Responsibility & Cooperation - Super7 BHIS

THE CRUX OF TEAMWORK

As Michael Korda rightly said, "Success on any major scale requires you to accept responsibility... In the final analysis, the one quality that all successful people have is the ability to take on responsibility." Reflecting after Mr. Dutt’s Session, we had a mutual realisation that taking and shouldering responsibility comes from within. It is all about the one who takes the onus of an outcome.

A responsible person is one who can be trusted to act without needing strict supervision because they are accountable for their behaviour. Being given a responsibility boosts a person’s self-esteem and the desire to excel. A responsible person tackles difficult tasks without blaming others for any setbacks or predicaments. They are responsible for success or failure.

Student responsibility occurs when students take an active role in learning by recognizing the fact that they are accountable for their success – be it academics or sports. They demonstrate responsibility where they make choices and act in a manner that leads them towards their goals.

Responsibility is all about taking the onus.
 We cannot shy away by pointing fingers at others.

We can take the example of an athlete standing right before the event and reflecting on his performance in the past. At that point standing before the starting line, he is fully aware that only he is responsible for his performance in the race and no one else.

One of us remembers a 6th-grade student, Kabir who was very shy and sincere. He was usually an introvert and preferred to stay quiet. However, he was an excellent table tennis player. He took a 7-day leave from school to visit his grandparents. He had an important Inter-School Table Tennis Competition. He kept his Table Tennis Set in his locker and gave the keys to his close friend Rihansh fearing that he might forget to bring it on the D-Day. Two days later, Rihansh opened Kabir’s locker and in the process, the other classmates saw the set, snatched it and started playing. Inadvertently, both the bats were broken. Rihansh was scared and shoved the box inside the locker and locked it. On his return, Kabir was devastated to see his set broken. He refused to speak to anyone and left the classroom sobbing. It was then that the teacher came to know of the incident. She called Rihansh aside, spoke to him, made him realise how Kabir had trusted him but he could not deliver on his responsibility. Rihansh understood his mistake, realized Kabir's helpless situation and visited every classroom in search of a spare Table Tennis bat. At last, he found one and gave it to Kabir. The triumphant smile on Kabir's face after winning and the tight embrace of the two friends spoke of their love and amity.

It is important to support each other.

Cooperation is the process by which people work or act together for some common benefit. This is an essential element for co-existing in the present world.

Cooperation is a skill that all students should develop and enhance to succeed in a future professional environment. It not only enhances the ability of students to appreciate teamwork but also improves their knowledge. It helps them to improve their listening and communication skills. Along with all the listed benefits, it helps the students to discover their personality and accordingly build a better character.

We have come across scenarios in a classroom during break time where kids litter the floor with water or their food items. However, as a responsible member of the class, they should ensure that the room is always neat and tidy.  A teacher’s task during cooperative learning involves the stimulation of constructive interactions between learners. A perfect example of cooperation would be when the entire class waits patiently for a child to catch up with the learning and proceeds only when he is done. We have witnessed children sharing their tiffin boxes because someone’s food has spilt on the ground. This is a classic example of cooperation.

Rudransh, a student of Grade 4, BHIS opines that helping
his mother in household chores makes him feel responsible.

In millions of homes across the nation, during this current situation of lockdown, parents are juggling between professional and personal life like never before.

This is an ideal time to inculcate such values among children. Not all lessons need to be academic – they can be life lessons too. It is imperative that they learn to cooperate with others and even assist their parents in household chores.

Super 7 @ Billabong High International School, Thane

- Sayantani Mukherjee, Dimple Awasthi, Ritu Chitnis, Manjusha Saji, Jyoti Ramdhave, Vijaylaxmi Ramesh & Sumati Muthukumar