Chapter 5: A Different Kind of School and Where Do All the Teachers Go?
Part 1: A Different Kind of School
Summary of ‘A Different Kind of School
“A Different Kind of School” is a story that revolves around a unique educational institution where the focus is not only on academic learning but also on developing compassion and empathy among students. The school conducts special activities to help children understand and appreciate the challenges faced by differently-abled individuals.
Key Characters
– Miss Beam: The head of the school who believes in practical learning and empathy.
– The Narrator: A visitor to the school who learns about the unique teaching methods.
Important Themes
– Empathy and Compassion: The school’s activities teach students to understand and empathize with differently-abled people.
– Practical Learning: The emphasis on real-life experiences over theoretical knowledge.
Unique Teaching Methods
– Blind Day: Students are blindfolded for a day to experience the challenges faced by visually impaired people.
– Lame Day: Students pretend to be physically disabled to understand their difficulties.
– Deaf Day: Students experience a day without hearing.
– Mute Day: Students spend a day without speaking.
Activities and Discussions
– Group Discussions: Students discuss their experiences and what they learned from the special days.
– Role-Playing: Engaging in activities that help them appreciate the lives of differently-abled people.
Moral of the Story
The story emphasizes the importance of empathy, kindness, and understanding towards others, especially those who are differently-abled.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Common Questions About ‘A Different Kind of School’
1. What is the main theme of ‘A Different Kind of School’?
– The main theme is empathy and compassion towards differently-abled individuals.
2. Who is Miss Beam?
– Miss Beam is the head of the school who believes in practical learning and empathy.
3. What activities does the school conduct to teach empathy?
– The school conducts Blind Day, Lame Day, Deaf Day, and Mute Day.
4. What is the moral of the story?
– The moral is to develop empathy, kindness, and understanding towards others.
Part 2: Where Do All the Teachers Go?
Summary of ‘Where Do All the Teachers Go?’
“Where Do All the Teachers Go?” is a poem by Peter Dixon that reflects the curiosity of a child who wonders about the lives of teachers outside school. The child imagines teachers doing ordinary activities and questions whether they live normal lives like everyone else.
Key Themes
– Curiosity: The child’s curiosity about the personal lives of teachers.
– Imagination: The imaginative scenarios that the child envisions about teachers.
Important Lines
– “Do they live in houses / And do they wash their clothes?”
– Reflects the child’s wonder about the everyday activities of teachers.
– “And if they ever make mistakes”
– Shows the child’s belief that teachers are perfect and never err.
Activities and Discussions
– Poetry Recitation: Encouraging students to recite the poem and express their interpretations.
– Creative Writing: Students write their own poems or essays about their teachers’ lives outside school.
Moral of the Poem
The poem highlights the innocence and curiosity of childhood, reminding us that teachers are human beings with their own lives and imperfections.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Common Questions About ‘Where Do All the Teachers Go?’
1. What is the main theme of the poem ‘Where Do All the Teachers Go?’?
– The main theme is the curiosity of children about the lives of their teachers outside school.
2. Who wrote the poem ‘Where Do All the Teachers Go?’?
– The poem was written by Peter Dixon.
3. What does the child wonder about teachers in the poem?
– The child wonders if teachers live normal lives, make mistakes, and do everyday activities like washing clothes and living in houses.
4. What is the moral of the poem?
– The moral is that teachers are human beings with their own lives and imperfections.
Explore comprehensive Short notes for all chapters of the Class 6 NCERT Social Science book, ‘The Earth: Our Habitat’ on our website, designed to aid CBSE students in India with their studies.
