Quality and Love - Rachna Bharrdwaj

Love is timeless; it has existed before you, and it will last after you. It is said that love grows by sharing. Love yourself and spread that love, and if you are a teacher, it is one of the indispensable values for you. It is giving your best without expecting anything in return. It is a feeling of a strong attraction and emotional attachment. It helps to gain the confidence of your students. It opens the door to conversation. 
I share one of my experiences. Dakee, a quiet girl from my House at school, was an excellent basketball player. She was passionate about her game and never used to miss her practices. One day a teacher brought to my notice that she had missed her prep (self-study time). It shocked me as she was a disciplined girl, very particular about her studies. As she was new to the school, I thought she was not aware of an additional prep during the Half Yearly exams.

At night I was waiting for her in the dormitory; she came and threw her books on her bed.

“So good that you’re here with your books,” I said to Dakee. “I was just thinking about you.”
“Would you like to talk? You look unhappy, or are you upset?”
“I don’t want to talk to you, to anyone. Leave me alone.” There was silence. The clock could be heard ticking softly on the wall.
“Not a good time to talk, I can see that,” I replied.” But if you ever want someone to listen, if you ever want someone to try and understand, sign me up, coach.” There! You could actually see some of her anger melting as she quietly moved to her bed. What had happened? What was essential but invisible to the eye?
Dakee wasn’t angry with me but with that teacher who had called her in for prep as she was playing basketball. That had made her furious. I felt compelled to drop a pebble in the pond and see where the ripples went. The reason was simple: she couldn’t concentrate on her studies till she had her evening games. Perhaps love is the ability to see more deeply, understand the changes in the lives of the teenagers, and know that love heals their wounds when all else has failed.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou.
So it is love that will help bring quality in the class, create a happy environment in the class, a solid student-teacher relationship, good communication skills, listening skills, patience and a friendly attitude. 
Rachna Bharrdwaj - The Doon Girl’s School, Dehradun

Hope and Friendship - Kusum Sharma

Hope is an optimistic state of mind that is based on positive outcomes. Hopeful people believe that they can influence their goal. Hope and Friendship values are very much connected to each other. True Friendship is when someone knows you better than yourself and takes a position in your best interests in a crisis.

I remembered one incident in the classroom where I saw a real example of hope and Friendship. Sneha was a very brilliant student in her class and even excellent in all other activities also. Observed that from a few weeks she was not able to concentrate on her studies and always refused to take part in other events. I wanted to know the reason for this.

I called and asked her about her negligence of work, but she was not interested to share her problem. Next day her very close friend Reena came to me and disclosed that she was very tense due to her parents' separation and divorce.

I observed Reena was very helpful and caring for her and always tried to help her in every small thing. She motivated her to take part in games and other activities and also get her ready to talk to me for her problem. I even started playing extra attention towards her, now she was very friendly with me. We both tried our best to overcome her through that tough time. I was wondering if the support of her friend brought new hope for her. Now again she is doing best in academics and athletics as well.

Kusum Sharma

The Fabindia School

ksa@fabindiaschools.in

Consciousness: Sharmila Vijayvargi

Far, far away there lived a little girl called Apala. She was a good girl who went to school every day and helped her father look after her small brother Ali. Sadly her mother had died when Apala was still very young. Her father cared for both his children and they loved him very much. But one day when Apala went to wake him up he couldn't get out of bed. Instead, he just groaned " I feel ill," he said " Well, said Apala " then I will have to look after you today". But her father wouldn't hear of her staying off school. I'll be fine" he promised. Don't worry ". But Apala did worry. She couldn't concentrate in school, she kept thinking about her father. What if he never got well? Who would look after her and Ali? By evening, Apala was very upset and felt in despair. Her father was still ill. What should she do? Finally, she had an idea. 

When she was a small girl, her father had told her that if you look at the night sky and see a star you have never seen before you can make a wish. So when it got dark, Apala searched the sky until she found a new star. Closing her eyes, she wished out loudly: "Please, please let father get well ".

Suddenly a voice asked, "Can I help you". In front of Apala stood a lady who had been passing by and had heard Apala's words. She looked so kind that Apala immediately took her to see her father. "He has a fever ", she said. But don't worry. My name is Shanti and I can help and she did. Even when Apala's father was well again. Shanti still came to visit the family and one day, the father told the children that Shanti was to be their new mother. That night, Apala smiled up at the stars. Now she had got two wishes. How lucky she was!

Reflection. It can be hard not to worry but in times of trouble there are people whom we can trust and who will help us if we ask them to.

Sharmila Vijayvargi

svi4fab@gmail.com

The Fabindia School, Bali

Honesty and Respect - Spectrum SHS

Janet, a middle school student, was the hub of the class. First, in academics, co-curricular activities and well-disciplined was the tag for Janet. Since she was in her adolescence, she was very conscious of her looks. She felt that her looks were not at par with her achievements. Her extra hours were spent in front of the mirror with the make-up kit beside her. She brooded over her looks more than anything. A behavioural change was slowly visible in her. As school children, she had friends, and Fred was the dearest one for her. 

Fred being the closest, noticed some changes in his friend. He was worried about her and bring out the truth about her changes as a person. It was a tough task for Fred to break the ice for he knew that Janet was pretty enough, but her scything habits over the others was her weakness...just because she admitted that she was pretty. She did not notice that her nature did give a negative appearance on her looks too.

One Sunday evening, Janet invited Fred to tea. He made up his mind to be as honest as possible to Janet for he knew that he would raise questions to him regarding her looks!

As the story goes, Janet did ask Fred about her looks, and Fred simply answered that she was a compound of pretty and ugly. Janet broke down bitterly. The other day Fred tried his best to explain the reason for using such a phrase at her. It was an honest answer because Fred wanted to open his friend's eyes and take away her snobbish habits.

A week passed by, Janet did not call Fred at school or at home. She felt that Fred was too rude and impolite and may be jealous of her looks and achievements.

On the other hand, Fred simply ignored Janet's perception and wanted to go over Janet and talk to her. Janet simply avoided him. She felt that Fred was no more her best friend.

Class unit test approached. Janet was haunted by Fred's answer. She could not concentrate on her studies and perform well. Patricia stood first in the class! Got a shock for Janet! She could not take the defeat. She concluded that an ill omen was hovering over her life. 

The rift between Janet and Fred widened. Janet lost her charm and looked depressed, beaten. Fred could no more take Janet's situation. He went up courageously to Janet and explained to her the fact about his honest statement. With respect, he wanted to bring a change in her. He accepted that he was straightforward and told her that every honest answer given with respect sounds rude.

Finally, Janet understood Fred's way of correcting her and also helped her to respect others and most importantly, oneself.

 Prakash Yonzon <yonzonprakash1@gmail.com> for Spectrum at Sacred Heart School Siliguri