When a school is burnt

Fr Paul Lelen Haokip *

Let us travel to a world of imagination where your school is burnt. Your emotions will depend whether you have gone to a school or not. But I guess, if you are able to read this, you have definitely gone to school for your preliminary studies.

First seeds of wisdom - the alphabets, when your hand was held by teachers to make you write are moments worth millions. If not for that moment, you would never have learnt how to read or write. Let us be grateful to all our teachers.

A GOOD SCHOOL: Any established school aims for excellence in imparting education. Victor Hugo said, "He who opens a school door closes a prison." In simpler terms we can say that a good school prevents people from doing acts that merit prison stay. In the strict sense, a good school does not mean best infrastructure and latest gadgets. A good school actually denotes a band of committed teachers who are self-aware and aware of the students as well. This comes with dedication, experience and ongoing formation.

BRINGING YOUR HOME TO SCHOOL: It is often possible, both teachers and students bring their home environment to the class room. If they bring good and health ambience of their homes into school, they enhance the school environment. On the contrary, they happen to bring negative deposits of character and temperament to the class, they negatively influence others.

What has happened in St. Joseph's Higher Secondary School Sugnu, Chandel District, Manipur, India is a clear example of bringing home environment to the school. Both the parties need awareness and readiness to learn rather than stringent punishments and list of revenge procedures.

AWARENESS OF THE LAW OF THE LAND: Although, many of the laws regarding education may not be faithfully implemented in India, when it comes to the legal table, they are nonetheless cited for proofs and counter proofs. Teachers and students need fair awareness of the law of the land - RTE, POCSO Act, Child Protection Policies, etc.

I have had the privilege of attending an international seminar on Child Protection Policy and acquired an online certified Official for Child Protection Policy from Gregorian University and Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune. The nuances are very interesting and need face to face discussion with teachers in a particular manner to empower them to identify areas for concern and identification.

Awareness leads to wilful promulgation of the laws for the benefit of both parties. Ignorance can lead to anger, egoism, corporal punishments, unbecoming reactions, abuse of social media platforms, etc.

A SCHOOL: The school exists with string administrative functionaries and deposits of experience from years of teaching and learning. These are gems that cannot be challenged by mere academic degrees or organizations. A society exists when each organization functions in their own capacity and usher the growth of the whole. Interference and orders are old-fashioned ways when 'might was right'.

Fortunately, we now live in an era when "Pen is mightier than a sword." As long as humans exist on earth, there will be differences of opinion and administration. But the world is also known and appreciated because we have the five senses to negotiate and reason out. The capacity to reason out is a prerequisite quality to be a teacher and a leader.

Bereft of this capacity, kindly do not assume the vocation of being a teacher or assume the post of leadership. You will either create havoc to yourself or others. Always know what you are capable of. This is what the Greco philosopher, Socrates said "Man know thyself." Self-knowledge is a deep process of unearthing oneself and being true to oneself.

FIRE IN THE SCHOOL: Even when a school is accidentally destroyed due to natural calamities like - lightning, electrical short-circuit, flood, landslide, etc., emotions of teachers and students are uncontrollable. In the case of the above educational institute, there is a high apprehension that it was a planned fire. This is all the more disheartening.

The trauma of loss, fear, sold out, neglected, unwanted and challenged go down deep in the psyche of each student. The fatal night of 26th April 2019 will be unforgettable for thousands of students and their guardians. As an alumni, I was also moved to tears, when I saw the children and parents weeping during the public meeting on the 27th April 2019.

Whosoever have done it, you are unfortunate persons to carry the groan, tears, cry, mourning and curses of thousands of innocent students and people. I don't know how far you will be able to carry the weight of their tears. God surely sees all things.

You have done in the dark, but for God, there is no dark or light, He sees all. I also wish to remind you about the things you have learnt in your churches/temples - what values you have gained from your religion? Your act has brought shame not only to yourselves but to the religion (s) you profess as well.

BEAUTY IN UGLY SITUATION: The beauty of the public meeting was that, everyone resolved to rebuilt what has been reduced to ashes. In fact, it would not be a surprise to see a better-looking school than the erstwhile school building. The commitment of the Minister, DC's office staff, PTA, Women Wings, PPC, AMCU and many other organizations only prove that there are more hands and hearts to mould and build than destruct and abolish.

Donations are pouring in while hundreds of volunteers are clearing the debris for a better building. This incident was a fight between evil and good. I guess, good is triumphant powerfully. The Easter message of Jesus defeating evil and rising to new life is a hope for rebuilding and rising like the phoenix for a stronger chance of survival and performance.