5 F Of P

Whenever the Principal walked past the Std.III the classroom she would find students being punished or scolded. An unruly atmosphere often prevailed in the classroom. The class teacher of that class was a new recruit. Perhaps she is unable to handle students through the Principal. She decided to talk to the new teacher after class hours. She held detailed discussions with her and counselled her regarding handling students. Being an experienced administrator she provided varied tips which proved handy. After a few months, the classroom scenario changed.

The teacher explained later that the Principal had given valuable suggestions regarding teaching and interacting with students. All pupils are not the same because they come from various backgrounds and the mindset of each one is totally different. Some are sharp and understand quickly and easily, whereas some take time and need to be explained a second time. Some obey when appreciated, some need to be told strictly, a few listen when they are spoken to softly and sweetly, and so on and so forth. It is the duty of a teacher to understand the mentality and needs of students and act accordingly. When one chooses teaching as a career, one has to ensure he/she will give their best. Teachers should inculcate value-based education along with ethics. This is the noblest profession that is unique. Teachers are pathfinders who carve little boys and girls into perfect citizens, in a way they are nation builders.

"My 12-year-old daughter is younger than my son. She is mature, responsible and self-sufficient. I needn't monitor her, in fact, she helps me immensely. My son is quite fickle, naughty and doesn't take anything seriously. He takes away all my time." My friend Sangeeta often shared her problems with me. Children born of the same mother but contrastingly different. Each child needs to be handled in a different way. Parents must understand the abilities of their kids and groom them accordingly. No two children can be brought up in the same way. While providing education and required amenities parents can obviously not be partial. But while nurturing a child they must be very cautious. Just like plants, the growing conditions of each child are different and that must be correctly comprehended by each parent.

Talking about the aged at home. Some crave good food. Though health issues and age shows up there are foodies who like to eat varieties of food. A few like to travel, in spite of their bodies not permitting them to do so. Some become spiritual, some divert towards music, and most pursue their hobbies. After a struggle of over 6o years, some crave the company of the members of their family. I once visited my friend. She was not at home. Her parents-in-law were present. They were quite cordial and in the midst of conversation, they shared their feelings. They told me that my friend attended to all their needs but never spent time with them. She would prefer to do her gardening, read books or attend to household chores but never talked to them. Their son was busy with his business and their grandchildren with their studies. With no one to talk to they were disheartened. I felt sad for the old couple because old age is a stage when people need someone to talk to.

In organisations, if employers could be empathetic with their employees, employee output would be commendable. Heads of organisations and institutions should be clever enough to tap the talent of each employee and hand over responsibilities and portfolios accordingly. We often hear teams talking about their team leaders being harsh, kind, clever, compassionate and all kinds. A smart team leader will notice the nuances of the members of his team and get work done. A good leader doesn't inspire his followers by showing them how amazing he is. He inspires them by showing them how amazing they are.

To sum up, we are not machinery and equipment but human beings with hearts. With our age, experience and exposure, as parents, we must identify the differences between our children, know their feelings, recognise their innate potential and nurture them accordingly. We must not have the same expectations from all our children because each one of them is different. As teachers, we need to understand the mindsets of our students, know their backgrounds and train them differently. As employers, if we can get into the shoes of our employees, we would be creating a comfortable work atmosphere and their efforts would be conducive to the growth of the organisation. Whether it is a home, an office or any place where we are the helmsman, let us place ourselves in the situation, let us grasp the inner feelings of the people who look up to us and do justice to them. This way we will be creating an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity. We must understand that the five fingers of a palm are all different in shape, size and purpose. Therefore, with our intellect, we need to put them to the best possible use. The best human being in this world is the one who lightens the burden of another.