2020 has been devastating for everyone. The year began with a perilous Australian bushfire incident followed by the first-ever massive eruption of the Taal volcano of the Philippines and finally the official announcement of the lethal virus by WHO. Nominated as one of the WORST YEARS TO BE ALIVE by Time Magazine, 2020 is a nightmare in reality. It has drained the mental vitality of people and also the world economy collapsed like never before.
Children suffered a lot during the pandemic time because they got no scope to go outside and also constant telecasting of such destructions on the television has affected them a lot. They almost started to believe that there is no more safe space left for them. They were scared to get along with people and many became victims of mild depression because of a mundane and suffocating schedule.
The basic question that might have come to your mind as well that how to create a safe space for yourself. Well, that concern is absolutely genuine. The concept of safe spaces begins with the notion where people will be able to behave in a way without having a sugar-coated mask. They want to get their mistakes rectified but do not want to be a victim of consistent taunting, judgments, ridicules, etc.
So are the feelings of children and young students. Since the intensity of the deadly virus has reduced and that educational institutions are getting reopened, teachers should remember that students shall be attending schools after a long period of time. They are in real need of safe space. Teacher training courses in Kolkata properly guide the teachers to create a perfect ambiance for students so that they no more feel claustrophobic.
While taking care of the academic needs of students, it is also important to keep a regular check on their mental health. The emotional safety of students, once they get back to their regular classroom sessions, is totally the responsibility of teachers. There are multiple ways how teachers can create a safe space on campus efficiently.
To begin with, teachers must understand that students are already emotionally exhausted and they need something that will keep them cheered. They want to feel safe and have a life that is devoid of bad news because constant bad news costs their mental peace. A new pattern of the syllabus can be crafted and professionals from other nationalities can be invited as guest lectures to give a calm impression to students.
To keep them motivated, encouraged, and to keep their spirits high teachers can break trending and happening incidents that are happening over social media. Those can be funny memes, about a new interesting movie, new social media challenges, and so on. However, students should be bothered with news that is beyond their level of adaption or age.
Preach UNITY IN DIVERSITY inside the classroom. This is a very basic step where kids will feel that the whole world has suffered and now they are recovering from the obnoxious past. Adding posters of Latino professionals, black doctors, eminent personalities of Asia who have created a massive impact due to their good deeds in the world. Teachers should try to avoid stereotypical examples and must include innovative means to introduce different ethnicities in the classroom.
Mutual respect must be practiced everywhere and it does not end with talking to students politely. Often, students do not like when their names are being pronounced wrongly. Teachers should pay attention to this factor and if needed, they must learn the correct pronunciation before uttering their names. It inculcates a feeling of self-identity in students.
Another important point that comes up over here is objectifying people based on their culture, background, or ethnicity. It is always the best policy to respect every religion but teachers should not consider a student coming from a different religion as a representative of that particular religion.
Teachers should start listening to students actively and patiently. Students for almost the past 2 years have communicated with each other virtually and now they are in real need of a face-to-face conversation. A constant nodding, eye contact, etc., gives positive vibes to students that they are being listened to with full concentration. Console them whenever they speak something that has hurt them deeply. They need a reliable shoulder to share their burdens.
Sometimes, teachers might not agree with what their students are saying. It is not advisable to talk to them rudely. Correcting their mistakes and giving them the right advice will be the best idea.
Thus, creating a safe space for students is really not that difficult. Teachers only have to keep in mind that the minds of students are extremely delicate and that should be dealt with with sheer care. Students need huge mental support and teacher training courses in Kolkata efficiently shape the teachers in a manner where they can always cater to the needs of students.
Written By : Soma Adhikari
