Away from the classroom, the 300-odd children taking part in Summer School 2016 organised by the Kerala State Central Library here have four interesting weeks ahead of them.
In its 32nd year, the Summer School is carrying forward its tradition of expanding the horizons of the children, by offering a mix of fun and learning through a host of programmes.
Besides sessions in literature, theatre, and the arts, it opens the window to subjects such as environment, energy conservation, children’s safety, news in visual media, agriculture, road safety, new media, and cyber security.
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A class in jewellery making, competitions, a trip to the zoo and the museum, interactions with actors, and a study tour ensure that the fun element does not get lost.
The Summer School was inaugurated by Governor P. Sathasivam on Wednesday.
In his address, he said education must be a joy, not a burden. Recollecting his schooling in Erode district in Tamil Nadu, he said they did not have elaborate educational facilities back then, but they were less confused than the children today.
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The Summer School could help children maintain focus and make informed choices in life. Interactions with people from different walks of life would help them gain an overview of how various components of society functioned. They could learn a lot from these people and discover hidden talents within. Interactions helped improve social skills that were essential to live in harmony in society.
Most importantly, the children should ask for information about their rights, so that they could gain insights into how society and the nation tried to protect them.
Social responsibilities
It would also spur them to think about current social realities.
Poet Rosemary who was present on the occasion said the children were fortunate, as they would get to know about various topics and issues from interactions with experts and would be guided by them.
The camp would help them learn about life and aid in mental development.
Writer George Onakkoor said the children were the future and what they learnt and did would change the State, the country, and the world.
One of the most important things was for them to learn to love the Earth, and those that inhabited it such as trees and bees. Telling them of Piplantri village in Rajasthan where 111 saplings were planted for every girl born, he urged the children to plant a tree on their birthday every year.
M.R. Thampan, member of the library advisory committee, who presided over the function, said for their dreams to succeed, the children should think, and then translate them into reality through hard work and willpower.