Teaching with care

The report of a UKG student passing away after corporal punishment, was shocking to read. Such incidents remind us that children need to be taught with patience, compassion and understanding rather than fear or physical punishment. Education is not merely about completing lessons or securing good marks; it is also about nurturing a child’s confidence, curiosity, discipline and emotional well-being. Instead of resorting to punishment, students can be encouraged through positive reinforcement and constructive criticism. A teacher who takes the time to understand how a child is doing — academically, physically, emotionally and in the home environment — can build a strong bond of trust with the student. Even a simple enquiry about a child’s health, difficulties, interests or progress can make the child feel valued. Such a relationship can have a lasting influence on the child’s attitude towards learning and school.

A.J. Rangarajan,

Chennai

Sowcar Janaki

The passing of veteran actor Sowcar Janaki has caused a deep shock and left an even greater vacuum in the world of acting. She left little unexplored in the art of acting and portraying diverse characters on the silver screen. Every scene and every character she portrayed was a lesson and an example for those who aspired to pursue acting as a career.

S. Muthusubramaniyan,

Coimbatore