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Before a student studies, it is very necessary to have knowledge of “how to study.” Studying is not as simple a process as it may seem. It doesn’t mean merely holding a book in your hands and assigning one’s eyes and memory cells to task. All parents want their children to succeed in academics. Most parents use physical punishment as a tool for transforming their children. But child psychologists and early childhood care experts are of the opinion that physical punishment does not work at all when it comes to child transformation. Physical punishment shows that a parent or a teacher cannot think of any other option of transformation, which is why he starts with physical punishment.
Role of parents: Every child is born brilliant. Parents are the first teachers and home is the first school of a child. It is up to the parents which programmes they would like to install in the brand new brain of their child. Parents are mainly responsible for the development of the three spheres of a child’s life, i.e., socio-cultural, physical, and mental development. When parents talk to each other, their children observe and adopt their behaviour. The attitude that parents have towards society and other spheres of life most often becomes the attitude of their children. Secondly, the physical development of a child is also the domain of parents and family. The eating schedule that parents choose for their children does determine their health. Thirdly, parents play a major role in the mental development of a child. Teachers alone cannot ensure the maximum competence of a child. Though parents may be busy in their affairs, they have to reserve time for the mental development of their child.
Role of School and Teachers: “Education is the modification of behaviour,” as this adage goes, and schooling does not only mean to make a child competent in academics but overall development of a student like writing, public speaking, ethics, behaviour, health, hygiene, and development of other spheres of life. Transforming a child is indeed challenging for a teacher. Though difficult, a teacher’s determination and regular updating of child psychology can do wonders. As limited space does not allow me to comment much on this important issue, I have two practical experiences to share. Since example is not only the best way of learning, it is the only way of learning.
I once noticed the students of a school that all of them had kept their ties outside their sweaters. One or a few students may not know the proper way to wear a tie. But, when I saw every student of that school, I thought it could not be a coincidence. I became curious to discover the cause. Accordingly, I asked some students of that school why you have kept your uniform ties outside your sweaters, and I was surprised to learn that they had been told by a teacher that this is the actual way of wearing a tie, that it should be outside the sweater. Now who is responsible, teacher? No, the teacher alone was not responsible; parents were equally responsible because they had not shown any concern by discovering their child wearing a tie like this.
Another story is of a teacher whom we call Bhat Sahab with love in our village and his student, Mr. Ramzan, who used to be the most rude student of his class, very bad at studies, didn’t follow the norms of school, and whose age exceeded the class in which he was studying. He was tall and physically well-built. What made him more rude was that his behaviour towards teachers was not good. His behaviour created a lot of trouble for teachers, as all the remedial strategies employed by them had failed. Bhat sahab (the 90’s teacher) told me that when he was transferred to that school, he was told about that tall, rude guy (Mr. Ramzan). Bhat sahab says that when he went for the first time to Ramadan’s class. Mr. Ramzan stood up and began to misbehave, like when he asked the new teacher in a rude way, “Aapka Naam Kya Hai” (what is your name?). Bhat Sahab replied, “Who are you?” (Bhat sahab pretended that he didn’t know him, while he actually did.) Ramzan replied, “Mera naam Ramzan hai.” (My name is Ramzan.) Bhat sahab, on hearing this announced, Mr. Ramzan is the monitor of your class from today. All the toppers and intelligent students were shocked to hear that how can a rude and dull guy like Ramzan be made monitor of class? This was Bhat Sahab’s first step towards transformation through excellence. He was later appreciated by Bhat Sahab at morning assemblies, school events, and other gatherings. Ramzan did not deserve all this, but strategic, Bhat sahab did. And do you know what followed? Ramzan was transformed from a dull student into a hardworking student. From rude to a well character student. This is typical of transformation through excellence.
Role of Society, Friend’s, and other factors: Have you ever wondered why two students studying in the same school differ in grades even though they have the same health, the same teachers, the same classroom, and the same school? If everything at school between the two students is the same, then it is something outside the school that is influencing the grades of the students. That thing may be a social environment or friends. Societies vary in culture and traditions, and the children born into those societies ultimately absorb that culture. Different societies have different interpretations of success. For some, success may mean academic success, some societies may have a business mindset, and some may simply prefer following their traditional occupation. Similarly, friends must be chosen wisely and carefully. Before adding someone to your friend list, one must make sure that he meets the minimum requirements. Parents also should keep vigil on their children to see with whom they spend time. Qualities of a good friend include loyalty, honesty, intelligence, a good sense of humour, being funny, being hardworking, being well-characterised, and, most importantly, being someone who increases your confidence. One who attacks your confidence doesn’t deserve and mustn’t be on your friend list. Other factors of child development include habits like hygiene, exercise, discipline, homework at the right time, ethics, sports, adventures, personality development, and so on and so forth.
In rare cases, some parents limit the lives of their children to academics only, which will be called “excess” and “excess of everything is bad.” If academics was the only purpose of life, then why would God have created such a beautiful world around us? Academics is not life, but a part of it. If a child’s life is limited to academics only, he will not meet his maximum development. Such children are usually discovered to be shy and unconfident. A confident and active student usually seems more attractive than an underconfident one. There are a lot of life experiences that are not found in school books but rather in the practical experiences of life. Confidence comes with practicality. Outside of studies, parents and teachers must also be aware of early childhood care, an emerging discipline of the time. Parents also must have basic knowledge of child psychology. And in case a child shows unusual behaviour, they should not self-treat him but rather take him to a child psychologist to get him treated. Parents must be equally worried about the mental health of their child as they are about his physical health. Child development is a gradual process, and we should not expect our child to speak fluent English after just one month at school. As parents and guardians, one should understand their duties and ensure the maximum development of their children. Children are tomorrow’s youth. They are going to replace us in nation-building. Their development can have a much positive impact on our society and nation.
Role of School and Teachers: “Education is the modification of behaviour,” as this adage goes, and schooling does not only mean to make a child competent in academics but overall development of a student like writing, public speaking, ethics, behaviour, health, hygiene, and development of other spheres of life. Transforming a child is indeed challenging for a teacher. Though difficult, a teacher’s determination and regular updating of child psychology can do wonders. As limited space does not allow me to comment much on this important issue, I have two practical experiences to share. Since example is not only the best way of learning, it is the only way of learning.
I once noticed the students of a school that all of them had kept their ties outside their sweaters. One or a few students may not know the proper way to wear a tie. But, when I saw every student of that school, I thought it could not be a coincidence. I became curious to discover the cause. Accordingly, I asked some students of that school why you have kept your uniform ties outside your sweaters, and I was surprised to learn that they had been told by a teacher that this is the actual way of wearing a tie, that it should be outside the sweater. Now who is responsible, teacher? No, the teacher alone was not responsible; parents were equally responsible because they had not shown any concern by discovering their child wearing a tie like this.
Another story is of a teacher whom we call Bhat Sahab with love in our village and his student, Mr. Ramzan, who used to be the most rude student of his class, very bad at studies, didn’t follow the norms of school, and whose age exceeded the class in which he was studying. He was tall and physically well-built. What made him more rude was that his behaviour towards teachers was not good. His behaviour created a lot of trouble for teachers, as all the remedial strategies employed by them had failed. Bhat sahab (the 90’s teacher) told me that when he was transferred to that school, he was told about that tall, rude guy (Mr. Ramzan). Bhat sahab says that when he went for the first time to Ramadan’s class. Mr. Ramzan stood up and began to misbehave, like when he asked the new teacher in a rude way, “Aapka Naam Kya Hai” (what is your name?). Bhat Sahab replied, “Who are you?” (Bhat sahab pretended that he didn’t know him, while he actually did.) Ramzan replied, “Mera naam Ramzan hai.” (My name is Ramzan.) Bhat sahab, on hearing this announced, Mr. Ramzan is the monitor of your class from today. All the toppers and intelligent students were shocked to hear that how can a rude and dull guy like Ramzan be made monitor of class? This was Bhat Sahab’s first step towards transformation through excellence. He was later appreciated by Bhat Sahab at morning assemblies, school events, and other gatherings. Ramzan did not deserve all this, but strategic, Bhat sahab did. And do you know what followed? Ramzan was transformed from a dull student into a hardworking student. From rude to a well character student. This is typical of transformation through excellence.
Role of Society, Friend’s, and other factors: Have you ever wondered why two students studying in the same school differ in grades even though they have the same health, the same teachers, the same classroom, and the same school? If everything at school between the two students is the same, then it is something outside the school that is influencing the grades of the students. That thing may be a social environment or friends. Societies vary in culture and traditions, and the children born into those societies ultimately absorb that culture. Different societies have different interpretations of success. For some, success may mean academic success, some societies may have a business mindset, and some may simply prefer following their traditional occupation. Similarly, friends must be chosen wisely and carefully. Before adding someone to your friend list, one must make sure that he meets the minimum requirements. Parents also should keep vigil on their children to see with whom they spend time. Qualities of a good friend include loyalty, honesty, intelligence, a good sense of humour, being funny, being hardworking, being well-characterised, and, most importantly, being someone who increases your confidence. One who attacks your confidence doesn’t deserve and mustn’t be on your friend list. Other factors of child development include habits like hygiene, exercise, discipline, homework at the right time, ethics, sports, adventures, personality development, and so on and so forth.
In rare cases, some parents limit the lives of their children to academics only, which will be called “excess” and “excess of everything is bad.” If academics was the only purpose of life, then why would God have created such a beautiful world around us? Academics is not life, but a part of it. If a child’s life is limited to academics only, he will not meet his maximum development. Such children are usually discovered to be shy and unconfident. A confident and active student usually seems more attractive than an underconfident one. There are a lot of life experiences that are not found in school books but rather in the practical experiences of life. Confidence comes with practicality. Outside of studies, parents and teachers must also be aware of early childhood care, an emerging discipline of the time. Parents also must have basic knowledge of child psychology. And in case a child shows unusual behaviour, they should not self-treat him but rather take him to a child psychologist to get him treated. Parents must be equally worried about the mental health of their child as they are about his physical health. Child development is a gradual process, and we should not expect our child to speak fluent English after just one month at school. As parents and guardians, one should understand their duties and ensure the maximum development of their children. Children are tomorrow’s youth. They are going to replace us in nation-building. Their development can have a much positive impact on our society and nation.
– The writer is author of a book titled “Yours Truly” and online writer at Ku Ku FM Application. He can be reached at arbazbomai90@gmail.com
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