THE IMPORTANCE OF HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT

 

The Annual Day celebration was soon approaching and the school wore a festive look. Students and teachers were moving around busily. Rehearsals were happening, recording was being done for a play by the students who were giving voice over, in one part of the school, a few students who were part of the tech team were working on the digital background, for the variety entertainment, creating promos, teasers and Annual Day invitation, some of them were directing a play, student volunteers were helping with the arrangements of props and furniture on the stage, the Announcers were rehearsing their part, the color party and the school band were practicing to receive the Chief Guest, a group of students were being taken for the zonal sports competition by the physical education department, the music students were practicing in one corner, the dancers were being shown the right moves by the dance master, and on the whole, there was a lot of cheerfulness in the atmosphere. Right from a five- year- old to a seventeen -year- old were part of the Annual Day program.

Schooling should be an experience. During their growing up years if students are given horizontal exposure and vertical expertise, they will grow up to be confident and versatile. Students should be made to take ownership of their actions and become responsible individuals. We see adults who are unable to maintain relationships, who cannot work together in a team, who struggle to be punctual, who lack health, social grace, empathy, leadership qualities, values & discipline, who are emotionally imbalanced, selfish, and much more.

“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all” said Aristotle.

There is more to life than just academics. Preparing students for life should be our goal. Developing the child socially, emotionally, physically, intellectually and spiritually contributes to the holistic development of the child. Leadership skills, global awareness, values, social skills, thinking skills, a compassionate heart, a fit body and much more is required to make a child wholesome. Create an experiential learning environment. Soak them in those vital experiences. Let it become the very fabric of their education. We, as nation builders, have an awesome responsibility to live a holistic life and thereby provide the right environment to transform the child’s living.

Let’s begin from where we can. Plan the curriculum by incorporating the following and we can keep adding on;

1. One-minute clean-up of the classroom- At the end of the day a bell will go, before the dispersal, and students will quickly look around for any litter in the class and pick it up. This will be done every day.

2. Heterogenous group activities- Plan activities House wise where students across std VI -XII can participate forming groups.

3. Sitting in non-doing – Students can be made to sit with their eyes closed, palm on their lap, facing upward, observing their breath, for two minutes every morning. A soft music can be played in the public address system.

Schooling will be a beautiful experience for students, something they will always cherish and be grateful for, if they can be carried beyond academics and shown the wide spectrum of life. Schooling has to be a life transforming journey. 

#Thoughtfulthursdays #nsn #nsnschool #mentoring #parenting