Happiness and Tolerance - Ashtalakshmi RPKM

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Dealing with hate and intolerance in the classroom is a crucial issue for teachers, as it can negatively impact the learning environment and the well-being of all students.

Teachers should establish clear expectations and guidelines for behaviour in the classroom, including a zero-tolerance policy for hate speech or discriminatory behaviour.  

Address incidents promptly: When an incident of hate or intolerance occurs, it's essential to address it promptly and directly with the students involved. This can be done privately or in front of the class, depending on the situation.

Encourage dialogue and understanding: Teachers should create a safe space for students to have open and respectful conversations about sensitive issues. Encouraging dialogue can build empathy and understanding among students.

Model respectful behaviour: Teachers should model respectful behaviour in the classroom and avoid making insensitive or discriminatory comments themselves.

Involve parents and school administrators: In severe incidents of hate or intolerance, it may be necessary to involve parents and school administrators to provide additional support and resources.

Addressing hate and intolerance in the classroom requires a proactive and ongoing effort from teachers, students, and the wider school community. By promoting respect and understanding and responding promptly and appropriately to incidents.

Once, I encountered an intolerant student who often showed verbally and physically abusive behaviour. My classroom's atmosphere was deteriorating because of him. He used to cry whenever I addressed his problem but would not say anything. He used to seek attention. Whatever the situation was, he wanted to be the talk of the class. From my experience, I suspected that he quest for validation and attention from everyone.

Upon meeting his mother, I got to know about his family's condition that his father is suffering from cancer, due to which he's often neglected by his family. He subconsciously chased attention so much that the consequences didn't matter. I started motivating him to give his best and made sure to constantly hear his heart out. Within a few days, he started showing improvement. So, there's always a reason behind everything, and we should pay more attention to the journey and how we can change someone's behaviour rather than just the outcome. The classroom should be a place where each student should feel safe and appreciated.

When talking to an agitated student:

• Introduce yourself if you still need to learn the student.
• Maintain a calm and reassuring voice. 
• Speak calmly, but only do some of the talking. 
• Allow the student to vent.
• Ask questions; this shows that you are concerned. 
• When asking questions, use the student's name.
• Listen carefully to the student's concerns and take them seriously. 
• Paraphrasing what the student says can help show that you are listening.
• If emotions escalate, acknowledge them. "I can see that you're angry about the ..."
• Maintain appropriate eye contact. 
• A direct and uninterrupted stare may feel threatening to the student.
• Be natural in your gestures and speaking tone.

Tolerance Requires Virtue
Tolerance, in and of itself, is not a virtue. If a student tolerates drinking and driving, his tolerance is not virtuous. Tolerance is neutral. Tolerance derives its value from what the student takes and how the student expresses his tolerance and intolerance. This involves character.

When a student uses a racial slur, his problem is not a lack of tolerance but a lack of kindness and a problem with pride (the root of belief in racial superiority). When a student makes fun of a classmate's point of view during a class discussion, his problem isn't a lack of tolerance but a lack of courtesy.

When one student spits on another student because he thinks his schoolmate is gay, tolerance isn't the issue so much as self-control. Proper tolerance is the outgrowth of moral character qualities such as kindness, patience, courtesy, humility, love, self-control, and courage. Even intolerance should be expressed through these qualities.

Students need to be taught that tolerance arises from character. If they don't understand this, they will think they are being tolerant when they are actually only expressing indifference ("whatever") or apathy ("who cares?"), or even recklessness ("Why not?"). Improperly taught "tolerance education" can disarm students of their proper convictions.

When students are happy, they are better able to solve problems, they are more open to critical thought and reasoning, their focus is more in tune, and their ability to retain and recall information is heightened. A happy child is likelier to be motivated at school, collaborate and build friendships with classmates, and troubleshoot and solve social and academic dilemmas. Biologically, happiness and other emotions are critical in cognitive functionality and processing.

Teachers need the knowledge to teach successfully in different areas, for example, feedback and praise, handling mistakes, student questions, and clearly structured lessons. Also, areas reducing anxiety, motivation, humour, and active learning time are essential for teachers.

Praise is most effective when it is sincere and natural. They should use appropriate gestures and actions to accompany them. Teachers should motivate the students so that the students are more likely to pay attention. To be respectful towards the children is also very important. To react positively to wrong answers is a way to teach simply. The relationship between students and their parents is necessary. Students like it when the teacher uses their names. The classroom climate is so important. Creating a positive classroom climate is why children like to go to school and want to learn.

Ashtalakshmi @ RPK School Moradabad
Ritu Goyal, Poonam Sharma, Meenakshi, Sonia Gupta, Tabinda Jabeen, Charu Sharma and Krishangi Sharma.

Humility and Appreciation - Nitin Sharma

If you are humble, nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are – Mother Teresa. 

Humility is a virtue; this character strength must be cultivated in school. 

Humility and Appreciation 

"A child's mind is like a soft play, which can be moulded into any desired shape but with the right intention." 

The school is the right place to make it happen. Moral values are the core of our very being which our children should imbibe and should be taught early. Students must be engaged in certain activities that make them learn about values and their importance.

Humility 

"It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels."

Humility is the valid key to success. Successful people lose their way at times. They often embrace and overindulge in the fruits of success. Humility halts this arrogance and self-indulging trap. Humble people share the credit and wealth, remaining focused and hungry to continue the journey of success.

Activity

Students were asked to write some positive affirmations based on Humility. They had to write 5 affirmations and read them daily. Besides, students were taught about Humility and humbleness, the importance and then asked to do an act of Humility and then share with everyone the next day about what they did, what they learnt and what they felt. 

Impact 

A very positive impact was seen in the children's behaviour. They were full of high and positive energy to do such acts and to share with everyone. They valued and thanked me when someone did anything for them. They were helpful to one another eagerly. They learnt to be humble and grateful rather not arrogant. 

Appreciation 

"The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness."

Appreciation is the highest form of prayer, for it acknowledges the presence of good wherever you shine the light of your thankful thoughts. Students should learn to appreciate the efforts someone makes for them and should be genuinely grateful for it. 

Activity 

Students were asked to write appreciation notes for someone whom they really wanted to appreciate for what they do and later give them those notes. Another activity was done wherein the students were asked to appreciate their classmates and later go home and express their appreciation and gratitude for them. 

Impact

All the students participated in the activities with their full zeal and enthusiasm. An increased sense of brotherhood and sisterhood was evident in their learning. All the students made it their primary responsibility to always be humble and truthful, appreciate one another, and be grateful. 

Teacher's Role

The teacher was like a facilitator who guided and motivated all the students to actively come ahead and take part in the activities.

Ms Nitin Sharma

Kamla Nehru Pubilc School, Phagwara

JOL Cohort 2022

Gratitude - Ajay Vijayvargi

                                                   Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude,

 Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness,

Thankfulness may merely consist of words,

Gratitude is shown in acts.

 -David O McKay.

In today’s time, we are so busy and self-centred, meeting the deadlines of professional and personal commitments that we often forget to practice basic human values.

Thanks to the pandemic which has given us the time to rethink and practice the old value system – respecting and caring the elders, self-control to stay home with our families, rebuilding communications with old friends and relatives, being generous to help poor and needy in whichever way we can help them, preserving atmosphere – less travelling to and fro from workplaces, visiting places in our own or other means of transport (reducing pollution).

While observing the above, one thing that we all have realised is being thankful for this life and everything around- this virtue is called 'Gratitude'. 

Gratitude is the highest form of appreciation for the kindness of others. Just imagine people in our surroundings – maid, sweepers, driver, milkman, cab driver … we never ever bother or think about our lives without them, women can understand the misery if in the morning the maid rings up and informs that she won`t be able to come, milkman or news hawker do not deliver milk or newspaper on time, sweeper not cleaning surroundings for two or three days.

During the pandemic, we understood the importance of our health workers –medical and paramedical staff, lot many visuals and video on social media show our gesture of thankfulness to them. 
Being grateful need not require any monetary involvements necessarily- a simple `thank you` with a smile will make the day of the recipient and who in turn will make the day of many others. It is a chain and we simply need to start or be a part of it by continuing it.

We should always be grateful to others and necessarily put it in actions-a simple gesture is enough –Try it once.

Gratitude can turn negative into positive

Find a way to be thankful for your troubles

And they will become your blessings.

Ajay Vijayvargi
The Fabindia School
avi@fabindiaschools.in

Hope and Friendship - Sharmila Vijayvargi

Hope means holding onto things for a good outcome and remaining positive in any situation. One

should always be hopeful for a better time to come because it is the driving force behind everything. Every person at every level displays hope. Students when in school and class are hopeful for small things like getting an opportunity to become a monitor, being able to play outside and regular appreciation. It is this hope which always motivates them to keep working harder and harder. While one should always be hopeful, one should not forget to keep trying and making efforts towards achieving goals.

The virtue of hope is also displayed in friendship. Friendship is a beautiful bond between individuals and friends always there for each other in times of need. While the family plays an important role in an individual's growth, so do friends. Good friendships are always a treat and so it is equally important that in early childhood years, children explain the true meaning of friendship and particularly, distinctions between good and bad friendships because children are too naive to be misguided and fall into bad places. 

For everyone alike, it's always better to decide on friends because spending time with bad people can lead to mental set back. While dealing with students, teachers should also step into the shoes of a friend and understand a child's needs and hopes and thus, help grow holistically. More the comfort zone between teacher and students better will be the learning outcomes and hopes at both ends will be met. 

Sharmila Vijayvargi

The Fabindia School

svi4 fab@gmail.com

Courage and Patience - Manisha Deora

Courage is the ability to do something that frightens one. Courage means facing your own fears. We should have the courage to accept the challenges in our life. We should be able to stand up for what we know is right, even if we stand alone. We should encourage others to do the right thing even if peer pressure is against you. We should be brave when something scares us, like climbing a high wall, etc. We should be brave enough, to tell the truth even if it will get us into trouble and also have the courage to apologise when you know you have done something wrong.

We should be able to do something challenging and give it our beat, even when our fears tell you not to bother. We should have the courage to try something new in our life. We should have the courage to stand against our friends and family if we are being wrongly treated. Children should have the courage to speak in front of their classmates or the audience. Courage helps children gain their self-confidence. It enables a child to select right or wrong and to act according to his/her will. A child with moral courage sticks to his own principles does not compromise with evil forces. Patience is the ability to tolerate, waiting, delay or frustration without becoming upset. It is being able to control your emotions and proceed calmly. Patience is not losing your temper. Patience is following the rules and being calm. We should wait quietly. It is about controlling our frustration. Patience is making the right decision, eg - not by hitting but by walking away if we are angry or frustrated. We should be tolerant, especially with the younger siblings. It also means controlling our excitement and not interrupting when people are talking. We should wait for our turn to come in anything. If you have patience, it helps you to lead a simpler and happy life. We should help people understand that you can't always get everything you desire. You should have the patience for what you desire. The importance of patience should be realised by every individual. Life is about accepting the present moment. Patience is a virtue that everybody must possess. Patience makes us better people. To achieve your dreams, you must have the zeal to overcome challenges and the power to overcome comes only from patience. Patience is accepting other people as they are and it makes them tolerant. By being impatient, you suffer more than other people. If things are not going the way you want them to, instead of getting frustrated, you must learn to be patient. Manisha Deora The Fabindia School

Reading: First Step Toward Learning - Ajay Vijayvargi

Reading is one of the most vital disciplines in life. Reading, put simply, is the ability to decode words, symbols into something meaningful and is a part of language processing. Reading is a virtue, which can be attributed to every successful person around us and for this reason, it is important that this virtue is developed in students from their early stages, since their childhood.

During the childhood years, when the children are unable to read themselves, parents should be the guiding light and focus on reading out loud, even during the toddler years. Reading out loud should not necessarily be in English but in the most comfortable language of the parent and child and should have different subjects like fiction, non-fiction, of studies and others. This will help students eventually have hands-on over two languages and further, as an incentive, the bond between the parent and child strengthens, as the personal touch while reading out loud will always be there for the child. Further, the child’s listening and observation skills will also be boosted, which enhances the overall learning process and growth of the child. This will also become a first step in the process of ‘Learning by Doing’.

Reading out loud exercise can be continued for an extended period as it benefits the parent alike. Not only this, but early exposure to the reading newspaper at home will also inculcate and mould the reading habits amongst students and their awareness about the country, world and its happenings. In the teen years, students should be exposed to reading quietly and spending time in libraries, where books of various genres are available. This helps in faster comprehension and develop skills like speaking and writing.

Combined efforts at home as well as the school for promoting reading and developing reader skills certainly boosts the child’s overall development. While parents at home should ensure that both parents and child exchange relevant articles that they read in books, newspapers etc., teachers at school should regularly organize activities like debate, extempore which leads to the sharing of knowledge.

To sum up, reading should be continued at every stage of life in different forms. Reading makes a person complete. Global-mindedness, awareness, a better understanding of complexities, solution-oriented approach are few of the many qualities a vivid reader has and such people command a respectable position in society.

I am reading Matthew Raggett's book How Your Child Can Win In Life.

Ajay Vijayvargi, The Fabindia School

avi4fab@gmail.com