The Classroom Without Walls

 

This was the opening day of a new school term, and my pupils were in class feeling eager and ready to learn. The atmosphere was electric, some children paced anxiously up and down; others mumbled in altered tones. But today was different.

I did not start as usual with the syllabus, but I went to the window, tied open the curtains, and told them, "Welcome to the world. This is our classroom today."

The students looked at each other with a puzzled look.

What do you have to say?" said Arif, a boy of infinite curiosity.

I mean that the learning does not only occur within the walls of this school. History is in the streets, science is in the trees, math is in the market, and literature is in the story of every person. Nowadays we go out to know the world itself. 

And thus in the park they had a class for the first time. They discussed the distances between trees and the measurement of the angles in the playground, and they heard the tales that were told to them by the elders of the past, and then they composed poetry about the wind.

At the close of the day, the students felt transformed. It was not all about books anymore; learning became an adventure that could be found behind the walls of the school.

Walking back to their workplaces, Arif addressed me, saying, "This was the most excellent lesson."

I smiled. Class dismissed.