Why are extra-curricular activities an important part of the school syllabus?

Success of an individual depends more on how rounded his/her personality is, how balanced the thinking is and how well he/she is able to handle adverse situations in life. The measure of success is definitely not related or confined to the marks scored in any particular exam. Emotional quotient or EQ, is being given its due share of importance now rather than only harping on IQ-the traditional form of gauging a person's caliber.

As most modern schools recognize this aspect and strive to equip the students to face the real world, a host of other activities apart from academics have sprung up as a part of the school syllabus. Most international schools are designed to suit the interests of the NRI clan and thereby follow a similar method of training as in the western parts of the world.

Skills like swimming, karate, cooking, gardening, are being integrated in to the main stream. A variety of games are being taught under the sports category. Students are encouraged to take up any kind of fine arts that suit their interests and aptitude. So, now, a child can explore his/her interests in areas like keyboard playing or singing in a choir. 

A glimpse of Exotica 2013 @ Lawrence High School

We can see a paradigm shift in how the annual celebrations take place at schools. A decade ago, only the cream of the students would be cherry picked and polished for performances on stage. The introverts almost always got left out. However, now we see that all students are given equal opportunity to show their presence in front of a large audience. They are encouraged and trained to shed their inhibitions and come out of their comfort zones.

An environment that is energizing in all ways, that enables to sharpen the mind in many spheres, and gives the students a huge platter to choose from is definitely a right and progressive way to create future leaders and a generation of responsible and sensitive human beings.

Lawrence High School takes pride in doing all of the above and making a mark in the world of school education.

Lawrence High School, located at HSR layout, Bangalore, focuses on educating children with traditional values to adapt and excel in the world. To know more about Lawrence school, please visit the website http://lawrenceschool.in/ and join us at our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lawrence-School/ 

Responsible parenting equals responsible next generation - Lawrence High School

Parenting has never been so challenging before today. This is probably what a parent from every generation felt when they compared the teaching patterns, methods and environment with the earlier generation. However, it is true that while this generation is synonymous with more creature comforts and luxuries made available at the drop of a hat, it is more often accompanied by more work, more stress and more scarcity of family time.  Where our parents and grandparents took the time to teach us the values of life, we take to the short-cut method and try to replace quantity time with more outings, gifts, parties and silly pampering.

Whatever is your social and financial scenario, it cannot take away from the fact that children emulate their parents and learn from what is being offered to them. So, instead of succumbing to outside pressures, it is worthwhile to take a pause and look at how we as parents behave when our children are around and what is it that we would like them to imbibe through our stand in certain situations.

A simple example is that of the birthday parties that are making the round these days. Where once children’s parties could be easily translated to a homely affair with a tight guest list of close friends, small snacks, fun and frolic, the same has been replaced with lavish décor, huge guest lists, dinner parties, magic shows, tattoo making and the likes with very fancy return gifts.  The bottom line being, have money, flaunt it! Can you then blame the young impressionable minds who care less about money and throw tantrums for every little wish?

Another common example is that of how parents behave in a social situation, for example in a queue or taking care of the garbage. We as adults do not think twice before jumping a queue or honking without restraint in a traffic snarl. We sit in swanky cars, wolf down a packet of chips and mindlessly throw it out on the roads. What lessons do you think the children get from these acts? It’s a no-brainer, right?

Consciously or unconsciously, we are responsible for how the future generation turns out to be. So, if we wish to see a country of sensible, sensitive, compassionate and responsible citizens, it is time to clean up our acts and be the same.