Taking responsibility for oneself is by definition an act of kindness. -Sharon Salzberg
Vraj, a student of grade 7, was the most active child in the class. He could not contain his energy and was simply unable to sit anywhere, at a stretch, even for a little while. The teachers were at their wit’s end, as they attempted to make Vraj focus in classwork. It seemed there was nothing that could calm him down during the class hours. The class monitors always had his name in the trouble makers’ list. Despite the warnings, nothing made him behave well in class.
His peer, Rahul, was a complete contrast.
Rahul, a specially challenged child was timid, quiet
and sat in one corner of the class, the whole day. Other students,
including Vraj, often bullied him. Some were not even willing to go near
Rahul, leave alone help him cope with the class. A unique idea
struck the class teacher and she announced in the class that she knew Vraj to be a responsible child, who could be trusted upon to help Rahul study in class. Saying this, she changed Vraj’s place and made him sit beside Rahul.
She gave Vraj the responsibility of helping his buddy Rahul with all the class
notes and finishing his work on time. Vraj felt very strange at this decision
of the teacher as he had never thought that any teacher could ever find him capable of shouldering responsibility!
Vraj was
determined to put his heart and soul to prove that the teacher had made the
right decision! He realised that in order to help Rahul, he too had to focus on
the classes. He became very serious about school, dutifully sat beside Rahul
every day, and ensured that he had completed his own work before he could begin to help his buddy. Rahul too started co-operating with Vraj and tried his best to
grasp how he could work in class. All the teachers
noticed the sea change that had come over the boys and
appreciated them a lot. This further encouraged them to work harder! On seeing that both
Vraj and Rahul were being appreciated for taking up responsibility and co-operating with each other, their classmates unconsciously co-operated with them to do better. The bond between the classmates was enhanced. The teachers were proud of the huge
change that they noticed in the class. Responsibility successfully changed the personality of a child for the
better and they also learn co-operated with each other in the process.
Rahul, a specially challenged child was timid, quiet
and sat in one corner of the class, the whole day. Other students,
including Vraj, often bullied him. Some were not even willing to go near
Rahul, leave alone help him cope with the class. A unique idea
struck the class teacher and she announced in the class that she knew Vraj to be a responsible child, who could be trusted upon to help Rahul study in class. Saying this, she changed Vraj’s place and made him sit beside Rahul.
She gave Vraj the responsibility of helping his buddy Rahul with all the class
notes and finishing his work on time. Vraj felt very strange at this decision
of the teacher as he had never thought that any teacher could ever find him capable of shouldering responsibility!
Vraj was
determined to put his heart and soul to prove that the teacher had made the
right decision! He realised that in order to help Rahul, he too had to focus on
the classes. He became very serious about school, dutifully sat beside Rahul
every day, and ensured that he had completed his own work before he could begin to help his buddy. Rahul too started co-operating with Vraj and tried his best to
grasp how he could work in class. All the teachers
noticed the sea change that had come over the boys and
appreciated them a lot. This further encouraged them to work harder! On seeing that both
Vraj and Rahul were being appreciated for taking up responsibility and co-operating with each other, their classmates unconsciously co-operated with them to do better. The bond between the classmates was enhanced. The teachers were proud of the huge
change that they noticed in the class. Responsibility successfully changed the personality of a child for the
better and they also learn co-operated with each other in the process.
Innovators @ Billabong High International School, Thane
- Bhumi Punjabi, Vaishali Phatak, Krishnakshi RaviShankor, Smita Bhobate
- Bhumi Punjabi, Vaishali Phatak, Krishnakshi RaviShankor, Smita Bhobate