Slide 1

A DIFFERENT KIND OF SCHOOLSubject : EnglishClass : 6thPrepared : ParlChapter : 5

When I arrived there was no one insight but a girl of about twelve. Her eyeswere covered with a bandage and shewas being led carefully between theflower-beds by a little boy, who wasabout four years younger.

I HAD heard a great deal about MissBeams school, but not till last week didthe chance come to visit it.

She stopped,and it looked like she asked him whohad come. He seemed to be describingme to her. Then they passed on. .Miss Beam was all that I hadexpectedmiddle-aged, full of authority,yet kindly and understanding.

Her hairwas beginning to turn grey, and she hadthe kind of plump figure that is likelyto be comforting to a homesick child.Iasked her some questions about herteaching methods, which I had heardwere simple

No more than is needed to help themto learn how to do things simplespelling, adding, subtracting, multiplyingand writing. The rest is done by readingto them and by interesting talks, duringwhich they have to sit still and keeptheir hands quiet. There are practicallyno other lessons.The real aim of this school is not somuch to teach thought as to teachthoughtfulness kindness to others,and being responsible citizens. Look outof the window a minute, will you?

I went to the window whichoverlooked a large garden and aplayground at the back. What do yousee? Miss Beam asked.

I see some very beautiful grounds,I said, and a lot of jolly children. Itpains me, though, to see that they arenot all so healthy and active-looking.When I came in, I saw one poor littlegirl being led about. She has sometrouble with her eyes. Now I can seetwo more with the same difficulty. Andtheres a girl with a crutch watchingthe others at play. She seems to be ahopeless cripple.

Miss Beam laughed. Oh, no! shesaid. Shes not really lame. This is onlyher lame day. The others are not blindeither. It is only their blind day.I must have looked very surprised,for she laughed again.

This is a very important part of oursystem. To make our children appreciateand understand misfortune, we makethem share in misfortune too. Each termevery child has one blind day, one lameday, one deaf day, one injured day andone dumb day

. . During the blind day theireyes are bandaged absolutely and theyare on their honour not to peep. Thebandage is put on overnight so they wakeblind. This means that they need helpwith everything. Other children are giventhe duty of helping them and leadingthem about. They all learn so much thiswayboth the blind and the helpers.

There is no misery about it, Miss Beam continued. Everyone is very kind,and it is really something of a game. Before the day is over, though, even the most thoughtless child realises what misfortune is

The blind day is, of course, really the worst, but some of the children tell me that the dumb day is the most difficult. We cannot bandage the childrens mouths, so they really have to exercise their will-power. Come into the garden and see for yourself how the children feel about it.

Miss Beam led me to one of the bandaged girls. Heres a gentleman come to talk to you, said Miss Beam,and left us.Dont you ever peep? I asked the girl. Oh, no! she exclaimed. That would be cheating! But I had no idea it was so awful to be blind. You cant see a thing.

You feel you are going to be hit by something every moment. Its such a relief just to sit down. Are your helpers kind to you? I asked.

Fairly, But they are not so as carefulas I shall be when it is my turn. Thosethat have been blind already are the besthelpers. Its perfectly ghastly not to see.I wish youd try.Shall I lead you anywhere? I asked

In the playground, I said. Werewalking towards the house. Miss Beam is walking up and down thegarden with a tall girl.What is the girl wearing?my little friend asked.A blue cotton skirt anda pink blouse.I think its Millie? shesaid. What colour is herhair?

Very light, I said.Yes, thats Millie. Shesthe Head Girl.Theres an old man tying up roses,I said.Yes, thats Peter. Hes the gardener.Hes hundreds of years old!And here comes a girl with curly redhair. Shes, she said. on crutches.Thats Anita

18And so we walked on. Gradually Idiscovered that I was ten times morethoughtful than I ever thought I couldbe. I also realised that if I had to describepeople and things to someone else, itmade them more interesting to me.When I finally had to leave, I told MissBeam that I was very sorry to go.Ah! she replied, then there issomething in my system after all.

PRACTICE

Q1) Who was the in charge of A Different kinds of School?Ans Miss Beam was the in charge of A Different kinds ofSchool.

Q2) Who were Millie, Peter and Anita in the lesson?Ans Millie was a tall girl. Peter was a gardener and Anita was a girl with curlyred hair.

Q3) What subjects were taught at the School?Ans Only Maths and languagewere taught at t the School.

Q4) What did the children learn in the school?Ans Children learnt spelling, adding, Subtracting, multiplying and writing.

Q5) How was Miss Beams School different from others?Ans: Miss Beams system ofeducationwas to teach thoughtfulness, kindness and being responsible citizens rather than just different subjects.

Q6) What was the very important theme of the education system of Miss Beams School?Ans: Each term in the school had one dumb day, one lame day, one deaf day, oneinjuredday and one dumb day. It was toteach the childrensharing in misfortune.Q7 What was the system of education n Miss Beams school?Ans Miss Beams school taught thoughtfulness and sharing to the students. It did not teach information and thoughts as is done in other schools.

Q8 Why do you think the writer visit Miss Beams School ? Ans The writer visited Miss Beamsschoolto see what her original method of teaching was. He had heard a lot about the school.

Q 9 : What was the game was the every child in the school had to play?

Ans . Every child in the school had toplay the gameof being blind, lame deaf, or dumb at least once during the session. He had his eyes bandaged or his one leg tied up. This made of blind or lame for a day. He was helped and guided by another boy. This game made the child understand and also share misfortune.

Q 10. Each term every child has one blind day, one lame daycomplete the line. Which day was the hardest? Why was it hardest?

Ans : The blind Day was really the hardest or most difficult. The bandaged girl also admitted that it was awful to be blind. One couldnt see anything One felt he/she was going to hit by something every moment. It was great relief just to sit down.

Q11 : What was the purpose of these special days?

Ans. There was a purpose behind these special days at Beams school.A. Match the words and phrases with their meanings in the box below.paragraph numbers

1. Homesick (3)

2. Practically (4)

3. It pains me (7)

4. Appreciate (9)

5. Thoughtless (10)

6. Exercise (11) 7. ReliefIt Hurts MeUnderstanding the difficultiesNot Very CaringTest The Strength OfA Welcome ChangeWanting To Be HomeAlmostBIBLIOGRAPHYText book materialwww.google.comwww.heathersanimations.com