We walk on a long pole in the dark

Not all truths live in numbers.

Not all answers come from proofs.

Some truths whisper softly through feelings, courage, and connection.

Life is not a laboratory.

It is a journey of the heart.

We walk on a long pole in the dark, step by step, not knowing where it ends.

Yet we walk.

We question.

We search.

Because truth is not handed to us, it is discovered.

Some stop midway and accept ready-made answers.

But philosophy teaches us

to keep walking,

to keep wondering,

to keep asking - Why?

Growth begins where blind belief ends.

Happiness is not found in winning over others, 

nor in comparing lives.

It grows quietly when we contribute, 

when we care, 

when we feel useful to someone, somewhere.

We are not prisoners of our past.

We are not defined by yesterday.

Every day, we choose who we want to be.

Freedom begins the moment blame ends.

Courage is not loud.

It is gentle.

It is the small voice that says -

“Walk anyway.”

“Think for yourself.”

“Be kind.”

“Be different.”

“Be you.”

Perhaps that is the real lesson:

Not to seek a perfect life,

but a meaningful one.

Not to be liked by everyone,

but to live truthfully.

And to keep walking the pole…

even in the dark.

Akanksha Pandey

Sunbeam School Mughalsarai 

The Bench - Neelashi Mangal

Image courtesy: Dreamstime.com, used for representation only

We just started reading “Wanted Back-Bencher & Last-Ranker Teacher” by Kavita Ghosh at Learning Forward Saturday. The content page itself took a deep dive into the terminology that a school teacher either discusses, lives with, or needs support with. 

The book, more than anything, offers a little hope in this big world that does not value teachers, with real stories from the ground and recognition of a teacher’s inner life, efforts, and the conundrums that follow. The title itself evoked the image of a big bench with storybooks and laughter, a teacher sitting on it and her students surrounding her. I feel Kamala Mukunda’s and Kavita’s book could be a guiding light for many teachers if read, shared, and discussed well. How can we support teachers in their pedagogical skills, along with all that is hidden, invisible, and unsaid in school education? Maybe reading is where the answer lies. One could create a bench of love for teachers to reflect together and be vulnerable. 

Ms Kavita writes- “I sincerely hope this book will bring learners, caregivers, and educators together and create better understanding, congenial relations and warmer interpersonal relations, helping to better nurture teenagers and make school a happy place, resounding with laughter at the joy of learning.” Her words need to be practised in our schools amongst parents, management and teachers. A dream would be: this book being read by these three groups, and they each understanding one another to bring more joy into the child’s life, who sometimes seems absent from the picture. 

On Fridays @ EBD, where we read the  book What Did You Ask At School Today? by Kamala Mukunda

Chapter on learning:

I got a chance to gain valuable knowledge I never knew I needed. It opened my eyes to new ideas, and I took detailed notes on all the fantastic stuff we covered, like:  

- How improving assessments can truly transform learning  

- Backwash effects on students  

- Portfolio methods for tracking progress  

- Collaborative learning that builds teamwork  

- Rubrics for clear, fair feedback  

- Halo effects that can bias our views  

- And powerful lessons on emotional learning and mental health  

The interactions were super engaging, but everyone’s reflections hit deep. They weren’t just words as they sparked something in me, like a quiet fire  to read more thoughtfully and chase real growth. Moments like these make learning feel alive. Can’t wait for all the readings ahead!

   

     ~by a lil curious reader Khushi  from Lotus Petal Foundation

Thank you, Khushi, for your thoughts. You are indeed a curious reader!

- Neelashi Mangal, Head Training and Learning at the Learning Forward India Foundation