Peace, as I see it - Tenzin Jambey

It is tough to understand the mentality and mindset of people. All the people are not the same, and there are only rare ones, and some people rarely have the mentality.

When I think about Peace, Peace only thing that comes to my mind is having satisfaction from the work that you have done. We only get peace Peacewe to do the things and actions that make us feel good. Some people do good work and help others to have a feeling of kindness; after all, it's the work from within that gets them peace.

Whereas some people are so foolish that they commit many crimes, harassment and even murder, this and other such acts get them the feeling of peace; I have seen many times in the movies, and other TV shows a person crying, he says that " ap jukai chant mila", which means I get peace after doing the work. But, we wouldn't know they are always wrong at some point, as they have the mentality and habits developed from childhood. It is just that people see a child doing a crime; they say many things about them but never try to make them understand what they are doing. They have a mentality that committing crimes will only cost you a few days in jail.

For me, I actually do not know now what or how peace can be defined. A few days back when I was at my home for vacation, I was very, very happy there with my parents and family and also the environment of the village was very calm and beautiful, I felt thrilled with them there, and I guess that peace means when you are with your loved ones and that also at your favourite place.

The reading session of Sunday, the 2nd of October 2022.
I share my joy of learning  with a drawing:

Tenzin Jambey
Pestalozzi Children's Village, India

Countering Failure - RP Devgan

It is unfortunate to read about the loss of life among young teenagers who succumb to failure. Doctors and psychologists put it down to emotional stress and depression. If these be the causes, how can one help these children? The root causes are frustration, jealousy, loss of face and fear of failure.

To make children emotionally strong and fight against odds, they must be guided and mentored right from their early years. In Primary School, children are most impressionable. Most of the problems start with comparisons to brighter children. Not-so-bright children become conscious, which leads to jealousy, frustration, loss of self-esteem and lack of confidence. 

The way out of this web is to learn to compete with oneself - forget what the others are doing and concentrate on your improvement. One should set reasonable goals and try to do better one's performance periodically. This gradual improvement brings out the best in an individual. With patience, perseverance and hard work, one gradually rubs shoulders with the best. Concentrating on one's achievement leaves little room for jealousy and heartbreak; children from an early age need to be encouraged to believe in themselves. They need to be told that every child has some talent. It just is waiting to be discovered. Regular encouragement and understanding raise a child's confidence and self-esteem. 

As one starts on the journey to improve, it is crucial to reflect. Pause and look back to see how things are shaping up. Are the proper steps being taken? Too many people in this world repeat their mistakes daily, week after week, month after month and do not realise they are stagnant. They turn into robots.

Teenagers need to have a plan or a timetable they follow. The path to success is slow and, at times, painful. One must not give up. Failure leads to depression. To guard against this, one must learn to face losses and not give in. Most children who are weak emotionally have never participated in activities outside the classroom, be it sports or any extracurricular activities where they have faced disappointment and failure. Failure can be a great teacher. It makes you reflect, gather your wits and prepare for the next time. This makes you emotionally strong, an essential part of your character building.

The other day I was walking down the fairway on the golf course accompanied by a former student. He confessed that playing games and losing matches had taught him to face failure. He admitted that children who were just book worms lost out on building up their emotional strength and strong character. This is why our new NEP 2020 emphasises holistic education, which some call an all-around education.

I wish schools, for the good of children, start following the NEP 2020 guidelines, which will make children emotionally strong and prepare them to face challenges, not give up and not succumb to failure. This will help save the lives of venerable young children and make them happy. They can then look forward to a happy future with confidence and conviction.

Rajinder Pal Devgan
Chairman Learning Forward India
With nearly five decades of experience as an Educationist and serving as a School Leader for schools in India and overseas, Mr Devgan brings rich experience as an administrator, sportsperson, and teacher champion. His love for children further strengthens the My Good School philosophy of every individual's personal and social development with the active support of teachers and faith in experiential learning and learning outside the four walls of the classroom. Former House Master and Dean at The Doon School, currently Member Board of Governors at Welham Boys' School, has settled down at Dehradun to help build Learning Forward India.

My Life - Mrs Elephant

Hello there! It's me, your favourite one - Mrs Elephant. So let me tell you more about myself and my family. I am beautiful, prettier than most people. I have 14, no 17, actually 25 children. Adorable children with big ears and legs and those who fight a lot. Don't even get me started about the things they do. When I go to the store, they create a complete mess. I select some decent clothes for them, but they are so fussy that they want to buy a dress that doesn't even fit them! Do you understand how difficult it is for me? Now enough about my naughty children; let's talk about me.

Besides being the best mother and prettiest, I am a writer and a doctor. I work 24 hours daily and am swamped, so you must not ask me too many questions because I simply don't have the time to answer them. I am excellent at playing games, especially Sudoku and Crossword. I also dream of having an extensive library, which I suppose will come true someday. If you are looking for a job, then come to me. I will surely give you a fantastic job babysitting my children. It will surely help a lot.

Rishona Chopra 
Grade VI 
Gyanshree School

Billabong School Song - Arav Agarwal

Totto-chan's School Song helped me connect with my school's song, Billabong High International School, Thane. I love my school song and am happy to share it with everyone.

Billabong High is a fun place to be

To learn to have fun, there's a lot to see.

As you grow up and go to a higher class

And recap what you have done

And soon you'll pass

It's an exciting place for children

And they look forward to going there

Not only do they get an education, but,

They get individual love and care.

You will be a proud graduate

And one day, you will say

I went to Billabong High and see what I am today.

I went to Billabong High and see what I am today.

I went to Billabong High and see what I am today.

Name; Arav Agarwal
Grade: 6A
Billabong High International School, Thane

The Railroad Station - Rishona Chopra

The best thing in children is probably their innocence and curiosity to explore. Their cute naughtiness can be annoying but is done so innocently!

In this chapter, Totto - Chan and her mother are going to a new school. Getting off the train at the Jiyugoaka Station, Totto-Chan was fascinated by the ticket collector's tickets. She wanted to be a ticket seller but at the same time a spy too!

Isn't it wonderful to see that children can be so imaginative and excited!

For me going to a new school is the worst thing! You have to make new friends, but for Totto-Chan, it is slightly different. She is a jolly person seeing the world with eyes filled with love and innocence! This chapter indirectly tells about her personality. 

How fun it would be to be a ticket seller who is really a spy?

Rishona Chopra
Grade VI
Gyanshree School

Student Leader: Mentor or Monitor - Rishona Chopra

A class monitor. It is one of the most exciting things for me. The best day is when the teacher announces you as the class monitor. It's a feeling that you could lead the class. Writing names on the board is not a monitor, but helping students correct their mistakes is being a monitor. A monitor is not someone who brings a list of complaints to the teacher but finds out tricks to make other students listen to them. 

Monitors are supervisors ad set an example. 

A monitor is a young mentor. Imagine your teacher running in the corridors and not solving problems but even for the most minor mistakes giving their names to the Principal, won't that be odd? In the same way, we have to be the example for the class when the teacher is away.  As said, " When the cat's away, the mice are out to play". In the same way, when the teacher goes out of the class, the children start to play! We, as young mentors, should be able to handle the class in the similar way a teacher does.

A monitor is not supposed to be bossy but sweet, kind, and helpful. After all, a monitor in a classroom is a monitor for life. 

Rishona Chopra
Grade VI
Gyanshree School

A unique tree - Rishona Chopra

Hi! I am Lily. I am a tree; I don't have leaves, just me and my children (the branches). My best friend is the snow. It's always around us; never have we felt the loneliness with her. Just because we don't have the definition of beauty people want doesn't mean we are not beautiful. We are just what being pretty means. It means that the happiness in our life shines in you, authentic beauty.

Just because we don't have leaves and flowers doesn't mean that we are not worthy. We are just as good as other trees but are just different and unique. 

Like we say, equality in humans, shouldn't there be equality in trees?

Rishona Chopra
Grade VI
Gyanshree School

School Bell: The First Lesson in Management - Anvesha Rana

                                   

The School Bell

Tringgg goes the bell,

Casting the gleeful spell

  As children dash out, 

  some to the classes they like, 

  others to the ones they dislike, 

  Everyone suddenly has a new thereabout. 

Faces shine with mirth 

when the Sports period comes 

and turn into sulks

as Math hums.

The bell is uncanny yet beautiful, 

Galling at 8 but melodious at 3.

What may come our way?

The bell will always be the shimmering ray.

Be it a school, or a temple, 

or perhaps a rooster's cock-a-doodle,

All These are Bells, 

Reminders that Time Flows. 

-   Anvesha Rana, 

Grade 10-B, 

Gyanshree School

Happiness @ My Good School

Coming soon, our podcast on Happiness, what it means to us, how do we feel happy and finally how to spread Happiness? The future of education will be built on immutable values alone: Appreciation, Caring, Cooperation, Courage, Freedom, Friendship, Happiness, Honesty, Hope, Humility, Love, Patience, Peace, Quality, Respect, Responsibility, Simplicity, Thoughtfulness, Tolerance, Trust, Understanding & Unity. My Good School Season 2, the 22 episodes will inspire you by using examples of where the values are already being used by children and adults in schools and share practical tools to stimulate discussion and philosophical debate.

Autobiography of a piano - Rishona Chopra

Hey there! I am Ms. piano. You must have heard my name... I am pretty popular. What a second you don't know me! Oh my goodness, I must tell you about myself.

So I am a grand piano, 5 - feet long ( quite tall). I am a mother of wait how many children, yes 36 teenagers and 25 babies. Lots of work! You might ask where my children are well for you, humans what you call 'keys of the piano' those are actually my children. The small ones (black colour) are the babies, and the long ones are the teenagers. I don't really remember the names, but I'll tell you a few of them. Let's see, Pinky, Kitty, Keyer, Kate, Peter and other names.

Enough about my children, now about me! As you know, I am beautiful and elegant. Sometimes I feel I have lost all my respect (even my children forget about me sometimes), but when I read the book 'The Piano Shop On The Left Bank', I just knew that someone loved me, truly loved me, even more than my children. Did you know that when my owner plays me, it doesn't hurt me! It hurts my children but seeing them hurt, I am sad, but what can I do? I am a piano, after all.

Rishona Chopra
Grade V
Gyanshree School

Fun is learning, learning is fun - Rishona Chopra

Fun is the beginning of anything fundamental. Even the word fundamental has the word fun! 

The book states that when we are pushed and taught, we don't really learn anything, but learning becomes more effective and enjoyable when we have fun. As children, we are taught that we should go to school and learn to become something one day. But in my opinion, it is much more than that. We become better humans, we get to know how each thing has its own way of forming,  and the world becomes so much more fascinating!

Not just reading our textbooks and memorizing is learning; it is boring. Suppose you are reading one of the concepts States of Matter, and you are reading about the matter. Then you can think of five-ten things and write them down in which form they are and more factors such as size, shape, mass and colour. This will show the concept in the real world and make learning so much more fun. 

My science teacher always tells us to visualize things and draw them. It makes it so much fun, in your science class you can draw several diagrams and learning is fun!

When I revise for my exam, I put all my notes of different subjects in envelopes and send them back to me through the bottom of my room's door. It's like receiving a letter with notes. While revising for my English exam, one of the topics is a formal letter. I wrote a formal letter to the principal, put it in an envelope and acted as if I was the principal! 

So there are so many ways in which learning can be super fun!

Rishona Chopra
Grade V
Gyanshree School

Autobiography of a school bus - Rishona Chopra

I am a bus. A school bus, to be precise. Unfortunately, I can not remember much. You see, I had gone through several surgeries, and that is why I don’t know much. Some think that I had gone through so many surgeries because of my carelessness. I assure you that my surgeries happened because of the selfish plans of some people. They wanted to make me beautiful and comfortable for them! They did not think about me at all. Now, you must be thinking, why didn’t I shout for help? I did call for help, but those selfish creatures did not listen to me.

Before my surgery, I called … Van. Then I was called Bus and then finally I was called a school bus. Despite all the pain I went through, I like only one thing. I want to meet children. Many children come and sit on me, and I love talking to them. They hate wearing my friend Seatbelt, but what can I do? Those cute little faces bring a smile to my face. That is indeed the best part of my job.

School Bus

Rishona Chopra Grade V Gyanshree School

What do cows think? - Rishona Chopra

Cows think about having lots of fun with their children.

While delivering milk, their children are taken away from them, so they can't drink it as we selfish humans need it! Cows think about having lots of fun with their children without restrictions. They wish to dance and play with them like any parent. 

Cows would love to have lots of food. Although they can eat little food for a longer time, they would like to have more if they don't get food to eat the other day! When people hit them to get milk, they obviously feel hurt and want to hit them back. They think about taking revenge on them and going out of the shed and being free, having freedom.

We humans talk about having freedom, but we don't realize how we take others (animals) liberty away.

Rishona Chopra
Grade V
Gyanshree School

Compassion - Anvesha Rana

                                                                 

A simple act of kindness can touch million hearts, a simple act of kindness can help people in need and a simple act of kindness can change the world. What we do today, defines who we are tomorrow. Compassion is not a feeling it is an act of kindness, one that forever resides in the heart of those helped. We may ponder upon the fact that is it hard to be compassionate? No, all of us are humane and somewhere in our heart deep down, we do feel empathy but the row to hoe is the effort and the strain in helping someone else. It's just one more mile to go, it's just one more step to take and to make it to the line without a mistake. It's no doubt that kindness also fills the giver with a sense of content yet those who cross the finish line are few. 

Mother Teresa and Princess Diana, the two profounding pillars of compassion, have proven it to the world that it does not take superhuman effort to offer someone pleasure. Mother Teresa was a woman who changed thousands of lives and affected millions by her simply gestures of kindness whereas, Princess Diana had been an inspiration for huge masses of people, her message that AIDS did not spread through touch had been accepted worldwide. 

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. Even children have demonstrated acts that could offer a change of heart, a young girl without thinking twice sharing her lunch with her friend or a child getting head shaven just to ensure that her friend with cancer is not uncomfortable in school. These are the actions in our daily life, these are the actions that change the world. 

You don't have to extraordinary to make a difference, but you can become extraordinary by making a difference... 

Anvesha Rana, 

Grade 9-B, 

Gyanshree School. 

Be A Dreamer - Prarthana Rastogi

Everyone has the freedom to dream. It is a beautiful and soulful experience. Children of our age have dreams to become someone according to their likings and expect their parents to help them pursue it.

Hence, parents should encourage their children to dream and contribute to the process of fulfilling the same.

When parents have different expectations from their children, they do not realize they knowingly or unknowingly put their children under pressure.

As a result, the child, in fear of disappointing their parents, forget about their dreams and start following what their parents want them to be.

However, these people sometimes are not successful because their heart does not follow them, and their mind is not accepting it. 

As a child, I also dream of becoming a Sports Star. I love playing sports. I’m passionate about basketball, badminton, and cricket. 

If you have the determination and are mentally strong, you’ll surely be successful. 

Last but not least, parents should understand their children and support them in all ways to follow their hearts and pursue their dreams.

Name: Prarthana Rastogi
Grade: 8
The Doon Girls School

Mother's Job is a Selfless Job - Naksh Parihar

My mother's name is Manju Parihar. She is 38 years old. She is a housewife. My mother cooks delicious food. My mother's hobbies are stitching clothes and watching TV. She likes to eat sweets. She always helps me with my homework and always takes care of me. I love my mother so much. She always wakes up at 5 o'clock to make all the things ready for us. She is the most beautiful woman in the world. She fulfils all her responsibility without making any complaints. She takes care of her three children very well. She never gets tired or bored of cooking for her children. She always does the things which make us happy. Mother is the person who changes a house into a home. Mother's love never changes for her sons or daughters, whether they are children or adults. She manages our home very well and looks after every member of my family. I love mom very much, and I know she loves me the most.

Naksh Parihar

Class IV

The Fabindia School