My Expressions

Children’s Day Message – Ritu Sharma, Delhi Public School, Kamptee Road, Nagpur

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 strongly 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, today, Curious Times is delighted to bring you a special Children’s Day Message from an educator, Ritu Sharma. She is the Principal of Delhi Public School, Kamptee Road, Nagpur.

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? ‘It should not matter how slowly a child learns as long as we are encouraging them not to stop.’ This dawned upon me in the year 1990 when as a teacher I was presented with a challenge to groom a set of students who failed to meet the conventional standard of excellence. My (then) Principal gave me charge of this unique set of students and also provided me with the freedom to mould them as I saw fit. The ultimate goal was to transform them into butterflies from their present cocoons. I took up this challenge bravely and put all my faith, love and care into tending these children. We decided to chalk out a plan to focus on each child individually. One-on-one counselling also helped us categorize the students into the various types of learners. Applying the Multiple Intelligence Theory, we introduced various teaching methods and techniques in the classroom setup. We included auditory-visual stimuli, hands-on or experiential learning methods and learning in the lap of nature as some of the measures to make sure that we cater to each child’s needs. We then designed specifically structured evaluation metrics so that we measure their learning and not their intelligence. Although the term, ‘Inclusive Education’ came into the educational arena much later, we successfully practised it in the classroom in the year 1990. I vowed to make it my motto as a teacher that NO CHILD should be LEFT BEHIND. But in the end, it was love that brought that set of students to believe in themselves. Today, they are placed around the world working as successful individuals. They still call or message me on special occasions. Hearing from them makes my day! I feel blessed to have chosen this profession where I touch the lives of my students and create life-long bonds with them.

At times it happens that children end up teaching something valuable to adults. Please share any such experience that you have had. I believe that my growth into a mature individual was profoundly affected by my profession. Being a teacher has taught me numerous lessons in life. Some of them were, in fact, taught to me by my own students. I always enjoyed a healthy bond with my pupils. They loved me and I adored and loved each one of them (and still do). But, there was always something missing. I always felt as if they were distant and hesitant. I perceived a veil separating them from me although we shared a special bond. The revelation came to me when one day, in the year 1998, while teaching in the classroom, I scolded a child. That child quietly endured my rebuke. My daughter, who was also my student, was the instrument of my revelation. She told me later that I was rather strict with the child without asking her (personally) the reason for her lapse in duty. She opened my eyes by making me realize that by not reaching out to my students I am severing the intimate bond I share with them. Rebuking is justified but as a teacher, I must first have a heart-to-heart conversation and get to know the reasons behind my students’ non-compliance. Believe me when I say, as soon as I heeded my daughter’s suggestion, I experienced a sea of change in the way the students responded to me. The bond that was ever-so evasive was profoundly visible now. I am indebted to my daughter (and student) for teaching me a valuable lesson in life.

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? “Every child can learn, just not on the same day or the same way”– George Evans. If we as educators imbibe this maxim in our teaching philosophy, the world will become a better place eventually. Evaluation is an important aspect of education. Measuring learning is essential but not absolute. We must remember to measure competency rather than intelligence because intelligence cannot be measured by rubrics. We, at Delhi Public School Kamptee Road, Nagpur employ a variety of teaching-learning pedagogies keeping in mind that every child is special and learns differently. Our teaching strategies include a combination of push and pull learning methods, experiential learning, sustainability in education and learning with nature. We take pride in the fact that we cater to each child’s intelligence by offering them various platforms to showcase their talent and feel accepted. Classroom teaching encourages every child to speak through methods like talent shows, debates and discussions, etc. Thus, their communication skills are honed. We have a plethora of co-curricular avenues viz. Visual and Performing Art and an array of sports and games at the students’ disposal to choose from and showcase their talents. We encourage every child to pick their area of interest and help them shine brighter.

On the occasion of Children’s Day, share your message with your and your children on the Curious Times platform. ‘Children Learn What They Live.’ I truly believe that our students, our children emulate what they see around them. It is our solemn duty to provide them with a conducive environment to grow. Nurturing them with the choicest of love, care and blessing must be our ultimate goal as a teacher. They respond to love like a duck to water. Love comes easily to them. Strictness creates an impregnable wall between the teacher and the student. Firmness and assertion, mixed with understanding, is the only and the most progressive way forward. If we criticize our children, they learn to condemn. If we shame them, they learn to feel guilty. If we praise them, they learn to appreciate. Fairness and security teach them justice and faith. Like a gardener who protects his plants; we must shade them from the harsh sun, embrace and give them warmth during the biting cold and allow them to dance in the rain in order to nurture them into loving human beings. On this occasion of Children’s Day, let us shower our students with acceptance, trust, compassion and respect. They will during their course of formal education, by default, choose a profession for life. So let us, as educators, strive to create a generation of better human beings. As Dalia Lama said, “The planet does not need more successful people. The planet desperately needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers and lovers of all kinds”.

Many thanks to Ritu Sharma, Delhi Public School, Kamptee Road, Nagpur for sharing her Children’s Day Message on Curious Times.

Wishing Happy Children’s Day to all the students of Delhi Public School, Kamptee Road, Nagpur.

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