Lessons And Scars

Children are born with a gentle innocence filled with curiosity and deserve a safe and joyful learning environment. They are vulnerable and should be treated with utmost care. They should be encouraged to explore and learn without fear, pressure, or harsh disciplinary methods. Every child deserves a space where their unique personality is recognised and appreciated, and their well-being is the top priority.

 School life is supposed to be a life that one treasures forever. I am fortunate enough to have had a memorable high school experience, and it should serve as an example of how one should interact with students at school. During high school, I experienced a safe space where I was cared for like family. Even while battling anorexia, my teachers wrapped me in compassion and never once judged me. Their gentle encouragement and genuine support made me feel valued and understood, making a challenging time a little easier.

They helped me not just with school but also with myself. They urged me to eat lunch daily, and some even arranged my seat to be near theirs at lunch so that they could make sure I ate my meal. 

They knew how quickly I could turn myself inside out with guilt over eating, and they encouraged me to move that guilt aside. They told me each day that I was perfect just the way I was and worked tirelessly to make me believe it, too. 

They didn't care about my grades or conduct; they cared about my well-being and helped me become a healthier, more potent version of myself. I'm positive that I'll never forget that support and nurturing for the rest of my life, and I consider myself fortunate. This support proved essential when I felt lost amid chaos in my mind.

In contrast to my high school experience, my time in elementary school—particularly in fourth grade—wasn't very positive. I vividly remember how certain teachers instilled fear in their students rather than creating a supportive environment. 

I carried the weight of pressure and stress, unable to open up about my feelings to anyone at home or school because I believed no one would take me seriously. No child should ever have to feel that way.

 There were occasions when I was unable to finish my work when I meant to, and rather than receive care, I faced grave, humiliating threats. Teachers even threatened to undress me in front of the class. 

This horrible thing should be talked about and not pushed aside. It demonstrates the level at which a child's dignity and self-respect can be hurt by the individuals who are supposedly placing the child's suture. 

I was only nine years old and under so much gunfire that I pretended to have a fake report card made up just to keep myself from being scolded. In just a couple of days, I would have to face the truth anyway.

 Looking back, I deeply regret not standing up for myself, though I was unaware of my strength or the support systems available at that tender age. The pain I feel for my younger self remains, and it fuels my belief that children must be taught how to assert their boundaries. 

I clearly remember the faces of every teacher who contributed to an environment of intimidation. I now feel compelled to send a message from my current self to those individuals: reflect on the lasting impact of that moment and consider how different things might have been if compassion had replaced fear.

The memory of that middle school trauma reminds me that even one negative experience can profoundly affect a child's way of thinking. Sharing this experience, I'm not trying to explain what I had to experience; I want people to think about what children might be going through and, for once, think from their perspective. 

We must ensure that our 

educational environments empower children to learn and grow without fear. Every child deserves to feel safe and valued.

Having stated the opinion above, the approach schools adopt these days in dealing with students is friendlier, with no space for physical punishment. 

By sharing this experience, I hope to spread awareness and inspire a future where education is synonymous with care, respect, and compassion for every young learner.

SEE, Pathshsala Nepal Foundation