Forest Dieback & the Crushing of a Child's Spirit

According to some reports in the Solomon Islands of the pacific the islanders practice a special form of curse magic. If a tree needs to be cut down and it is too big to be chopped down, it is brought down by the combined efforts of the Islanders cursing negatively and yelling at the tree. This negative energy somehow damages the tree’s life energy the result being after about 30 days of getting cursed the tree dies off and falls to the ground!
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_{Have you ever heard of something like this. I first heard about this in 2007 when I watched "Taare Zameen Par" (lit. 'Stars on Earth'), the Indian Hindi-language drama film produced and directed by Aamir Khan, addresses the challenges faced by a dyslexic child and the importance of recognizing and nurturing individual talents. I don't know how much truth is there in the Solomon island story, but I strongly believe in the power of negative energy.}

In "Taare Zameen Par," there's a poignant scene where Aamir Khan's character, Ram Shankar Nikumbh, speaks to Ishaan's father. In this conversation, Nikumbh gently addresses Ishaan's learning difficulties and suggests that he might have dyslexia. He urges Ishaan's father to consider a different perspective, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and nurturing Ishaan's unique talents rather than pressuring him to conform to traditional academic standards. After Ishaan's father refuses to acknowledge his son's struggles, Aamir Khan's character, narrates the analogy of the Solomon Islands. He uses this metaphor to convey how neglecting Ishaan's needs and potential could lead to the emotional destruction of his spirit, just as external forces devastated the Solomon Islands.

The contest theme, "forest dieback," in the invitation by @dove11 and organized by @weisser-rabe, is what got me thinking about sharing my recent experiences with my child and her education system. Forest dieback — happens when many trees in a forest start to decline or die.

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For me, this phenomenon of forest dieback serves as a strong metaphor (thanks to the film, I have mentioned above) for the decline of spirits and enthusiasm in a child, particularly when subjected to undue pressure from teachers and parents. Much like the complex interplay of factors leading to the weakening and death of trees in a forest ecosystem, external pressures can contribute to a child's diminished curiosity and enthusiasm.

My daughter recently went through a tough time at school. Despite putting in a lot of effort for a test, she ended up with a zero just because she struggled with one question. It was disheartening because the teacher didn't offer support but instead marked her efforts with a big red zero, affecting her spirits deeply.

She would have written everything about the question asked. We prepared the test together. I had her jot down all the important points related to the martial law of 1958. It was only a matter of a little help or hint from the teacher when she asked why the law of 1956 was abrogated. It was only a class test - meant for the preparation of board exams.

The mentioned subject lacks any interest for my daughter. Firstly, it is as dry as a bone. Secondly, the teacher never made an effort to engage students or foster an interest, even for the sake of exams. To add to it, she shatters confidence with big red zeros on the test papers.

Seeing my daughter feeling down and reluctant to return to class raised concerns about the education system. She earnestly pleaded with me not to make her go to school the next day, expressing a strong aversion to that specific class. It appears that the emphasis is more on highlighting weaknesses rather than fostering growth. This not only undermines students' confidence but also contradicts the fundamental goal of education – to instill a love for learning and facilitate personal growth.

Being involved in my daughter's test prep, made me realize that some parents, including myself, might not fully grasp our child's struggles or issues with the school system. Sometimes, we unintentionally add pressure by focusing too much on grades and missing the joy of learning or not understanding our child's challenges.

I want to conclude my essay rant on this note:

Just as a forest may face stressors leading to the decline of trees, a child can experience a similar decline in their natural curiosity and enthusiasm when faced with excessive pressure from teachers and parents. It's crucial to create a supportive environment that nurtures their inherent curiosity and allows them to grow organically — but HOW? That's a talk for another day. I will have to fight a whole lot of people, including our educational system and, most importantly, the teachers at my kids' school. Do I have the energy or resources for this? Energy - maybe yes, resources - unfortunately, no.

Thank you for reading this. I couldn't come up with a sensational or even intriguing story; the essay turned into more of a rant. Thank you for your patience and for bearing with me. I'm seriously considering discussing this with the teacher, although my daughter advises against it, fearing further targeting. I'm unsure, but I still feel the need for that essential conversation with the teacher.