Teacher’s insensitive comment can kill creativity in child,say psychologists

“Whenever there is an inter-class decoration competitions,the teacher tells all the children to make charts on different topics and also models. But next day she selects only four out of 50 for decorating the walls of classroom,” said Neenu Khanna,a Vth class student,adding: “She rejects the remaining saying ‘Not a good one’ or ‘very bad’ etc. I feel very bad as every time teacher passes the same comment. Now I do not feel like making anything for the classroom decoration.”

Unfortunately this is not a one-off case. Vibha Puri,mother of a primary school child,said,”My son made a chart of Lohri festival. But the class teacher rejected it and threw it in the dustbin. In the recess,my daughter picked up the chart from dustbin and brought it back in a half-torn condition. She cried a lot. I consoled her saying,’Let’s decorate it in our drawing room’ and we did so to encourage my nine-year old daughter. I wonder why teachers ask the children to do creative work and then spike it.”

Rishabh,a second-standard student,said,“On the occasion of Diwali,we were asked to make greeting cards. Those who used a lot of glitter and mirrors were appreciated by the teacher. But the simple ones were give a wide-berth.”

It is ironical that teachers who are otherwise supposed to nurture the students’ talent seem to be suppressing the same with their wrong attitude.

“There is a dire need to change this negative attitude,” says Dr B P Mishra,Professor of Clinical Psychology at Department of Psychiatry,Dayanand Medical College and Hospital. “When a teacher passes negative comment on a child’s work,the child starts feeling demoralized. The feeling of insecurity starts hindering his all-round development. Such children prefer to stay away from creative work in future or they do not do it with same enthusiasm. And slowly they also start lagging behind in academics also.”

“The teachers should say ‘Oh this one is good. Next time you can make it even more beautiful/good.’ And the teachers should also tell the child as to how to make it more beautiful next time. A child’s ego should be given right direction for harmonious development,“ added Dr Mishra.