“Guidance for Strong Families, Better Relationships, and Empowering the Next Generation.”
FROM FLIGHT TO PLIGHT
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Read Time:2 Minute, 22 Second
FROM FLIGHT TO PLIGHT
(An insight of The City School)
I often thought about Teachers overall growth in a private Educational system in Pakistan. My dream came true when I had the chance of observing the system at close quarters. An eye opener and a dream shattered.
My very first encounter with the Management put a bullet in my head where I was told to treat the pupils as Clients and not as students. This led me to the analysis if students are the clients where are the teachers placed as. I soon got my answers.
The continuous insults of the teachers by the management in front of the students and the colleagues alike was ample to provide answers to my questions. But I needed more evidence.
My second encounter with the management was attending an unrealistic workshop where teachers were told to do multi-tasking and sleep was not an essential factor in performance. Rapid Eye Movement is sufficient and full sleep is not necessary. Unrealistic workshops on weekends after a hectic weekdays schedule which were non productive gave away the sanity if there was left any.
My third encounter with the management was regarding the weekly planner. Another futile exercise that took a lot of productive time of the teachers without giving much utility. It was like a noose with superficial beliefs and practices.
My fourth encounter with the management taught me that teachers are just a cog in the hands of the management whom they can twist as they want. The more innovative the teacher, the more threat she/he is to the existing management. In order to survive, they need to be in their good books or else the teachers will be sent to guillotine through the assessment forms.
My fifth encounter with the management taught me if the management feels threatened by a teacher; their killer forms in the name of assessments really kills the career of a dedicated teacher.
Lastly, parents who have children in the same school and are also teaching there, there is no special treatment for them. Any event of their children even if it is in the break time, they are not allowed to attend. This sorry state of affairs exists in more or less every private school.
My observations led me to the conclusion that no profession can exist in its true essence if there is no motivation for its employees. As it is said all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy and such encounters can turn a great flight into a great plight.
The whole model of Private Educational systems is based on commercialism.Here money weighs more than Humanism.This mindset will only produce self centered business men/women having nothing to contribute back to the community or people at large.
Until next time, Happy Reading folks.
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THE SILENT KILLER
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Read Time:3 Minute, 10 Second
THE SILENT KILLER
Hello Everyone!
As a child, I used to observe people around me who were said to be led by the “silent killer”. I often asked this question from my elders as to what are people talking about and who is the silent killer? Is it a person or what is it? They never answered my innocent questions. I was awed by the silent killer. Those whom I loved or cared about were taken away by the “silent killer”. And I was clueless. Today, I will talk about the silent killer and how it has shaped my life.
Growing up, always thinking about the silent killer, I thought of fighting it when I reach the age of my elders or perhaps earlier if I get to meet him/her. Unfortunately, I never got the chance to meet the “silent killer”. However, I was fortunate enough to meet other silent killers. I coped with them one by one and each one transformed me into a better me.
My first silent killer was my final Graduation result which was not sufficient to get me admission in the History Department of Quaid e Azam University on merit basis. Back in 2000’s, it was a prestigious university, it still is. I did make it in the self finance quota but that was against my pride.
I had applied in the University of Modern Languages, which equally was a prestigious university. There, I was not only given admission on merit but rather it came as a blessing in disguise. I, not only completed the program with flying colors but was offered a place to teach in the English department to the Masters’ student. It was a matter of great pride for me. I took this opportunity, and fulfilled it successfully.
After, a period of two years, I moved to a second phase of my life; my second “secret killer”. The country’s Central Superior Services Examination, which makes the Bureaucracy. I, worked really hard for it, passed the written but could not make it in the services. God has His ways. I was supposed to go elsewhere. At that moment, I just did not know where I was meant to be. It was a dark phase of my life. This “secret killer”, was killing me slowly but then…
There was light which I found on the platform of NOMAD arts gallery and cultural center. Since childhood, I had a passion for drawing and putting my thoughts on paper and canvas with whatever medium was available to me. The first six months of my time there, were mostly drawn in black ink. It was my transformation both worldly and spiritually that drew me towards colors again. I am thankful to my elder sister and mentors who saw the real me and exposed me towards this venue.
From, here started my journey which ever since has transformed me into a better version everyday. Not only have I exhibited my work in various galleries but have allowed me to learn a little more about me and the world around me.
I, have learnt to face my “secret killers”, through pain and turmoil, through experimentation and change,through solitude and meditation and through listening and expressing. All those who are troubled with or have “silent killers” with them, my advice to you all is to face them, talk it out with someone who will not judge you, be confident in the things you do. Take hold of a medium/skill you are good at and develop that. Everything that surrounds us is for a reason and has value of its own. Read it, understand it and follow it. Give a meaning to your life.
In the end, I would say, know your “silent killer” before it becomes your “real killer”.
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LISTENING IS BETTER THAN SPEAKING
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Read Time:2 Minute, 39 Second
LISTENING IS BETTER THAN SPEAKING
It was a cold winter morning like any other winter mornings. I sat off to my morning walk in a nearby park. After having done one cycle of walk, I saw a young boy of 12 or so years standing by the side, wearing no cardigan or the sort that could keep him warm in that chilly winter. I asked him to join me in my walk so he might get a little warmer. So he did.
Just as we started walking, he started telling me things which were at the top of his mind. One of the foremost was earning a livelihood. He kept on talking on different topics. And all this time, I listened to him. People walking, jogging in the park would turn around to see who was talking. I let him do most of the talking except where my speaking was necessary.
We had a good walk of 30 to 40 minutes. He was warm enough. I knew what he was there for and that’s what I gave him. He needed someone he could talk to without judging him or looking into his life making him miserable than he already was. This continued for a couple of months. Every day, he would share something new and I would listen to him and he would end his walk with Thanks.
After sometime, I met him in the park again. This time, he was dressed according to the weather and was very happy. He thanked me and told me that he took my advice of educating himself along with learning and mastering a skill he was good at.
He used to play football in the same park, I used to walk in. His hard work, did bring him laurels. He was selected in the local football team and with his hard work he will surely, one day make it to the International team. I was very happy for him.
Sometimes, it is better just to listen to what people have to say rather than imposing one thoughts onto them. We do not have the answer to everything .All we can do, in our capacity is to make them feel comfortable so they can share a fragment of their lives with you. And you in return by just listening to them can make a change.
We as human beings are bestowed with a great many gifts and capabilities yet we are unaware of them. If we could just try to focus on the now instead of giving our self away to the future, we can all make a change in small or big way. Our small gesture of consideration might be a big change in the eyes or life of the other. One never knows..
In the end, I would like to say that our now can become our future if we stay on the right course and be pretentious free. Sometimes, people and things just come out of the blue. Have an open heart and mind to receive them and do not forget to listen to them. And if you are not comfortable with ones thoughts try staying away.
Happy Reading.
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