Curing the show-off
Nisha Daniel
“I’m sick and tired of Vijay’s boasting, ” Sundar complained.
Ramani closed her book and looked up. “So am I. He’s always boasting about his wonderful holidays abroad or how his parents can afford bathroom fittings that cost the earth.”
“Waste of money, if you ask me. I’m sure I could put that money to better use,” Sanjiv commented.
“I will give away my new roller-skates as a reward to anyone who successfully cures Vijay of his boasting,” declared Sundar.
“But that’s because they are a gift and I love my old ones too much to part with them,” she whispered to Binu, who sat next to him.
At the mention of the reward, everybody perked up and resolved to try to win it.
Ramani tried to outboast Vijay by making up all kinds of tall tales.
Sanjiv dropped hints about his behaviour. But nothing seemed to work.
To their amazement, Binu came up with a novel strategy. As class leader, he asked Vijay to be the Project Leader for a class project titled ‘Valuing everyone inspite of differences.’
“What a person to choose!” Ramani said. But Binu refused to change his choice of Project Leader.
Vijay was surprised but happy to be apointed Project Leader. But for once, he found that the topic was unfamiliar. So he was willing to take any help offered.
“How about each of us making handprints, painting them and cutting them out to make a big collage? It will highlight our similarities of having almost identical hand shapes and differing palmistry, and will look beautiful,” Sundar suggested.
“How about making a list of one positive quality of each of our classmates?” Ramani asked.
By the time the project was over, Vijay tried differing ideas that proved the value of every classmate. He no longer thought that only he was great.
Soon everyone noticed a difference in him.
Binu smiled. “Well, that was my plan, though you didn’t know it. Now, can I have the roller-skates?”
Teacher’s Corner
Want to make your class feel great about being back in school? Place an attractive banner on the blackboard with the names of all students and a large welcome greeting. You could even tape a novel message — one for each student — to get their attention. They will love the welcome gift!
Make the first day enjoyable with minimal lessons. Let them share their holiday experiences. The whole new class will enjoy hearing about them.
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