Reflection on Every Child is Special

Every Child is Special

Every teacher plays an important role in the development of his/her

students. This one holds true in the movie “Every Child is Special” which
is about the boy, Ishaan Awasthi, who was suffering from dyslexia and the
teacher who changed his life. Ishaan had difficulty in recognizing letters
and numbers and could hardly read and write. The condition his parents and
his teachers had no idea of. Because no one understood him, he felt
different from the rest. Parents and teachers thought he’s dumb and lazy.
These gave him a feeling of isolation.

The kind of relationship we build to the young ones greatly affects how
they perceive themselves and what they will become. The lack of patience,
love and kindness and most especially knowledge of one’s physical,
intellectual and emotional condition can make one feels unworthy and
unwanted.

In the movie, Ishaan met Mr. Ram Shankar Nikumbh, a substitute art teacher.
With his persistence to help the young boy, he found out the boy’s
condition and so offered extra time to teach him in areas he had not
mastered yet. For me, the character of Mr. Ram Shankar Nikumbh shows us
some qualities of a great teacher. A teacher who does not only teach, but
inspires as well. A teacher who is not afraid to use unique and
unconventional ways in teaching his pupils. Furthermore, a teacher who
exhibits a broad knowledge of Psychology in teaching and using positive
approaches in dealing and addressing students’ concerns. The teacher’s
persistence to truly understand the boy changes everything. From a lazy,
dumb boy as others thought he was, turned a very smart and gifted boy in
the end. An artist to remember.

Oftentimes we are blinded by the strict rules and high standards in meeting
academic requirements, that, we fail to see the person’s worth. We believe
that an underperforming child, someone who can hardly read and write and
demonstrate certain skills and knowledge in the given situation is not
worth of our time. In my personal point of view, teachers should help a
child in every way they can. They should look into the child’s potentials
as a learner and of what motivates a child and what does not. Other than
a having a broad knowledge on subject-matter, curriculum and standards,
teachers must have strong desire to make a difference in the lives of
young people.