[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he phrase above is the gist of what a primary school in Dimapur communicated to parents of its students during the annual parent teacher meeting on Tuesday. If only more schools not only at the primary but intermediary and senior levels could do likewise, during its parent teacher meetings, Naga society would probably see changes in the areas we can control.
Parents at this particular school were told to encourage their pre -school kids at home at play and while conversing with them. They were reminded that to be firm it was’nt necessary to be short tempered with kids and the habit of shouting at kids should, well, best be left outdoors. It should have no place inside a home. They were reminded all children are born with varying levels of intelligence and it is foolish to pitch one against another.The school briefly explained to parents how a child’s thought process works and more than words they learnt best by example. And if parents want their children to be disciplined and hardworking the child must see these qualities in their environment. In other words children are molded by the environment they are exposed to.
As an example, the school in question reminded the parents that the traffic chaos at the end of every school day is being caused because parents don’t obey the person appointed to regulate the cars within the school premises. They in ‘joco –serious’ manner told fathers and mothers today that their failure to acknowledge the school’s appointed traffic warden, translates into them doing the same on the streets. And this indifference to rules become second nature causing more problems than what we all need to suffer.
Parents were also implored not to litter the streets with wrappers and other rubbish materials, which is turning the city into one big ‘dustbin’.
These may be viewed as very negligible areas to be concerned about … but remember the prayer of serenity framed by none other than Reinhold Niebuhr, an American theologian, intellectual of his days and commentator on politics and public affairs,
Prayer of Serenity
“God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference”
--Reinhold Niebuhr
