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BEING a student is one of the most challenging periods of our lives, often conjuring up bittersweet memories. Parents and teachers many a time find themselves at a loss, wondering how to best guide and facilitate children during this tumultuous time. This book addresses the immediate need to motivate children, so that they can make the most of their school experience. Through this book, Mukhopadhyay Suvasish attempts to motivate children by conveying the vital significance of whole-heartedly embracing all school activities, as this will yield long-term benefits. The author communicates the insights gained over the years through personal experiences, firstly as a child who improved with the gentle guidance of his mother, then as an involved parent and finally, as a seasoned educator and counsellor specialising in career management.
There are numerous chapters aimed at inculcating important values like integrity, discipline and hard work and others on developing fundamental skills like time management, fixing goals and systematic studying. Parents reading this book will gain a better understanding of the sheer volume and great importance of the issues their children face. They will be reminded of the long-term ramifications of minor details and realise that there is a lot more at stake here than attending school, doing homework and scoring good marks. Teachers will be only too glad with the author reiterating what they are constantly trying to convey with limited success. The book will serve them as a valuable checklist to ensure that all these important aspects are addressed regularly. However the book is unlikely to get the attention of its target audience which is children who may not pursue this book of their own violation, as they have neither the time nor the inclination. Even if they do, they will mostly find repetition of what parents and teachers have been saying for years, unearthing only a few helpful tips in chapters like How to Score More in the Examination, The Golden Rules for any School Kid and You can Succeed. Given the tone and presentation of content, it may fail to strike a chord with young readers. Parents and teachers would also have benefited more from practical suggestions and examples. The chief merit of the
book, however, lies in its noble intent to remind parents, teachers and
society at large the utmost importance of motivating youngsters, even
though this task is demanding, challenging and cannot be achieved
overnight. The author’s desire to help children navigate their
demanding school years is commendable. All readers should keep in mind
the book’s parting message, "Good, better, best; Do not rest;
Till good be better; And better best."
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Written
in a simple language, the book’s hundred concise chapters cover a wide
range of topics which give due attention to seemingly innocuous details,
like pencil boxes and water bottles while addressing many
stress-inducing and highly traumatising aspects like corporal
punishment, exam fever, bullying and fear of teachers. 