Some children may be good in sports, some in arts, some in science or some in business. Some are orators, others dreamers, some loud and expressive, some shy and conservative. But each child has something special to offer to this world. So we truly believe that ‘Every Child is Special’.

The UN celebrates World Children’s Day on 20 November while in India, Children’s Day is celebrated on 14 November. This date is the birth anniversary of India’s First Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru who believed that children are the real strength and foundation of a nation. We at Curious Times too believe that the holistic development of children is the first step in building a better world and we strive every day to do just that. We are also in constant engagement with the education community – students, teachers and educators. It is our cherished goal to make a meaningful contribution to the community by working and interacting with leaders in the field.

And so, this Children’s Day, Curious Times is delighted to bring you a special message from an educator, Dr. Mona Mehdi. She is the Principal of Jain Heritage A Cambridge School, Hyderabad.

In your inspiring journey as an educator what different types of experiences have you had with children that make you believe every child is special? I have been an educationist for over 25 years now and I strongly believe that each child is unique in his/her own way. Some of my experiences: One of the students had an excellent academic record during his school and college life, had a great job in the US but then later he quit it all to reside in the lap of nature, somewhere in the hills. His words had a deep impact on me when he said, “I want to be close to nature, what will nature do with me earning in dollars and pounds if I am unable to create a beautiful healthy living atmosphere for me and my fellow human beings”. I also had another student who had the amazing talent of reading through encyclopedias and making a note of all the species/varieties of plants. And she would rattle them off each time she met her science teacher. Her parents and teachers used to complain she does not go out to play and participate in other activities.

But she is unique! Being associated with inclusive schools, I also have had the opportunity to interact with students who do not seem to “fit in” or be” normal” to talk to. But they in their own rights have unique talents which would astound many of us. Once, I interacted with one such student, who was just a 5th grader but could recite the entire periodic table. This was mind-boggling because, on the other hand, he was suffering from a lack of concentration.

At times it happens that children end up teaching something valuable to adults. Please share any such experience that you have had. Absolutely true. One of the most valuable learnings which I have had in my interactions with my students is the power of imagination and child-like innocence. As a child views the world through these lenses of imagination and innocence, a new horizon dawns each time as there is a breakthrough in his/her learning. When one grows older, it is but natural that we tend to ground more towards practical life aspects and sometimes fail to/doubt the power of imagination. Keeping that curiosity quotient alive is as much fun to an adult as it is to a kid. My interactions have spanned from toddlers to K-12 students, and the kind of passion with respect to imaginative thinking I have seen in my students is incredible. To an adult mind, it may sometimes not “fit in” but as an educator, I know there lies many future scientists/teachers/astronauts/geologists as those young minds relentlessly tap in from the reservoir of imagination. You can pick any best-selling self-help book (online or from a bookstore) but one thing is for sure – they will talk about this very tool of imaginative thinking as a powerful technique to build on your dreams/goals/aspirations. Despite being an adult and having the requisite maturity, this child-like innocence can be a part of one’s persona just like that of a child. For example, beaming with joy when you see a butterfly in the garden, enjoying the Sun creating shadows in a dark room, counting the number of bubbles formed in a boiling pan of water, and the like.

What steps should be taken collectively by Schools, Parents, Teachers and the Government to ensure that the special talent and uniqueness in every child is encouraged rather than measuring each child on the same traditional metric? As the head of the institution, I do believe that a collaborative effort from all the stakeholders should take place for the betterment of the child, in general, and not just one aspect of academics/sports/extra-curricular activities. Every child is unique as he/she has some set of abilities that distinguish him/her from others. On that note then, it is imperative to ensure a learning atmosphere for each child. This is not just about academics or other activities. I see today, thanks to the cut-throat competition, many parents enrol their kids in various activities after classes such as dance, musical instruments, coding, sports which are over and above what is offered by schools. This list is endless (this is true for both Pre-Covid and today’s times). I am a parent too, and I understand the entire rush to ensure that my child shouldn’t be lacking in anything. But then in the process, the ones who suffer the most are the children. They do not get to “choose” their likings/ interest – usually, someone else does it for them, such as parents or the school. Thus, the first step for the school, teachers, and parents, is to allow the child to develop a liking for a particular subject/sport/activity first and then provide the requisite platform to scale it up. Then, the next step is to ensure there is a curriculum of learning that focuses on bringing out the special talent of each child in each grade. Not every child is good at Maths but he/she may be the next Picasso. Similarly, another child may always dream about being an astronaut and would dive into the depths of knowledge to understand it and not read/study/play anything else. Finally, the government could also create a national platform of competition per se wherein the students could feature their unique abilities and get suitable financial backing (in case required) and/or scholarships at every crucial stage of education life could be provided accordingly.

On the occasion of Children’s Day, share your message with your and your children on the Curious Times platform. My message to all the students on the wonderful occasion of Children’s day is this – School is the place where you begin your formal education and will have wonderful memories to cherish with your friends, teacher-mentors. Have belief in yourself and give your best in whatever you do – academics, sports, ECA activity. If you think, you are feeling lost, seek help – your teachers, your parents, elders; who all are there near you, would always be there to guide you. Avoid shortcuts in life! Work hard with focus, dedication, and discipline and there will be no insurmountable task!

Many thanks to Dr. Mona Mehdi, Jain Heritage a Cambridge School, Hyderabad for sharing her thoughts on Curious Times.

Wishing Happy Children’s Day to all the students of Jain Heritage a Cambridge School, Hyderabad.

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