Invaluable Lesson

I remember something which happened during the years 1982 or 1983 when I was in my Sr.KG. Every day in the last period, a teacher used to come to our class and I only remember that she used to make us do some colouring task in the drawing book. Continuously for a week or so, I was made to stand in one corner of the classroom for the entire period and all others used to sit and do colouring.

I was too young to understand the reason behind this exclusion. Don’t even know if she has communicated something to my parent through the small cute almanac I used to have during those days. But suddenly one day, in the same class I was not made to stand in the corner of the classroom and allowed to do colouring. Somehow with my little brain, I understood the reason for my exclusion i.e. not having colour pencil box. Unfortunately, before I could even make the most of my drawing class, not sure whether the session has come to an end or the classes have been suspended.

This is the only incident of my kindergarten which lasted in my memory. However, this experience in my life has taught me the importance of empathy in the life of a teacher. Today I as a teacher for more than eighteen years continuously strive to be empathetic to the needs (physiological, psychological, socio-emotional) of all my students.