Music to the rescue

C Rama Devi

Educational institutions should be safe havens, where students can learn, grow, and thrive. However, conflicts, bullying, and disciplinary issues can disrupt the learning environment and affect students’ wellbeing. Maintaining peace in schools and making them anger-free zones requires a comprehensive approach that involves students, teachers, administrators, and parents.

Ensuring a peaceful atmosphere in school requires a multifaceted approach that addresses the social, emotional, and academic needs of the students. By fostering a positive school culture, implementing conflict resolution programs, addressing bullying and harassment, encouraging student participation, supporting teachers and staff, and engaging parents and the community, schools can create a harmonious learning environment where students can thrive.

In my 40 years of teaching, I have always wanted to ensure that my classroom was both calm and peaceful as well as productive. I was mostly successful, as with a subject like science, innovative ideas and hands-on activities are not very difficult to incorporate into the class. But, as teachers, we have incidents now and then when the class goes out of control. In such situations, I either used to send the student out of the class or leave the classroom myself, or make the child sit right in front me, or call their parents. These were my usual go-to remedies.

But there is one incident that had a great impact on me, and I remember it clearly to this day, because on that occasion I didn’t use my usual remedies. There was a lot of chaos in the playground that day. A group of junior students was very restless and wanted to vent their anger on a group of senior students. I had no choice but to listen to them as they were uncontrollable. Meanwhile, the senior students also approached me, complaining about their juniors. With both sets of students talking, there was uproar in my room and no one was ready to listen. Both groups wanted my attention, but they were not ready to listen to me. I tried to pacify them, but they did not pay heed. Suddenly, an idea struck me. I told both groups that they would be heard only if they sat down calmly. My deep faith in music and meditation came to my rescue that day. I played soothing music for these students and I asked them to ponder on it until their emotions were in check.

For the next 15 minutes, they sat with their eyes closed. Soon the aggression and chaos had disappeared. Both the groups were at peace. They came to an understanding and left no work for me to do. Peace was restored.

Restoring peace in school is in the hands of the teachers. The wellbeing and success of students lie in a harmonious learning environment. We must promote this, as conflict resolution is the first step to reinforcement of positive vibrations in our education institutions.

C Rama Devi is former senior principal Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Public School, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad. She is currently the Director Coordination, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Hyderabad Kendra. She can be reached at ramadevi_1@yahoo.co.in.