The
yearly examinations were going on and children had come to take their exams
after preparations and were very curious to give. On one unusual day(as it
turned out later), after the morning assembly, it was announced by the Principal
Ma'am that today's examination would be discharged as soon as early. Lockdown
was announced by the government in view of the increasing transition of
COVID-19.
While
the children were taking their exam in the examination hall, I got the
information that the remaining examinations will be given by the students from
their home, which was surprising to me as to how this would be possible?
After
that, Principal ma'am called an assembly again and the students were told that
the papers of the remaining three exams shall be given from home and that they
should check the answer book after completion. Whatever marks they get, shall
be sent to their respective subject teachers.
In
this way, the students were given papers and were instructed by the Principal
Ma'am that they should give them with honesty and trust, and not cheat(rather
with themselves) in any way.
After
this, a staff meeting was called by Ma'am and told that we have to trust our
students and this is the right time to know the student-teacher relationship. It was also said that the marks
updated by the students will be compared with that of their half-yearly marks
to reassure their authenticity and then prepare the results.
Even
after reaching home, the same thing was coming in my mind that will the
children be able to follow these instructions? Is it appropriate to give papers
at home like this? Or will the parents of the children take it in a positive
way? And many such other questions.
Two
days later, students started sending their marks on WhatsApp. Five to six days
later almost all the students took the examinations, checked the answer sheets
and sent their marks. As we had decided in the past that their marks will be
matched with the marks of the half-yearly examination so we followed the same
and in fact, these marks were around their half-yearly scores!
The
students did their work with all their dedication, faith and honesty and it was
on this basis that their result was prepared. Everyone's report cards were
downloaded from Fedena and uploaded to the next class.
This
work-ethic was possible because of the integrity of the students, the
directions of the Principal ma'am and the trust of the teachers. Thus, it set a
unique example of honesty and mutual respect.
This
experience has a major lesson in itself. We can only win through difficult
situations if the virtues of cooperation and honesty are performed. At the same
time, trust and respect for each other take us to infinite heights.
Urmila
Rathore
The Fabindia School