Elisha Donkoh

In the classroom, young minds awake 
To knowledge’s call
So many ideas to make.
With each lesson, a new world uncurls
A sacred space for boys and girls. 

Books crack open, like doors to new lands
Guided by the teacher's patient hands.
Friendships blossom in this shared class
Every lesson 
We try our best. 
Tests and trials, part of the ride
With every struggle, growth inside. 
School is not just about the tests and scores,
It’s life's practice opening doors!

Poetry

In a KidSpirit poem, teen poet Elisha Donkoh evokes the many meanings of school, knowledge, and learning.

In the Classroom

Adya Sarin

How does the school experience shape individuals' identities across different cultures and societies? 

Spending my formative years in an institution where my character was treated and developed with the same importance as my academic education, I believe I owe much of my identity and ability to engage with the real world to my schooling. As a recent high school graduate who now has no choice but to confront the world around me and break through the bubble I prefer to keep myself isolated within, I see myself as the happy result of my slightly unorthodox education. 

I spent my childhood and adolescence in two very different schools; different by design, and consequently, different through my experiences. I vividly remember faking sick and spending most of my years in the first school in the nurse's office, waiting for my father to come pick me up. What my family and I excused as the menial antics of a six-year-old was actually a projection of my own discomfort, a discomfort that soon faded when I joined the second school. I soon stopped “falling ill” every week, and spent more and more time in the classroom, engaging with my peers. I could justify this by saying the second school had better teachers, or friendlier students, or perhaps it was just a better fit — but in any case my school experience was drastically altered for the better. The restraints of a stereotypical Indian education that had been cast over me at the first school were magically lifted; no longer was I expected to spend three-fourths of my day sweating over textbooks. Instead, the wonders of experiential and adaptive learning took over, and I was able to find joy in my schooling. Over the last 10 years, I’ve watched myself blossom into someone I doubt would have emerged if I had remained at the first school, someone I am truly proud to be. 

One’s schooling has perhaps the largest impact on their development as a human being. Spending over eight hours every day in one community, surrounded by the same group of people, could either make or break who you become as a person. It’s a hive mind you’re introduced to, and more than anything, it’s a closed bubble that often consists of individuals with similar beliefs and similar identities — subconsciously synced to follow the same frequency even if they differed earlier. To break out of this almost overwhelmingly enclosed mindset is a feat, and my school has made every effort to help the students do so, blending concepts from the more collectivist, academically-oriented Indian education with values of critical thinking and individualism that a Western education may prioritize. And while both these stereotypical education systems would choose to ignore the hive-mind that is bound to follow the creation of these academic bubbles, a more holistic approach consciously helps steer clear of such dangers.

One of the most unusual, yet impactful, experiences my school introduced me to is the “Persistence” Programme. Akin to a community service program, Persistence encouraged us to pick a local organization at the beginning of the academic year and stick with it, visiting and volunteering there every week. While I was definitely uncomfortable with these weekly excursions at first, over time I grew to enjoy them, and I looked forward to the time I spent with the individuals at these organizations that enabled me to expand my own understanding of the world and people around me. I found that there was a core quality of empathy instilled in me through this program, and while I may not have appreciated it or noticed it being nurtured at the time, it has followed me through my travels and my interactions with others, and I am confident it will follow me as I head to college as well. 

The ability to build healthy and strong relationships is another key quality I’ve noticed is severely lacking in many individuals around me, another key quality that most schooling systems tend to overlook in the face of test scores and rote learning. Yet my school went out of their way to ensure this facet was instilled in us from our youth through the “Buddy Programme.” I was part of this program from second to seventh grade, and it was probably my favorite way of moving out of the monotony of a fixed group of classmates, which would have otherwise dulled my years and restricted me socially and emotionally. Through this experience, I developed fresh and new relationships with individuals I may not have interacted with on a day-to-day basis. We were all paired with a student from a younger grade, and met with them every week for self-planned activities. To this day, I remember the names and faces of each one of my buddies, and I still say hi to them as I cross their side of the campus, and catch up with them whenever we meet. 

I suppose the fact that I went to a relatively small school also helped me build this strong sense of community — something that I find myself subconsciously carrying on in my everyday life. Thanking a bus driver, or striking up a conversation with a fellow passenger, comes as second nature to me; I forget I’m no longer mandated by school rules to “be a good citizen.” I have unknowingly become what I believe my school intended for me to be.

I do recognize, however, that I have been fortunate enough to be part of a school that is consciously working to shape each of its students' identities into that of an open-minded, empathetic, and communicative individual, and not all schools have the time and resources to engage in such thoughtful character development. Nevertheless, the impact these varying experiences have on our identities is the same. I do believe that signing up for school is in and of itself signing up to have one’s mind molded. What could easily become a factory, churning out rote learners and variations of the same individual, has the potential to change lives, and to develop free, creative thinkers and individuals able to withstand the pressures of time and change. 

These qualities of gratitude, empathy and individuality are the true fruits of an education, one that rightly transcends the fixed binaries of what classical schooling must be. While the contents of education boards and syllabi may differ across continents and cultures, it’s one's character that a good education influences and shapes to withstand challenges of the future. Exposure to the universal concepts of community service and relationship building allows for the ultimate fostering of a strong global identity, the formation of individuals able to adapt to varying societies and cultures grounded by their collective humanity. While my experiences as someone who has spent her entire life in the Indian subcontinent may vastly differ from those of someone living halfway across the globe, I can, with confidence, assert that my education has prepared me to appropriately interact and empathize with them — my cultural identity and education not restricting me but empowering me to connect with others on an emotional, psycho-social level. 

In a KidSpirit Big Question article, teen writer Adya Sarin explores how the school experience shapes individuals' identities across different cultures and societies.

The Classroom Effect

Nandana Thakershy

We cannot limit the benefits of an education to academic wellbeing. 

When educational institutes, especially schools, advertise their curriculums, they emphasize their students’ academic achievements, grades, and spectacular job prospects. While these are crucial parts of how schools contribute to the lives of their students, education does much more. 

According to the book Democracy and Education by John Dewey, the difference between education and schooling is in scope, context, and ultimately, objective. Education is the multifaceted process of acquiring knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values from various sources over a lifetime. In comparison, schooling is the formal and structured learning of specific curriculums by trained facilitators in classrooms. What Dewey was arriving at was that education is the holistic growth of a person. It is for this reason that we cannot limit the benefits of an education to academic wellbeing. So how does education contribute to such growth? There are two ways. One is by design, and the other is by circumstance. 

First, school curriculums are designed to include subjects like history, civics, and economics, which teach us about the systems on which our world is run. The C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards by the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) explains that schools also promote values such as respect for others and a sense of equality, which add to civic awareness. Furthermore, schools often encourage discourse on current events and social issues which reinforces critical thinking and forces students to think about civic matters.

Second, some school subjects go beyond their technicalities. Take chemistry, for example. As I study this science, I’m realizing that chemistry comprises a hundred laws with a hundred thousand exceptions. Studying these exceptions teaches us acceptance. It explains to us that while there are general laws, there are always people who defy them in some ways. There is always uniqueness. 

The other idea chemistry teaches us is understanding. We study ideas that we cannot see. We know that iron rusts because it reacts with oxygen and water, but can we see the reaction take place? No. We see merely the product. In the same way, we never know the kinds of experiences a person has gone through, we see only the products and results of these experiences. This is why we must be kind to everyone; we never know what they’ve been through. 

Looking at a subject as theoretical and practical as a science through the lens of life lessons fortifies how education adds to social development. As mentioned by Anita Woolfolk in the book Educational Psychology, social development is a journey of learning to interact with the society around us. It builds empathy and a sense of belonging to a community. In Mind in Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Process, L.S. Vygotsky asserts that education teaches social values, provides a platform for social interactions, and encourages cooperation. When we communicate with other stakeholders at school, when we adhere to school protocols, when we work in teams, we are recreating environments in the ‘real world’ where we are required to interact and work with people with whom we aren’t familiar. School prepares us for situations like that by creating these conversations every day. 

This idea of creating platforms for interconnection brings me to the other way school aids development: by circumstance. We end up spending twelve to fifteen years with our classmates. While we’re unsure of whether or not this is design, we know it is convention. This convention of being in a "class" with our peers plays a pivotal role in social development in early years. It is with these thirty (or however many classmates you have/had) people that we experience the highs and lows of childhood. I spend eight hours a day with my class, and I have realized how much their opinions and perspectives have shaped my worldview, not just now, but since kindergarten.

Third, everyday school practices are tools with which we evolve into socially responsible citizens. Have you ever considered the fact that when you steal some food from your friend's lunch box, you are actually tasting a bit of their culture? Especially in countries like India, where cuisine is a crucial part of culture and many students bring their snacks and lunch from home, each lunch box comes from a unique background. As a result, the seemingly inconsequential lunch break makes us more open minded and increases our willingness to entertain/accept diverse traditions. Increased diversity of exposure also makes us more empathetic, circling back to social development.

Additionally, we develop emotionally while at school. In her book Infants, Children, and Adolescents, Laura E. Berk elaborates on how schools are safe environments for self expression, social interaction, and building relationships. Communication with other people at school, be it teachers, peers, or support staff, creates self regulation and mindfulness. The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) expands on these ideas and suggests how emotional development takes place in and out of classrooms. Positive student-teacher relationships fostered through contact outside classrooms can cultivate social awareness, conflict resolution, stress management, and emotional regulation. These experts also talk about structured learning of emotional skills via counselors, programmes, and activities that create safe environments for expression along with fostering interpersonal skills. 

Moreover, school ensures that students are able to work under stress, with time constraints, and in unfamiliar environments. Academic testing builds time management skills, stress regulation, critical thinking, and attention to detail, as mentioned in James H. Mcmillan’s Classroom Assessment: Principles and Practices for Effective Standards-Based Instruction. Rick Stiggins, author of Student-Involved Assessment for Learning, also discusses how preparations leading up to examinations can build mindsets of goal setting, motivation, and self discipline by enforcing the need for regular practice/revision. 

Finally, receiving an education is how students grow civically, socially, and emotionally. These areas of development instill skills and values that are relevant to the 21st century and help them develop as members of society once they graduate. They contribute to student personalities in social situations, making them socially aware and responsible. According to Dewey and the NCSS, moral and ethical development, cultural awareness and acceptance, socialization, and community engagement all contribute to students’ being better citizens. 

In conclusion, research, academic journals, and psychologists all advocate for the multi-dimensional benefits of education. It allows for growth of the entire person, mind, body, and heart, by cultivating principles of civic, social, and emotional awareness. It enables students to express themselves, stand up for what is right, and make meaningful contributions to society. Education makes us students of the present and better people of the future.

Berk, Laura. E. Infants, Children, and Adolescents (9th ed.). Pearson, 2021.

Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL). Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Framework. Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, 2020.

Dewey, John. Democracy and Education: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Education. Macmillan, 1916. 

McMillan, James H. Classroom Assessment: Principles and Practice for Effective Standards-Based Instruction (6th ed.). Pearson, 2013.

National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS). (2013). College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards. National Council for the Social Studies, 2013.

Stiggins, Rick J. Student-Involved Assessment for Learning (4th ed.). Pearson, 2005.

Vygotsky, L. S. Mind in Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Processes. Harvard University Press, 1978.

Woolfolk, Anita. Educational Psychology (14th ed.). Pearson, 2019.

In a KidSpirit Feature article, teen writer Nandana Thakershy explains the importance of fostering social and emotional development in schools.

The First 15 Years

Amy de Bruyn

It felt as if I were watching someone’s life in front of me instead of reading text on paper. 

The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Steven Chbosky, is a compelling coming-of-age novel that follows 15-year-old Charlie, an introverted and observant teenager, through his freshman year of high school in the early 1990s. 

The book is told through letters written by Charlie, although it is not specified to whom the letters are written. These letters show how Charlie’s life changes throughout his first year of high school, as he meets new people, experiences new things, and learns lessons through it all. Through these letters, he shares his experiences with the reader, telling the story of a young person discovering the ins and outs of teenage joy while also learning the ropes of the real world. However, what sets The Perks of Being a Wallflower apart from other similar coming-of-age novels is the way it discusses the intricacies of adolescence. Chbosky captures Charlie’s life in a raw and realistic manner, which lets readers empathize with the characters rather than simply “read” about them. When I was reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower, it felt as if I were watching someone’s life in front of me instead of reading text on paper. 

The way Chbosky portrays Charlie in this story is one of the most important features of the book, since it is his perspective that depicts adolescence in a way other books do not. Charlie, like many of us in high school, is innocent and naive, easily trusting of his friends and open to new experiences. He also loses a close friend and struggles with his mental health, which deteriorates as the story develops. However, through his letters, readers get to see the world from his perspective as they get to know his new, older friends, who recognize him for the "wallflower" that he is and welcome him with open arms. Readers watch as Charlie tries to take the advice of his well-intentioned English teacher to “participate,” seeing things he does not expect to see and seeing others that he should have earlier. Acceptance from his friends is especially emphasized in a few scenes, such as when Charlie accidentally gets high with his friend Patrick. This is when Patrick identifies Charlie as a wallflower, telling him, “You see things. You keep quiet about them. And you understand.” He explains how Charlie experiences the world from a distance, watching things happen and letting them pass. 

Readers easily connect with Charlie's story because of the simplicity and bluntness of the writing, and the letters allow readers to empathize with Charlie and understand why he sees things the way he does. The novel does not hesitate to hit the tender spots of the heart, evoking sobs, laughter, and embarrassed chuckles.

Through Charlie’s voice, Chobsky effectively explores the complexity of people, and characters continue to develop as the book goes on. Charlie is not sheltered from bad people, and after seeing people do bad things, he tries to find out why they do it. He wonders why people behave the ways they do, and he wonders how much of that comes from their environment and the people around them. Instead of shutting negativity out, he actively sympathizes with people; an approach that is so heartfelt it entirely affects the way the book reads, as Charlie is not afraid of being as direct as possible about his feelings while making sure readers see everything in its true authentic form. On a personal level, Charlie’s authenticity resonated deeply with me, and reading the book felt more like reading my thoughts. The honesty with which Charlie shared his experiences especially strengthened that connection. 

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is an especially important read for adolescents who may feel out of place in a fast-paced and unfamiliar environment like high school. Chbosky is not afraid to discuss heavy topics like sexuality, mental health, and abuse, but also makes sure to balance them with stories of love and friendship, making the book digestible yet memorable. Generally speaking, literature allows us to step into another person’s shoes, letting us experience the lives of people of different genders or sexualities, different places and times, and different values, which helps us to build empathy with one another. Sometimes, however, there is a character that so closely relates to something a reader has been through that it feels less like empathy and more like a reflection of your own life. Regardless of the reader’s background, Charlie in The Perks of a Wallflower serves as this kind of character. 

There is much to learn from Charlie’s experiences, and his voice transcends context: inside every teenager is their own “Charlie,” and inside every adult is a fond memory of theirs. All in all, I would rate the book four out of five stars for its compelling expression of the high school experience. I would highly suggest any high school readers try The Perks of Being a Wallflower because it is a captivating, emotional, and relatable novel that offers a unique perspective on adolescence.

In a KidSpirit Media review, teen writer Amy de Bruyn explains why Steven Chboskys' YA novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a must-read for any adolescent.

Adolescence in The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Orin Sim

My family had an opportunity to live in Japan for six months, and I had to attend the first semester of eighth grade at an international school. 

I grew up in America speaking both Korean and English. I was used to people complimenting me or thinking it was cool to be bilingual. So the thought of a language barrier never really hit me until I arrived in Japan. For the first few weeks, I really did have to take a step back and think through some things to just accomplish daily tasks. So when I entered the international school on the first day with the opportunity to speak English, I was a bit relieved. But, along with this feeling, nerves overwhelmed me. What would people think of me? I knew this went through every kid’s mind on their first day of school, but that didn’t make it any less scary. 

To make matters worse, my train to the school was delayed, and this resulted in an embarrassing escort to science class. Everyone in my class was already in their own groups. A group of boys at one table to my left. A group of girls at the other table to my right. I just tried to look calm, ignored the stares, and planted myself at the back of the classroom. 

I had a few conversations with my peers throughout August, but I missed the comfort of school in America. I knew how things worked there. Being in a new place with a different set of gears was more intimidating than I thought it would be. And one day, after a couple of weeks adjusting to the new school, our physical education teacher announced that we were going to take a wilderness trip to Hakuba for four days. Everyone else instantly cheered. I was excited for what awaited us there: jumping off of waterfalls, canoeing through the lake, s’mores, a bus ride. However, I was still terrified on the inside. This meant that I had to confront my fear of bonding with my classmates. So, as the trip approached, my sense of half-excitement and half-fear divided me. 

Then the day came. I was off to Hakuba. The wilderness. A school trip with my class. It was an eight-hour ride, but I sat where I could be alone and quietly embraced the beautiful mountain view. Once we arrived at the hotel, our group leader sent us out on a scavenger hunt. I grudgingly went off with my group and, although we didn’t win, I had a decent amount of fun. 

The next day, it was announced that we were going to go canyoning. We would follow a safe route downstream and eventually jump off of a waterfall. I was thrilled that the moment of fun had finally arrived at my doorstep. After attaching ourselves (with difficulty) to the safety gear, our group got into a car. The tour guide had mentioned that it was going to be a very bumpy ride, but I just shrugged it off. Once we went up the hill route, the car began to shake. A lot. My helmet, although strongly latched, was pumping up and down rapidly, and at that moment, I held on to the back of my seat as hard as I could. My knuckles were turning white, and a huge turn made all of us all grab whatever was to the left of us. A mixture of laughter, groans of pain, and a shout of surprise filled the car. As soon as the ride was over, the driver looked back. I could tell he expected complaints barraging him, but to his surprise, he just saw happy grins and eventual laughs from all of us. It was then that it hit me — this trip wasn’t so bad after all. 

Finally, after a hike up and down across the mountains, our group arrived at the waterfall. I was excited, but as I looked around, I realized that a lot of people were absolutely terrified. A friend I had made earlier was looking a bit nervous. He told me that he was scared of water and couldn’t swim well. I tried to reassure him, but nothing really worked. One by one, people screamed and plunged into the water below us. Many of us laughed, but my friend was getting increasingly nervous. Once I, my friend, and about two other people were left, I told him that I would go down first. I was hoping this would reassure him. I promised I would help him when he got down. He nodded yes, but I could tell he was still scared. 

I treated myself to joy as I tumbled down the slippery rocks and into the water. The cold plunge left me feeling excitement and exhaustion, but after that, I immediately looked up. My friend was sitting at the top of the waterfall, debating whether he should slide down. The class was watching intently for moments. We were all wondering: Will he come down? I could even feel my own heart race, because it was nerve-racking for me too, to jump off of that waterfall. But then our question was answered when, after a few moments, he came down with a splash. He was struggling to swim, but I helped him up to the boulder our class was sitting on. Our guide came to us, with a stunning backflip, and offered to take a photo. 

Once we were all lined up, I whispered to my friend, “Are you alright?” He nodded to me and said, “Thanks.” I just smiled, and teased him about how it took so long for him to come down. It was then I realized that the school experience is not only about education, but also about forming connections. Moments like these were special and would only push me across the line of nerves and friendship. And I knew that I had built many special ones on that thrilling trip at Hakuba. 

When it was time for me to leave Japan, I felt a wave of melancholy and nostalgia. On my final day at Kyoto International School, I realized I was going to leave a school that certainly had a place in my heart. I looked at the school for the last time before I left, sad that the thrilling ride was over, but happy for the memories and connections it had built inside me. 

In a KidSpirit Awesome Moments article, teen writer Orin Sim remembers his earliest experiences as an international student in Japan. 

The Jump

Liz Fabiola

I started teaching when I was nine years old, volunteering for an after-school program at the Superkids Association. 

There I first learned how to teach reading and writing and, now that I am 15, I also teach reading comprehension to other children. When you are a teacher, your main job is to provide the best education possible to your students, but in some cases, the students actually teach you how you can be better or they make you feel happy when you are together. From my point of view, kids can have a large positive impact on their teachers’ lives.

I experienced this last year, when I taught comprehensive reading to my student, Lucy. I remember the moment when I went to the third-grade classroom to meet my new students and I first saw her. At first, she looked like a shy and quiet kid, and at that moment I thought it might be hard to have a long conversation with her. However, when the day of our first class arrived, we went to the school yard and I started to talk with her and get to know more about her. She answered every question and even started to ask me about myself, and with each question we began to trust each other more. It was awesome, and I felt very proud, because for me, it’s very important that my students trust me and feel comfortable with me during and after class.

At the beginning of our lessons, I noticed that she read slowly and made some mistakes when writing. I remember the first book we read was about a dog who lost his family and his greatest wish was to have a loving family. She loved that story because it made her laugh, and she loved to imagine the possibilities of what could happen on the next page. That book had some hard words that she didn’t understand, so I taught her, and the way that she learned the words’ meanings was by writing them in her notebook and using them in a short story or a sentence. Before taking her back to her classroom, I gave her some homework about writing sentences with some words that she didn't know yet. I also prepared some dynamic games and challenges, because she learned better by playing or doing something that she enjoyed. She always returned to her classroom happy and the teacher thanked me for everything I was doing to help her.

The satisfaction that you feel when someone recognizes that you are doing a really good job is awesome. One day, after I took Lucy to her classroom, her teacher told me that she had made good progress with comprehensive reading and she had improved her orthography. She was very proud of how much Lucy had advanced in such a short time, and I felt even prouder of all Lucy’s effort and a wonderful sense of fulfillment for all my hard work teaching her.

Lucy has been one of my favorite students. She is amazing in all the ways you can imagine. One of the things that I really love about her is that she always has a smile, and she is very kind with everybody. She is very persistent; when she doesn’t know how to do something, she tries again until she achieves her goal, and I admire that. From my point of view, she has so many things to show to the world and she will be able to do incredible things with all the potential she has.

Lucy was my student and my teacher at the same time. She taught me that it does not matter if someone says something negative about myself and my abilities. At the end of the day, I am the only person who knows who I am. Lucy is strong and she knows how to convey her strength, because in the most difficult situations she always smiles and says that she will be able to overcome any obstacle. She taught me that we should never lose our perseverance, and if we fail, we should smile and try again. Some people will say that those are insignificant things, but for me they are very important.

At some point in life, most teachers have a student who teaches them how they can be their best self. Every student has strengths, but it is indisputable that some of them have outstanding qualities and will teach you wonderful things that will serve you for life. Life as a teacher is exhausting sometimes, but is one of the best experiences since you receive the most genuine feelings and unique love of all — the love and smile of a kid.

In a KidSpirit Helping Hands article, teen writer Liz Fabiola shares the profound impact of teaching younger students to read and write. 

The Smile of a Student

Richard Siyi HE

Every time I walk through the bright and bustling corridors on the second floor of the school, I can’t help but become alert. 

The screams of my classmates at play echo directly into my heart. They inevitably remind me of the darkest moments I’ve experienced —

The day’s troubles had already put me in a bad mood. Moreover, the orchestra rehearsal ran late, and it wasn’t until 5:30 that I finally packed my schoolbag to head home. On the usually sunny campus, the moonlight now filtered through the clouds, yet it failed to illuminate a trace of the road. Tree branches crisscrossed, gnarled and claw-like, now coated with a white sheen — a drifting, uncertain veil. Subconsciously, I quickened my pace, returning to the classroom to pick up the receipt I had left behind. Perhaps due to the lateness of the hour, the lights in the hallway and lobby were extremely dim, and the howling wind echoed in my ears, making the place seem hollow. I increased my speed further, even breaking into a trot. There was no one around, except for the amplified sound of my own footsteps. As I walked to the dark and silent classroom door, the palm of my hand holding the doorknob was already damp with sweat. Hesitating, my heart began to beat faster, thumping and pounding. I stomped my feet, rushed to my seat. I groped around the desk, only to find that the receipt was not there. I froze.

Time was ticking, but I didn't dare to move, regretting that I hadn’t turned on the lights when I came in. I turned my head slightly — “Ahhh!” I exclaimed, staring at the window of the classroom’s back door. There, a face appeared! With a loud thud, I scrambled out of the classroom, running as fast as I could toward the only remaining light in the hallway. I don't know how many times I tripped in the panic, but I still remember the bruises on my limbs when I got home. Gasping for breath, my heart still racing, I dared not turn around. But at this point, I was so upset with myself for suddenly remembering — I had left the receipt in the basement during my morning gym class.

I don’t know where I got the courage, but I found myself stepping into the basement. As you know, accidents always occur in such places, as is the general routine in horror movies. I felt my way along the handrail, my legs trembling and my teeth chattering as I stepped into that endless abyss.

Later, I wouldn’t even know what belief was sustaining me. I just moved mechanically, step by step. The creaking of the wooden floor was admonishing me, but I knew there was no turning back. Relying on the touch of my hands, I kept feeling my way forward — any change in sensation, from the icy chill of the metal railings to the skin-like texture of the cushions, sent shivers down my spine. I realized, deeply, that the unknown is the greatest fear, perhaps even more so than sadness, because it leaves you unable to cry, even when you want to.

When I finally got my receipt, a faint sound of metal trembling echoed in the silence. All I can say is that fear is something that I can't put into words. I prefer not to recall the feeling of being so tense that I was about to "shatter" when I returned to the ground. However, the memory that remains vivid is waking up the next morning with swollen eyes and seeing the remnants of a yellow paper stuck to the glass of the classroom’s back door — a paper that had been posted during an exam. I wanted to laugh, but the laughter wouldn’t come.

Returning to the normal routine of attending classes every day, isn’t that what school life is supposed to be? Yet, such a class schedule often leaves me feeling as though something is missing. It could be the emotion that comes with finishing an anime series I’ve been following, the excitement of a sports match, or the shock of a new discovery. This sense of mundanity perhaps originates from the excessively smooth progress of study, or maybe it is the result of the attitude of letting go of everything. I feel that people truly live only for a few moments — brief joy, fleeting sorrow — and what remains is but a dull passage of time.

Suddenly, I heard the metallic noise again, the same one I had encountered in the basement. It was a faint hum, occasionally punctuated by sharp peaks, as subtle yet powerful as a heartbeat. An indescribable discomfort settled in my chest, as if something clandestine was brewing within the school. “Answer this question,” the teacher’s voice abruptly pulled my attention back to the class. “I . . . don’t really know,” I stammered. “This lack of effort won’t get you far,” the teacher scolded. As I lowered my head, it dawned on me that the top of the desk had borne witness to more fervent prayers than a church. The sorrow emanated from every student who prayed silently, hoping not to be called for a parent-teacher meeting. Beside me, there was the familiar sound of mocking laughter. Without needing to look, I knew who it was. He suddenly squeezed water from his bottle onto my pants and shouted, “Wow, he wet his pants!” Everyone turned to look at me, and my face flushed. Their focus was solely on the water dripping down my pant legs, rendering my explanations futile.

The malice in a person’s heart is uglier than any monster, yet it can be constantly nourished and multiplied under the sun — such irony. My resentment and animosity surged uncontrollably. I noticed blood from my bitten lip seeping out, staining my white shirt and forming cursed patterns. All the spirits seemed to begin to converge and flow toward the basement . . . My thoughts were interrupted by the bell ringing for the end of class, and it was only then that I realized that the metallic noise I had heard was actually the sound of demons flapping their wings hidden in the basement.

Can the strength of forgiveness soften and dissolve malice and despair? Looking at the glass of the classroom’s rear door, I went up to wipe it clean, leaving no remnants of the paper. After all, kindness is the very quality that demons dread most. The classroom was quiet, but not lonely, peaceful, but not empty. A serene fullness filled my heart. Bathed in the gentle sunlight falling through the window, neither warm nor cold, I finally felt as though time had slowed down, if only a little . . .

In a KidSpirit short story, teen writer Richard Siyi HE brings to life the anxieties of high school.

Haunted School Horrors

Siddhant Raj

My Hindu upbringing has inculcated a sense of value and respect for all my teachers. 

In a speech by Swami Vivekananda that I recently came across, the illustrious philosopher and teacher said, “The father and mother give me this body; but the Guru gives me rebirth in the soul.” This thought succinctly delineates the significance that a teacher holds in shaping one’s future, accentuating the fact that the guru (teacher) is the one who transforms the minds of His or Her disciples by educating them. I view education as the offspring of the entwinement between the hearts and souls of a guru and a shishya (student). 

As a fervent devotee of God, I think that having faith in the Almighty is one of the primary catalysts of a wise man, and in my culture, it is believed that one who imparts education is esteemed as God Himself. Therefore, in India, we encourage kindling a sense of reverence towards teachers, for they are the ones that bequeath knowledge upon others out of sheer compassion and trust. In Hinduism, the concept of Gurudakshina, or an offering to a teacher, is highly important. Gurudakshina is a honorarium to a teacher that has configured the traditional Hindu education system. It is a way for students to show gratitude to the knowledge the guru imparts to them. 

In my opinion, every teacher is like the sun, perennially bestowing their light upon students, continually dancing with the moon — a symbol of insight and guidance — in the vast skies of education. Consequently, education is an orb around which a shishya and guru revolve, with knowledge being the core objective.

My school greatly emphasizes respecting and showing gratitude to our teachers, who support our cognitive as well as emotional development. There have been many instances where my teacher has helped me devise ways to tackle an ordeal. Once, I took the initiative to contribute towards our class’s teacher’s day celebration, and felt that my peers weren’t paying attention to an idea I was trying to share. Perturbed, I approached my homeroom teacher to inform him of the incident. He explained to me that, in life, when others don’t heed my words, I must address the situation with patience and learn to communicate with more conviction. Now, I always go to him whenever I have any issues. This is how teachers become our educators for life and at the same time friends, too. They are like the doorway between problems and solutions. 

Along with being a mentor and friend, a guru is one of our key well-wishers, for he or she is the one that unlocks a plethora of opportunities for us pupils according to our interests. My teachers go the extra mile to ensure we engage in numerous extracurricular activities to help broaden our horizons in various fields. For example, my school teachers recognised my keen interest in creative writing and communication, and they not only introduced me to KidSpirit but provided me and my peers with various opportunities to showcase our skills and improve along the process. 

Teachers are our guiding light, advocates, confidants, and the link between us and God. All in all, teachers are our role models. We, students, are like their echoes, their shadows, and their reflections, exactly how we are to our parents. We are, in some way or the other, a facsimile of them, for their actions, values and attitudes reflect in our behaviors, too. As per the cognitive dissonance theory, when people hold opposing beliefs, they feel a certain discomfort. Hence, to prevent this discomfort, students tend to observe the actions of teachers and accordingly practice them, too.

True education lies within the connection between a teacher and a student. Thus, while a guru is responsible for teaching, a shishya must have a sense of humility and an inquisitive attitude. In Hinduism, there is a story about an underprivileged boy named Eklavya, who doesn’t have the means to learn the art of archery from a royal guru named Dronacharya. However, he creates a statue of the teacher and practices everyday in front of it. One of the disciples of Drona finds out about this, and frames the guru for being disloyal to his students. Hence, as Gurudakshina, Dronacharya asks the boy to give up his thumb. As a fervent devotee of the esteemed teacher, Eklavya does so, thereby exemplifying the essential quality devotion that every student must have. This fable serves as the epitome of discipleship and the sacrifices that even students must make in order to receive education, and that is how I view school.  School must be a place where each student respects their teachers and sacrifices for them. These sacrifices include valuing lessons by giving up free time to practice, and stepping out of their comfort zone to actively participate in class. This story has inspired me to repay my teachers’ efforts with these small yet significant sacrifices.

As Swami Vivekanda rightly stated in the same speech, “There are hundreds of thousands of teachers, but it is hard to find one disciple.” 

True education is not free, it must be earned. And the only way it can be earned by us is if we constantly appreciate and show gratitude to our teachers, carrying within ourselves the learning mindset. As Malcolm X rightly said, “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today." This quote delineates the fact that education must be actively pursued and earned, and that the true purpose of education is to kindle inquisitiveness in students.

In a KidSpirit Interfaith Connections article, teen writer Siddhant Raj shares how his Hindu upbringing has taught him to view education. 

Keystones of Education

Jane Quinn, PhD

Get to know Jane Quinn, a groundbreaking youth worker and leader of the community schools movement. 

Jane Quinn is a social worker and youth worker with over five decades of professional experience, including direct service with children and families, program development, fundraising, grantmaking, research, and advocacy.  

From 2000 through 2018, she served as the Vice President for Community Schools at Children’s Aid, where she directed the National Center for Community Schools. Prior to that, she served as Program Director for the DeWitt Wallace-Reader’s Digest Fund; directed a national study of youth organizations for the Carnegie Corporation of New York; and served as Program Director for Girls Clubs of America. She was the principal author of the 1992 Carnegie study entitled A Matter of Time: Risk and Opportunity in the Nonschool Hours and the co-author of three books on community schools, including the recent (2023) volume entitled The Community Schools Revolution: Building Partnerships, Transforming Lives, Advancing Democracy. Jane has a master’s in social work from the University of Chicago and a doctorate in urban education from the City University of New York.

We're proud to announce that this issue's column will come from Jane Quinn, a groundbreaking youth worker and leader of the community schools movement. 

Meet Our Fall PerSpectives Author

Anna Chasnyk, age 15, Ukraine

Imagine not being able to read or write. In fact, you wouldn’t be able to read this. The world around you, the signs and advertisements, would all be gibberish to you. When you went to the supermarket you would just go by looks, not by what everything says. You wouldn’t know how much fat there is in the butter, or what the chicken is seasoned with. You would have to depend on the people around you to tell you. As a result, you would be easily influenced by those around you.

Where I live, it is mandatory to be schooled up to 12th grade. This is also true for most developed countries. Around 8:00 am every morning, children wake up and get dressed. They walk, bike, or drive to school. They go to their classes: math, science, physical education, social studies, and language arts. As they move from class to class, they get sweaty, take tests, and chat with friends.

Some days they are nervous, when they are presenting in front of the whole class or are taking an important test. Other days they are happy; they got a good grade, or are doing an interesting lab in science. Some days they cry, because of grades or issues with friends.

Altogether they are developing new skills and experiencing emotions, over time. For example, last year we worked on making presentations. This included talking for two to five minutes without notes. The first time I presented, I was constantly fidgeting my hands and only looked at a part of my class. We ended up presenting multiple times throughout the year, which helped me become more confident.

School teaches you to act, motion, and go through a lot of different things. It teaches you to have a good debate, and not get frustrated if things don’t go your way. It teaches you how to work with all kinds of people, and equips you with coping skills for stress.

Unfortunately, not every kid has a daily experience like this. This can be a result of having to work, not having access to a school, or being denied an education because of where they live. This makes them more easily influenced and controlled.

Without going to school and learning things, life would be very boring. When you are bored, what do you do? I like to sit on the coach with my dog and read a good book. If I didn’t go to school, I wouldn’t be able to do this, because I wouldn’t know how to read. A lot of the activities that I enjoy aren’t possible without going to school to get the skills.

In conclusion, school is a fundamental part of a person’s development. Its purpose is to make you a productive member of society. Schooling should be available everywhere for every child, as declared in Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. I can’t imagine life without school.

In a KidSpirit Global Beat essay, teen writer Isabela Maria Manolescu shares the many benefits of a good education.

Ode To School

The Ukrainian educational system is organized into five levels: preschool, primary, secondary, upper secondary, and postgraduate education. Everyone in my country has the right to high-quality and affordable schooling. In Ukraine, no one can be restricted in the right to receive an education.

Pre-school education for children from the age of five is mandatory in Ukraine. According to the Standard, education consists of mandatory (child's personality, play, speech, child in society, and the world of art) and additional (foreign language, social and financial literacy, sports and choreography) components. It is important that the child’s parents are actively involved in the development of competencies, and attending kindergarten does not release parents from their duties.

School evaluation differs at various levels: in grades one to four, a formative assessment is carried out, and in grades five to eleven, a 12-point assessment system is used. Based on the results of each level of education, students pass the state final examination. 

Children with special educational needs can receive special education. In addition to training, they are provided with psychological, pedagogical, and correctional development services, which can be provided directly by a special school or an inclusive resource center. 

The full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia, which began on February 24, 2022, has led to serious consequences for secondary education in Ukraine. Schools have suffered human losses: teachers, students, and parents died due to military actions and/or Russian occupation. Since the war began, over 2,600 schools have been damaged and over 400 destroyed across Ukraine, according to the Ministry of Education. Only approximately 25 percent of Ukrainian schools nationwide have been able to offer full-time, in-person learning since September. Millions of children and thousands of Ukrainian teachers have been forced to relocate within the country or move abroad. Every day, all the participants of the educational process have to overcome the challenges of war: forced breaks during classes, switching to remote or mixed-format studies, air raid warnings, and power blackouts. The full-scale war has made access to education worse and existing education inequalities deeper, it has negatively affected the quality of the education process and the students’ progress, and has impacted the mental and emotional state of students and teachers.

The New Ukrainian School is a key reform of the Ministry of Education and Science. The main objective is to create a school that will be pleasant to go to and will provide the students not only with knowledge, as is the case now, but also with the ability to apply it in real life.

The New Ukrainian School is a kind of school which is pleasant for students to be in. Their opinion is respected here, they are taught to think critically, not be afraid of voicing their views, and be responsible citizens. Parents also like attending this school because cooperation and mutual understanding prevail here.

"Education System in Ukraine." Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. https://emergency.mon.gov.ua/educationalsystem/.

In a KidSpirit Global Beat essay, teen writer Yevhenia Vasylchyshyna explains the Ukrainian approach to education.

The Purpose of Schools in Ukraine

Children are the hope of our future, so they have the right to enjoy life with a positive mindset, and should be presented with enlightened words from their communities. For all intents and purposes, when a child has a favorable environment to grow up in, it has a positive impact on their psychology. They have an opportunity to succeed in the world.

But many young people’s futures are affected by an unsupportive community. Teachers should illuminate children’s souls, because when they are dispirited by society, children lose their succeeding alloy, and pessimistic impact arises. School should be a supportive foundation of life, and generally, a child should enter a learning environment to mingle and exchange their ideas with the teachers. But, when a child is not able to provide their teacher’s desired results, they face one of the greatest adversities of a child’s mental development: negative words.

Many problems hamper the mental development of a youngster, and punishment is one of them. This can be a complication that never permits them to make headway in their life. Sometimes, they cannot complete their jobs for school, and so they are disgraced as a poor student. This leads to harsh words from their tutors and shyness hits them in a negative way. That hinders the advancement of the student’s life, and students become inattentive when they face negative feedback. When teachers are able to bolster their students’ confidence, it’s easier for young people to anticipate an eminent life. If students are tormented by some bad deeds, the instructors should single out circumstances to defy their negative self-worth. So, we should improve our mindsets, because we have the ability to help young people embrace their potentialities through our motivating words. Teachers must say no to capital punishment. The teacher and society must enact changes to facilitate positive impacts on a child’s development. So, let us not use any harsh words and work to change the practices of the future. 

In a KidSpirit Global Beat essay, teen writer Anas Sadan explores the impact of positive or negative feedback on a child's development. 

Victim to Victor: Raising Our Voices Against Bullying

The word “school” conjures different meanings for all of us: learning, opportunity, boredom, anxiety, privilege. How does the school experience shape our growth? How does it differ from place to place? How does it prepare us for “the real world”? Join teen contributors across the globe to explore education from every angle.

In the Classroom

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