Page 17 - EducationWorld May 2022

Special Column

Learn some more this summer

Dr. (Mrs.) Amita Chauhan
Chairperson, Amity Group of Schools

interesting experiences rather than waste move out of the comfort zone of their
time in mindless television binging. regular school and learn to experiment
In India, several schools offer a and adapt better to newer situations and
plethora of summer programs. For circumstances. As an educator, I firmly
instance, one can learn a foreign believe that summer schools go a long
language, hone their music, dance way in developing great social skills in
and art skills, or take to gardening and children that come handy in their future
cooking. Children can also train in sports endeavors as well.
like swimming and gymnastics. The Having said this, I can still understand
creatively inclined can opt for courses when some educators and parents say that
in script writing and filmmaking, while summer schools impinge on children’s
for those with a scientific temperament, hard-earned free time. So, I would like
courses in robotics and astronomy are to put these concerns at rest and reiterate
aplenty. Summer school courses not only that learning is, and should always be,
ntil a few decades ago, provide a new learning, but also add to an ongoing process. Let us not limit
summer vacations meant the credentials on the resume of a student. learning to merely a classroom or a bag
a mandatory trip to our Many children plan of going to their full of books. Summer schools are a hub
Ugrandparent’s house, or the favorite university for higher studies, of learning and what really matters is that
annual family vacation to the closest hill whether in India or abroad, and summer children find the freedom to choose for
station. Children, who for some reason schools can make it easier for them to themselves what appeals to them.
could do neither, would find their own get into their dream colleges. Since a We must give our children the luxury
ways to entertain themselves, whether lot of colleges and universities have an to look within, find their true calling in
it was by wandering around chasing application and profile-based admission life and reach out for the dreams they
squirrels and sparrows, or by climbing process, which gives more importance to silently harbour in their hearts. And
mango trees that were omnipresent individual achievement and experience this can only be done when they find
in the summer months. For the less than an academic score, joining a summer themselves in a space unhindered by
enterprising, it was about mostly staying school is always a win-win situation. It academic expectations and competitive
indoors, with not much productive work showcases that a child has made the effort environments. Let us not burden our
to do. Holidays then were obviously to go beyond the classroom to expand his children with a life that is only about
synonymous with leisurely days spent or her learning. Since a summer school peer pressure, or academic excellence,
with family and friends. aims to inculcate expertise in a specific let us provide them a choice driven by
But times have changed now, and stream and knowledge, it adds to the interest and curiosity. A summer school
so has the idea of fun, with the rising child’s skill set. These creatively designed that synchronises a child’s interests
popularity of what we call the summer programmes focus on individual ability with that of specialised learning truly
school! To explain, a summer school and talent and hence prepare a child for facilitates a holistic development. At
offers short-term courses and conducts college life. Amity, we experience this outcome every
classes during summer vacations, and What also makes summer schools year during our summer school programs
these are designed to train children in special is their focus on experiential as we come across many children who
subjects different from their regular learning which provides students with discover either a totally new persona, or
curriculum. They, therefore, provide a wider exposure to the outer world. who find new ways to express themselves.
children with a fine balance between Opting for a summer course exposes It’s a welcome trend that more and
opportunity and thrill, taking their children to peers from different schools, more schools are developing specialised
learning to the next level and, above all, diverse teaching methodologies and summer courses - some notable examples
giving them novel ways to utilise time! social backgrounds. It makes them more being Amity University Summer School
What’s more, this concept has come as conscious of how to respect diversity and or the Oxford Summer Courses — and
a boon for nuclear families where both multiplicity. Open and candid discussions it’s time we look at these immersive
parents are working, and they are more help children to think and express without experiences as the new and cool way to
than happy to see their children indulge in inhibitions. Children are also able to tackle summer with a smile.

We welcome your views on this topic. Please email them to us at cpo@amity.edu