Physical violence is a sign of great unconsciousness and of something weak and crude in nature that manifests itself as physical hitting a child who made a mistake. Whatever may happen this is never ever to be done to children. If someone does it then he has lost the game. Children will no more respect such a person and even though they may listen because of brute force their consciousness is scarred and their hearts bruised forever. This is just not to be done to children. They do not deserve it and even our soul does not deserve it. When we get angry this way not only do we lose contact with our soul but also transmit this vibration into children thereby spoiling their soil.
So what should we do. The first thing we must realize and understand is that what do we really know. We think that this is good for children and that is not and on that basis start imposing our views and ways of life as if we were forcing a product to fit into our idea of what it must be. We fail to understand that each child is unique and hence needs a different dealing. This is the first thing we need to understand, that is to say our own ignorance.
With this background we can take up some general issues:
Lying: children most often lie either because they have picked up this habit by contagion and example from parents or caregivers or else because they are afraid of the consequences of confessing a truth. The solution for the first kind is to educate the parents, to involve them in the education process explaining them the consequences of their actions and states of consciousness upon children. It is parental education that is needed here. for the second kind of lying the solution is to not only to educate the child about the far reaching consequences of this habit. Practical examples can be given like the story of Red Riding Hood and many others from Indian mythology. Apart from this the school must encourage children to speak the truth assuring and ensuring that they are never punished when they confess something truthfully and honestly. Later they can be explained about the need and power and value of truthfulness.
Discipline: Discipline for the sake of discipline is an old thing. What is needed is to teach children ways and means to develop concentration and channelise their energies properly in a desired direction. Quite naturally if we do not give them an engaging interesting subject then they will not be able to focus and start behaving in a restless manner. this is not indiscipline but a lack of focus of energies. Teach them how to take interest in the class and everything and also make the classes interesting. Also there should be enough opportunities for them to release energies,, especially vital energies through games, sports and music.
Mistakes: Mistakes are opportunities to learn and not punish. No one knows what is the right thing from birth. it is a constant learning and each mistake should be only an occasion to learn and nothing else.
Unconditional love: Unconditional love does not mean listening to anything and giving whatever the child asks for. that is not unconditional love but ignorant love. Unconditional love means that our love for the person who is loved does not depend upon the person’s response. It continues to flow regardless of whatever one receives or not. But this does not mean doing anything and everything that the person wants. that is not love but obedience and slavery. Such was and is the love of the Mother. she keeps pouring Her love upon us even when we do not value it fully or give back anything to Her. But in doing so She does not encourage wrong or lower movements. If we do not receive it rightly then we simply shut our doors to Her Love even though she keeps on pouring it endlessly.
We too can become reservoirs of such love by simply loving Her. By loving Her we begin to grow in Her nature. that is what yoga does for us. So best is to keep turning towards Her and slowly we shall see that whatever we need, knowledge, power, love and everything else will develop spontaneously in us.
As to the way of teaching right and wrong, the best way is to teach them to consult the heart where alone Truth resides. The mind can justify anything but the heart does not lie if they know how to listen. Of course i am not speaking of the surface heart that is open to every wave from the universal current but of the deeper inmost heart.
affectionately
alok
