Cultivating Kindness: How compassionate teaching shapes young minds
Imagine a nine-year-old child waking up at three in the morning, wailing in distress over her math homework. This fourth-grader was so overwhelmed by her inability to solve the problems that she woke up in the middle of the night, crying uncontrollably.
Her father, hearing her sobs, came to console her. He reassured, it was okay not to complete the homework if she didn’t know the answers, which helped her return to bed, albeit still uneasy. Despite this, she experienced severe stomach pain at school the next day and had to be taken to the hospital.
How tragic and distressing this situation is! How could one instill such fear and anxiety in a child? Who gives teachers the right to damage young minds?
In another instance, a fifth-grade student was thrown out of class for forgetting to bring his textbook. The embarrassment was so intense that he refused to attend school for two weeks. Concerned, his parents met with the school principal, who responded, “If you saw how the kids behave in this school, you would understand that we have no choice but to act this way.”
This principal justified his barbaric and unethical approach by claiming that harshness and punishment are necessary to manage students rather than love and affection.
Isn’t this pathetic? Teachers are indirectly teaching children that rudeness and punishment are the ways to get things done, rather than using compassion and understanding.
It is often unnoticed how seemingly minor actions can significantly impact a child’s fragile mind. What some may view as a small gesture to correct a child’s mistake can, in reality, completely destroy their confidence for life. Even if a child’s behaviour causes frustration, it is the teacher’s responsibility to consider the child’s psychological aspects and respond appropriately. Such experiences never leave the brain. It retains and stores impactful experiences, embedding them in the subconscious. When something deeply affects a young mind, it doesn’t simply fade away; it stays, shaping the child’s future thoughts and behaviors.
Considering numerous psychological factors, it is crucial for teachers to avoid placing excessive academic pressure and stress on students due to its significant negative impacts on mental health and cognitive performance. Young minds are soft and nurturing them is taking care of the future.
The Impact of Academic Pressure
Anxiety and Depression: High academic pressure is strongly correlated with increased levels of anxiety and depression among students. Chronic stress can lead to long-term mental health issues, impacting students’ overall well-being and ability to function effectively in daily life.
Burnout: Constant pressure can result in academic burnout, characterized by emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and a feeling of reduced accomplishment. Burnout severely hampers a student’s motivation and interest in learning.
Impaired Memory and Learning: Stress hormones like cortisol can interfere with the brain’s ability to encode and retrieve memories. High levels of stress impair the functioning of the prefrontal cortex, crucial for higher-order cognitive processes like problem-solving and critical thinking.
Reduced Academic Achievement: Contrary to the belief that pressure can drive performance, studies show that moderate levels of stress can be motivating, but excessive stress often leads to a decline in academic performance due to the aforementioned cognitive impairments.
These actions can also lead to the development of Negative Coping Mechanisms:
Avoidance and Procrastination: Students under high stress may develop avoidance behaviors or procrastinate, further compounding their stress levels and academic difficulties.
In “The Brain: The Story of You,” David Eagleman explores how the brain develops and functions in response to various experiences, including stress. Eagleman’s scientific evidence reinforces that the detrimental effects of stress on the brain are not just based on “excessive love and affection,” but on solid scientific findings.
Teachers are the pillars of morality in a child’s life. The way a good teacher can touch and make a difference in a child is unexplainable. And the child forever remembers and carries the goodness of them throughout their life. There is nothing more precious than being remembered for kindness. So teachers, be the change-maker!
Insights from David Eagleman’s Work
Neuroplasticity: Eagleman discusses how the brain is highly adaptable and capable of change. While this adaptability is beneficial, chronic stress can negatively impact neuroplasticity, leading to difficulties in learning and adaptation.
The Role of Emotion in Learning: Emotions play a critical role in learning and memory formation. Positive emotions facilitate better learning outcomes, while negative emotions, such as those induced by excessive stress, can hinder the brain’s ability to process and retain information effectively.
Balance and Well-being: Eagleman emphasises the importance of balance and well-being for optimal brain function. A supportive and low-stress environment enhances the brain’s ability to learn and grow.
Based on psychological research and insights from David Eagleman’s work, it is clear that excessive academic pressure and stress can be detrimental to students’ mental health, cognitive performance, and overall well-being.
Teachers should strive to create a balanced and supportive learning environment that promotes positive emotional experiences and minimises stress, thereby fostering better educational outcomes and healthier brain development for students.
Overall, the logic is simple: treat students how you would treat your own soft soul. Teachers and parents must work together toward this approach because teachers are the creators of beautiful minds. Nobody forgets the teacher who influenced and touched their life.
The influence of a good teacher can never be erased. As someone once said, “The greatest asset of a school is the personality of the teacher.”
They are the pillars of morality in a child’s life. The way a good teacher can touch and make a difference in a child is unexplainable. And the child forever remembers and carries the goodness of them throughout their life. There is nothing more precious than being remembered for kindness. So teachers, be the change-maker!
The same student who was embarrassed to go to school never fails to give a greeting card or a small treat to Mrs. Babitha on special occasions. He says Babitha ma’am is his favourite teacher. When asked why this teacher is his favorite, the student gave the world’s simplest answer: “Because Babitha ma’am loves me.”
***********************************************************
Readers
These are extraordinary times. All of us have to rely on high-impact, trustworthy journalism. And this is especially true of the Indian Diaspora. Members of the Indian community overseas cannot be fed with inaccurate news.
Pravasi Samwad is a venture that has no shareholders. It is the result of an impassioned initiative of a handful of Indian journalists spread around the world. We have taken a small step forward with the pledge to provide news with accuracy, free from political and commercial influence. Our aim is to keep you, our readers, informed about developments at ‘home’ and across the world that affect you.
Please help us to keep our journalism independent and free.
In these difficult times, running a news website requires finances. While every contribution, big or small, will make a difference, we request our readers to put us in touch with advertisers worldwide. It will be a great help.
For more information: pravasisamwad00@gmail.com