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When we decided to go the child's way

I saw Aadhya, a child from 1st standard (name changed) today while walking back from the school throwing a nice and capturing smile at me. It just warmed my heart. It just moved me, thinking how this child was just a day before.

Just yesterday, her mother came to me very disturbed and told that Aadhya has become very restless and continuously pleading her to request her class teacher to send her to section A. She wanted the change desperately as her closest friends were all put in section A when her Montessori class was divided into sections in class I. She was missing her friends very badly. I was also told that sleep talking has become common for her from last 15 days and gradually she has become so reserved, very angry about her mother for not fulfilling her demand. She was always complaining to her father, who works in Bengaluru, over phone about her mother not coming to the school.

As I continued listening to the mother, the first thing that came to my mind was to talk to the child in person. When Aadhya was called to the office, I could clearly make out the grief on her face. Somehow, I managed to get conversing with her. She wanted to go to the class, where her friends stay, at any cost. When I spoke further, Aadhya broke down when I asked about her father. She told she likes her father the best but he stays in Bengaluru and comes home once in a month or two.

I could clearly make out the emotional turbulence that child has been going through. Firstly, the child is missing her father and the breakup of sections in the school has further added to her pain. I, then, called her class teacher and a senior teacher in the school and discussed the case with them. After considering what the parent and child said and felt, keeping in mind, the emotional well being of the child we decided to go the child’s way. I was still waiting to see the glimpse of smile on Aadhya’s face after I told her that her wish is fulfilled. But I was sure she was happy.

The smile I saw today on Aadhya’s face is more satisfying for the reason that we, as educators, could understand the child and do what was just needed in time. Can there be a better feeling for an educator to end his/her day seeing children leaving school smiling. Realising that he/she is the reason behind the smile is like icing on the cake. Moments like this keeps, we, the educators going!


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