When Students Surpass Expectations

School and students go together. As does indiscipline and fights and late-coming as well as laziness.

But why don’t we remember the times when students surprised us and surpassed our expectations?

The Republic Day programme had concluded. Students had left, gleefully clutching the sweets that had been distributed. The costly equipment like the microphone, the sound box and the podium had already been cleared.  The teachers too were slowly leaving, calling out goodbyes to each other. I was coming down from the staff room, when I noticed a big group of senior students, standing stiffly. They were NCC Cadets.  I wondered why they were standing so erectly and patiently. I went up to them and asked them, ‘Why are you still waiting?  Don’t you want to go home?’ ‘Ma’am, our officer has told us to wait.  We may have some more work to do.  So we are waiting for his orders.’ Every NCC Unit in school, has a teacher who is a trained NCC officer and is in charge of the students. I told them, ‘Fine.  But why are you standing in the heat? You can sit in the shade and wait for your officer.’ And pat came the reply, ‘Not until our officer permits us. We have to follow his instructions.’ I remember seeing the students stand in that position for a good twenty minutes.  Then the officer came and ordered them to keep all the furniture, chairs and benches and tables, back in the classrooms. And they patiently carried out the task, without a murmur. I still wonder if anyone remembered to keep their share of the sweets! Another time, the NCC students went to attend a camp, in another district. A group of cadets, accompanied by one officer went to attend. The camp has many activities, some of them physically challenging. There are also competitions held under various heads. When the team came back, they had the all-rounders’ Trophy held aloft with pride and joy. It was later we came to know that the officer accompanying the team had fallen ill during the camp. One option was to go back home, as without their leader, it would be difficult to complete all the assigned tasks. Did they take the easy path? NO! They stayed back, completed the assignments and won the prize. Their leader, a teacher himself, was so proud of his cadets. One of the senior students in the group took charge. All the activities were completed. Every instruction was meticulously obeyed. The students had achieved by themselves, something that even a team with an efficient leader would have found difficult to accomplish. It was many years later, and I had become a Principal by then. One of our colleagues suddenly lost her husband. The problem was that the way to the staff quarters was through a pathway that crossed the school building. The custom is that the body is brought home and then taken to the crematorium.  The problem was that it was a school day and the time when the body would be brought back, coincided with the lunch break. All the kids would be out and it would be difficult for the ambulance to enter the compound. Plus, there was the factor, that we did not want to expose small children to the sadness and sorrow of death. I decided to change the lunch break for that one day. Then we roped in the senior class students to ensure that no child was out on the grounds when the ambulance entered. I also wanted the students to keep real quiet till the body was taken away in the ambulance. When I returned from the hospital, along with a few colleagues, the school was absolutely quiet. The senior students not only kept the students in the classes, they also kept them engaged. Thus, many of the teachers could go and pay their respects to the departed soul. It was the year when celebrating Grandparents was first introduced into the activities of the school. Grandparents of the primary class students were invited.  Everything was new and unknown. I did realise that the grandparents would have to be kept entertained for at least an hour. Then the planning for the refreshment.  The older students would continue with their regular classes. How was all this to be managed on a regular school working day? We decided to rope in the Class XI students. The Deputy School Leaders were made in-charge of the cultural programme. For once, I did not interfere too much. The end result left everybody amazed and entertained. The senior students had organised everything, from a welcome rose at the entrance to the seating in the auditorium. Those grandparents who were too old to be able to walk without assistance, were escorted by the Class XI students to their seats. Afterwards, they had arranged two games for the senior citizens. Nothing that involved walking or running or any physical activity! There was an Antakshari- a game where one group sings a song and the other starts a new song with the last letter of the previous song. The organisers divided the seniors into two groups- men versus women. Then followed fifteen minutes of singing, arguing, laughing. The senior citizens enjoyed themselves. It was a treat to see that when there is a competition, all want to win. This was followed by a quiz.  The Class XI students had made a quiz which involved oral questions, sound tracks and even visuals. It was a wonderful programme, and the grandparents participated wholeheartedly. Even when the grandparents were taken to the refreshment hall, the class XI students stayed with them, serving them, holding their plates and cups till they settled down. And finally, the senior students even escorted the grandparents till the main gate.  Many grandparents met me and praised the students and the arrangements. I realised then that students far surpass our expectations. All that they need is our encouragement and an opportunity to showcase their talents. USHA ASWATH IYER has worked as a teacher of English in KendriyaVidyalayas, a school education system under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. She became a Principal and later, Director in Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan.  She has handled teaching, administrationand training of staff in her career.  Her collection of short stories was published under the title ‘The Quilt and Other Stories- A Glimpse into the World of Women’ by the Little Booktique Hub in 2023. In 2025, her second book, ‘The Last Laddoo-Colours of Childhood’ was published by Astitva Prakashan. After retirement, she has settled in Pune and spends her time writing or in painting.