Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Are children really difficult?

I face this question many times, whether children are really difficult to handle?

For any teacher in todays world, the best student definition is, "a child who does his/her work in time, work is impeccable, scores highest grades, well-mannered and respects elders!!!"

Any child whose behaviour is slight deviation from this definition is a difficult child. Just because they are not able to understand this deviation, the child is termed "difficult".

But I strongly feel that this is where a teacher is required. An ideal student will excel with slight guidance anyway. It is these so-called difficult children who really need a good and wise teacher's assistance in moving towards the best fit line - ideal definition.

I know a 1st grader whose teacher would complain that he is very mischievous, creates lots of noise and has influenced the other students to this extent that the other students do not fear her anymore!! I was aghast at this complaint of a teacher about a 6 year old boy.

All children are curious and if you expect them to sit on one chair in one position for 5 hours of the day, the children are bound to be restless. Besides this discomfort caused to these poor kids, they are expected to assimilate whatever is taught to them. God!! this is like the worst torture on these little angels!!

You ask them to learn the capitals of cities. They do not understand what city is, but yes make them learn capitals of the cities. You ask them to recite rhymes, of which they understand head nor tail! Then ask them to learn tables of numbers from 1 to 5. What are these tables, they understand nothing, but yes the best child is who can rattle off these tables like a parrot!!

What do you expect at the end of all this? A restless, disinterested child whose energies are being curbed rather than being constructively channelized.

Then the teachers complain to the parents. Rather than complaining, the teachers and parents must formalize strategies to be implemented in the class and at home both in order to put the child in the right groove without troubling the child mentally, physically and emotionally.

I do not feel this is impossible, only if the parents took more responsibility and interest in their child. Even parents feel that now our child is going to school, so our responsibility is over. How can that be over? If we bring a life into this world, it is our responsibility to nurture this life in the best possible manner for the self-reliance of this life. Mind you, responsibility does not mean providing material comforts, but spending more quality time with the child.

3 comments:

  1. love is the only way for teaching. Love the students. Young children are like god.Innocent .

    When the children are to play why should they be forced to learn which they cannot comperhend?.

    I taught my daughter all the games sitting with her for long hours. Field visits will help in exposing them to the wonders of nature and which generates the curiosity and interest to learn.

    The teacher has to be resourceful and patient and adopt to each child's nature. should enjoy teaching.

    Schools are crammed ,no free atmosphere. no freedom to the teachers.

    Parents play an important role particularly mother.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I completely agree with Jaishrie.
    Being a student myself, i too have come across different kinds of children. Some are blessed with extraordinarily brilliant brains, whereas there are also the less fortunate ones who take a lot of time to grasp topics taught in class.

    The brilliant student is showered with praise whereas sometimes, people go to the extent of humiliating the slow-learners in front of everyone. Is it their fault that they are not able to absorb everything that is taught??

    Though there are cases where children are just not interested in studying, there are others who make the effort, but are still not able to get good grades. It is these children who need help, not humiliation, who need love & care, not anger, to help them grow as mature human beings. If a permanent stamp of being a fool is put on such children, they then tend to become introvert and depressed.

    Children are not dfficult. They just need the care of adults till they mature and are able to understand and comprehend clearly, and are able to differentiate between likes and dislikes.
    Try seeing it from a child's point of view, and you'll understand the whole thing.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Totally agree with your views on teaching, Jaishrie. Guess the only difference is that you have a chance of actually putting it into practice, whereas I'm only an armchair commentator. :-)

    Jayanti

    ReplyDelete

Post your comment