A MANIPULATIVE MIND

 

Almost five years after COVID-19 disaster, I was just remembering the days when the entire world came to a halt. Something nobody even dreamt of. People all over the world were cut off physically from the outside world. Schools were shut down for a couple of years. Children had to attend online classes. Teachers who were not familiar with technology struggled to take online classes.

This was the time children became undisciplined. As there was no need for them to go to school, waking up early was no more a habit. There was no routine in life. They were struggling to overcome their laziness.

In the online class, they invariably switched off the video camera on the pretext that there was no charge in the mobile phone. They either slept through the class or were munching on some food. Some had the audacity to lie down. I later heard that some of the children sat in the class without bathing! Parents had to literally wake them up and hurriedly make them wear their school uniform.

The link that was shared by the teacher was misused by some of the students by allowing their friends to join the class and disturb the teacher by posting inappropriate messages. Maintaining discipline in an online class was a difficult task for the teachers. Much of their time was wasted bringing the class under control.

Thinking that they were cheating the teacher, the students lost most of the precious learning time. This resulted in a huge learning gap when physical classes resumed after two years. It was certainly the students’ loss.  Those who made use of the online classes continued to do well in their studies.

Every time we manipulate, we should remember that we stand to lose. We always end up as losers.

When students are asked to write a book review, some of them copy it from the net without even reading the book. All that matters to them is the certificate that they will receive on submitting a book review. They don’t realize that the process is more important. What you can become by developing reading habit is far greater than the certificates you have in the file.

Reading expands your mind, it enhances your vocabulary, improves your communication skill, enriches your knowledge and thought process and develops leadership qualities in you. A certificate is a mere piece of paper without all of these.

When an assignment is given, some of the students work on it diligently. But some of them waste their time doing what is not necessary and copy it from their friends, fearing a reprimand from the teacher. In the process, submission of the assignment means nothing when you have not learnt anything new in the process.

The best way to grow is to develop the discipline to think straight.

Manipulation may give you temporary victory, but it will ruin your life permanently. Overcome the temptation to manipulate, even if you stand to lose.

Eventually you will emerge stronger in your values and character and earn the trust of the world. This is the best way to grow in your own eyes.

#Thoughtfulthursdays #nsn #nsnschool #mentoring #parenting