One thing we never stop telling students, as teachers, is to Read. Read. Read!! Have you ever stopped to wonder why? Would it suffice for a child to simply read to pass an exam?
Well, no. But the question that should be pondered upon is: how would a child be able to answer the questions they don’t even comprehend? Reading is not an additional skill to be mastered but the very base on which everything is built. Without being able to read and understand what is asked of them, a child cannot hope to solve a mathematical problem, explain a scientific concept, or come up with an answer at all.
Unfortunately, what we see today is quite alarming. As loving parents, many of them try to show children a new way of learning by giving them a smartphone to hold in their hands. Technology is good, but only when used with care. Otherwise, it can easily turn into a never-ending source of distraction.
Someday, your child will not be complaining that you did not buy him a new gadget. But he or she might wish you had given them a book instead. A smartphone gives you unlimited access to all the information; a good book nurtures imagination, concentration, empathy, curiosity, and critical thinking. All those skills are simply impossible for any computer program to instil.
What is so amazing about books is that they let the child go through different ages, countries, and civilisations right from their bedroom. They offer opportunities to meet great people, hear amazing thoughts, embark on adventurous travels, and learn lessons.
Since my childhood, I’ve been hearing the same wise advice: Life is too short to learn only from your own mistakes. Learn from other people’s experiences by reading. It’s been with me all these years. And each book you open gives you the opportunity to talk to someone who has lived, has made mistakes, has succeeded and has finally learned something. Why shouldn’t our kids have that knowledge too?
The objective of reading is not to earn a few marks. Reading makes the mind earn its marks. It fosters endurance, eloquence, and individual thought processes. In today’s world, with an overload of information, the skill of comprehending through reading and thinking has become invaluable.
Therefore, by all means, embrace technology. But don’t let it take away the stories from the notifications. Fill up your houses with books and read in front of your children, as they observe much more than they listen.
Ultimately, exams will pass. The habit of reading will last a lifetime. And that is an investment that never runs out.
Anurag Khanna, passionate educator at Sunbeam Suncity School
