Violence and education

Some reflections......
I don't think we have to explain our children what terrorism is, it exists and children are seeing it be it live commentaries on TV, newspapers, emails etc. The only thing we can do as parents/educators/curriculum developers is not to hide terrorism and the ugliness that life offers. We generally present the good/ positive side of life undermining children's cognitive capacity. What we need is a balanced curriculum, sensitive teachers to handle this chaos. Speak to children, let them express their views, also show them the horrible side amongst all positives we show them. They understand everything and are witnessing everything.

I remember an year back when I was teaching at The Heritage school, Gurgaon, one of my student class three, had visited Wagha border (as told by his parents). He sat on his father's shoulder and peeped across in Pakistan and said,"Papa I see all men, women there are same, then why India and Pakistan fights?" This is a real incident told to me by the parents who had a very peaceful family and no violence. Children are reading and growing up in violence, we need to acknowledge that in texts too and help them integrate peace in their lifestyles. Meditation in schools has been replaced by drills on drum beats. There is dearth of activities that help children focus inwards. Moreover our curriculum developers want to stay clear of controversies while publishing and teachers do not take it up as they simply do not have time. The whole issue remains unaddressed and this creates inner conflict in children?

Where is PEACE? What is left is only VIOLENCE and CONSUMERISM. If we do not join hands today, tomorrow we shall see our own children with guns. Feel really disturbed due to all this chaos. To agree to violence, or submit to terrorism is again not PEACE. WE are equally guilty.......

Do not ask what to do, just think that what can I do and then what can WE do to change this scenario. Why all this mess around elections and the blame game? We accept violence in most forms. Terrorism and blasts are only the most visible, perverted forms of this chain. How many women have rebelled against male dominance be it their father, brother, husband in their family, how many of us have felt irritated with women being subjugated and portrayed as weaker sex in serials, how many of us have not felt happy when India won a match against Pakistan, how many of us have not dominated our maids, helpers etc. In workplaces, schools, homes, communities everywhere there is domination and the child is observing all this. What we need to only help the child is with to deal with these conflicts and focus inside. Introspect and love oneslf and then the environment. This will not come to the child if our very home is replica of a power- struck, authoritative society.
ELIMINATE violence in homes before one really needs to wonder about our kids.