Sunday, 2 March 2014

From the teacher's diary: 2




A girl around 13 came to D.K.’s along with her younger sister. The younger sister was a child with dyslexia and wanted remedial help. In the course of conversation I came to know about the elder sister. She was deaf and mute. She was dropped out of normal school because of her disability. But she had her niche in the world of drawing and painting. All she did was attend 2 hours of drawing class every day.

We then admitted her in D.K.’s to support her in continuing her education. Slowly we started off with communication classes along with her younger sister’s remedial. We started teaching her concepts and techniques to read and got her to pass 10th through National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). Later she did her diploma course in drawing and became a good professional. She was so good in her work that she had her own exhibitions. Most of her paintings were sold for more than Rs. 1500 each. We advised her to take up multimedia courses.

She involved herself in many projects and won prizes and became well recognised. She never placed her work for commercial business alone. She also took up projects in the interests of the society. Her works were majorly focussed on creating awareness against alcoholism, poverty and many other societal evils. Her works were technical and computerised where as her partner would present it verbally.

Now, after passing her 12th through NIOS, she is working for an institution teaching around 6 students and taking drawing classes for around 8 students all of whom we call normal children. She earns around 8000 rupees per month. She is also pursuing her bachelors’ degree via correspondence mode. She balances well between her academics and her interest in drawing and painting. She says that her academics stay as a backbone for her to continue her career as an artist.


What is so great about her, you must be thinking. Yes, I received a message suddenly one day saying that she is very much interested to teach children with special needs and wanted to work with D.K.’s which is working for children with learning difficulties especially dyslexia. She insisted that she will not charge even a single penny. As a teacher myself, what more will I ask for? It was a proud moment for me as well as for the girl’s family. Tears roll down my cheeks even as I write this article. 

                                                                                                                            -   Jayanthi Kannan
                                                                                                                         (D.K.'s Learning Centre)

No comments:

Post a Comment