Keekli Reporter, 13th April, 2015, Shimla
I will never say anything that could not stand as the last thing I ever say !!!
‘Shining Eyes’, ‘Never Compare’, ‘Always Listen’ and ‘Pay Attention’ were few key words emphasized on when dealing with children — a strong message given by the International Irish Teacher, Brother Kevin Ward, during a workshop organized for teachers and parents here today at Gaiety Theatre, Shimla. A follow through to the workshop held in September 2011, ‘Romance with Self’, today’s session was yet another eye opener for all present. “Seeing the Unseen” was purely focused on two themes — education through a teacher’s eye and education through children’s eyes. BSN School Principal, Kalpana Sharma warmly greeted all the guests as she introduced the keynote speaker, Brother Kevin and spoke about the workshop and how it could help in transforming oneself. The management and staff of BSN School were present in full force to show their support for the cause. Touching the lives of children in an emphatic way is the biggest gift that any teacher can give to her students. Today’s workshop was all about perspective and looking at things all together in a different light — Observe and Look Hard.
“It is one of the characteristics of a leader that he not doubt for one moment, the capacity of those he is leading, to follow whatever it is that he is dreaming”.
Brother Kevin Ward began with few interesting examples to enlighten the teachers and parents on the importance of their roles in a child’s life. He said, “Anyone who touches the lives of children as a parent or a teacher that person in the universe is second only to God. What we bring into the lives of children surpasses anything they ever learn and with time the student teacher bond grows manifolds”. Through a video clip on Benjamin Zander, the famous conductor, teacher and inspirational speaker, Brother Kevin elaborated on the concept of ‘shining eyes’ and how teachers should focus on searching the same in their students. If the student is unresponsive, bored or careless then it is the duty of the teachers to reach out to that student. It is all about listening, understanding and learning. The teachers need to lead their students and if necessary bring them out of any hopeless situation.
“My job is to awaken in other people …if their eyes are shining, you know you are doing it”.
Brother Kevin inspired the teachers to become strong leaders and never to doubt themselves or their students. Children will grow up and look back how their lives were touched by their teachers and the difference it made in their lives, he said. It is very important that the word ‘never’ is never used while dealing with children and to adopt a very positive approach to resolve their problems. Another significant topic used was the children should ‘never be compared’ with anyone, as each child is special and has different abilities, be it in any stream of life. The only exception to the rule being that he / she should be ‘Compared to SELF’. He said, “Sports is not just sports these days, but it is cut throat competition, something that needs to be looked into and it also shows our own childish behaviour. And for this teachers too are to be blamed for”.
“The conductor of an orchestra doesn’t make a sound. He depends for his power on his ability to make other people powerful”.
When you just open yourselves to children and listen 100 per cent with your eyes, ears and heart, and just become the sound board, you will notice a remarkable difference in them. As within their own words a child may realize his own problem and its solution, but it is necessary to have that patience and time to help them, Brother Kevin said. He ended the day on a statement that if the teachers and parents present really, really, really believed in his words, then they should go back and practice the same when dealing with children.
“If their eyes are not shining, I have to ask myself: ‘Who am I being that my players’ [children’] eyes are not shining”.
Teachers attending the workshop from various school were, Shikha Thakur from DAV Totu; Mala Kuthiala, Rohini Minhas from Auckland School Girls School; Kanika Prashar, Anju Sharma from Chalet Day School; Rajni Hardwaj, Shobhra Zinta from Swaran Public School, Aradhna Bhardwaj, Lslita Thakur, Ritesh from Blue Bells Public School; Vinity Chauhan, Neelam Sharma, Isha Chawla, Nikita Thakur from Monal Public School and Vinita Sud, Kusum Thakur, Bhawna from DAV Lakkar Bazar School among others. They too were of the opinion that a changed outlook needed to be adopted and certain steps were already being followed in their school. Parent’s involvement too was important if children’s lives needed to be changed.
Principal Sharma thanked all the teachers and parents for their valuable time and announced the beginning of a new initiative “Special Education Cell”, in which children with learning disability would be screened as a checklist was provided to teachers with some common red flags that they could observe in children facing such problems. It was important to look for signs and symptoms in children having difficulty in learning for which remedial action could be taken by developing specific tools designed especially for them. “I hope that through this initiative we would be able to help children at large and make a difference in their lives, she concluded.
“Success is not about wealth and fame and power. It is about how many shining eyes I have around me”.
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