To Serve, With Love
The Situation
“Ma’am, Rahul….”, a group of six boys came running to the Senior Section Head. She looked at her watch and then rolled her eyes. It was only 10 am, and this was already the third time the class had come to her with the same refrain. She was starting to tire of the drill.
The Avalon Challenge
Less than four months ago, Rahul joined Avalon, adding to the brood of fourteen students in grade 8. But he didn’t join alone. While we might have signed up for admitting Rahul, he brought with him a host of issues including impulsive outbursts, inappropriate comments, abusive language, and unexplainable behaviour like drinking ink. Whether it came to challenging authority, testing the teacher’s patience, or creating turmoil and chaos of any kind, Rahul would go the extra mile to make it happen. He had little interest in academics, and no inclination to listen to anyone.
To say that the last four months had been eventful was really sugarcoating the bedlam that grade 8 witnessed. This was nothing compared to when Rahul and his parents came seeking admission at the beginning of the year.
Rahul was the prototype of the kind of student that any school would reject. The parents’ plight was pitiful. They had been called in regularly in his previous school. Back-answering, teasing, spitting – these were becoming regular occurrences. The parents were in great disbelief when they heard Avalon say ‘Yes’ to admitting Rahul.
The scenes within the classrooms and corridors weren’t as joyful. The teachers were at their wit’s end. Desperate, they pitifully took their plea to the Section Head, who immediately arranged a meeting with the Director of the school. She recalled some priceless information that the teachers needed to hear.
The Avalon Edge
“Rahul isn’t any ordinary admission,” the Director said. “You should know that he was made to leave his previous school. What you see isn’t anything out of the ordinary for the child. In fact, he had slapped a teacher, and that was why he was asked to leave.”
“Ma’am, what were we thinking when we admitted this boy? Shouldn’t Rahul seek treatment instead of schooling? Why did we even admit him when we knew all of this!” the exasperated geography teacher asked.
“If we don’t consider him, who will? Rahul was a happy, cheerful, and very amiable child while he was with us in pre-school. Unfortunately, they moved him into a more traditional school system where he started to turn into a rebel. And every year, it only got worse. If there is ANY hope, that would be us. And I am not willing to give up on this boy,” came the Director’s firm reply. “Let’s just focus on doing our job, and getting that right.”
A moment of poignant silence ensued. Every teacher knew that this was the right approach – to the school, parent, and child. They were just too afraid of the path they had to tread. But before they left the room, each one vowed to start afresh.
Clearly, this wasn’t a battle we could fight alone. On a rare day when Rahul decided to stay home, the class conspired to have a secret meeting with the Section Head.
“Ma’am, we can’t focus in any class,” a student said.
“He’s super weird,” another chimed.
“I’m not sitting next to him one more day,” a third rebelled. “I’ve really had enough. And the way he treats teachers is just sick.”
Every statement made by the children was nothing but the truth. But we stuck to our guns. Students balked when they heard the Section Head tell them of the criticism Rahul had continually been put through thus far. And amid much debate and furore, everyone signed a charter to be the one making a difference and showing more compassion.
The Avalon Transformation
The classroom assumed a different hue over the subsequent days. There was a genuine effort from everyone. Catcalls met with a deaf ear, obnoxious comments were brushed off, mischief was smiled at, and life continued unperturbed. Rahul seemed less provoked and provocative the moment we ignored his instigation.
The road was long, winding, and very bumpy. We had some great days when Rahul responded admirably. On others, he brought us to our knees. But with every passing day, it was evident that we were chipping away at the hardened exterior that Rahul fronted.
Irreverent behaviour was dealt with calmness and kind words. Shabby, incomplete homework received remarks about effort and not incompetence. Nothing mattered anymore. To every teacher, Rahul was their own child, and they did their best to love him unconditionally. He soon began to feel important, seen, and valued.
While the next few days challenged the patience of every teacher and student, an enormous amount of soul-searching took place too. Rahul spent hours eating lunch with his teacher, engaging in idle chat, and just being in his own space. That’s when everyone had the greatest revelation of all – Rahul loved cooking! And dreamt of being a chef.
The teacher invited Rahul to cook something for the class. The coming Saturday proved to be a feast for everyone. No child minded being in school for the extra math class since the bonus was a generous helping of masala Maggi, a la Rahul! And THAT was when Rahul changed.
Rahul enjoyed friends, and often a fan-following the moment it came to his culinary skills. He was settled in class (barring the stray incidents of blurting or commenting – but that would take away from Rahul’s spirit entirely, now), understood decorum and boundaries better (enforcing them on most occasions), and even volunteered to be part of the Annual Day play. While no one was surprised that he played the villain, everyone was dumbfounded that a student who was abysmally weak in English persevered and carried out a pivotal role in chaste English with such confidence and fluency.
Shaping into a Beautiful Individual
Those were the nostalgic days that echoed with the antics of Rahul. Today, we all raise a glass to a very successful chef who runs his own restaurant.
Education is never about changing children but changing the way that you look at them. That is when the children start to transform and become the people they were born to be. How else can one explain how a child who dished out the nastiest treatment to peers and teachers now serves delectably cooked meals prepared with the greatest love and passion! Love, patience, and compassion – those are the secret ingredients that win battles and hearts.
(Please note that names have been changed to protect the identity of our students)
