Summary & Question-answers of The Chapter:5-A Different Kind of School with the concerned video

A Different Kind of School Summary

The narrator had heard a lot of good things about Miss Beam and her school. Miss Beam was known for using simple teaching methods in a perfect way.

The narrator visited the school. He posed some questions to the teacher. She told him that she taught nothing special but simple calculations and writing.The boys and girls were taught how to do things independently without any help.Few things were read to them.Interesting talks were held to raise their interest.The main objective and aim of the school was to make students more thoughtful and responsible citizens.

The narrator went to the school gardens which were beautifully maintained.There, he noticed a poor little girl being helped by a boy.He also saw a girl with a crutch.He thought the one was blind and the other was lame. But Miss Beam explained that the school observes one blind, one lame, one deaf, one injured and one dumb day for every child in a term. These activities make the children more thoughtful and concerned.

On the blind day eyes were bandaged of one child and other children helped the blind throughout the day.This game became a great learning for both the blind and their helpers.Thereafter, Miss Beam took the narrator to one of the bandaged girls. The girl shared her feelings and learning with him. She related how she felt scared of being hit at every moment and this feeling was the most painful one. After this experience the narrator realized that he had also developed a concerned attitude towards the disabled. He told Miss Beam that he was sorry to leave her school. She felt happy to know that the system in her school was good and her teaching style and way of imparting values was marvellous.

 Answer the following questions:

1. Why do you think the writer visited Miss Beam’s school ?

Ans: The writer visited Miss Beam’s school because he had heard a great deal about the school.

2. What was the ‘game’ that every child in the school had to play ?

Ans: The ‘game’ that every child in the school had to play was that each term every child had one blind day, one lame day, one deaf day, one injured day and one dumb day

3. “Each term every child has one blind day, one lame day…” Complete the line. Which day was the hardest? Why was it the hardest? 

Ans: “Each term every child has one blind day, one lame day, one deaf day, one injured day and one dumb day.” The dumb day was the hardest because the children’s mouths could not be bandaged, so they really had to exercise their will power to remain silent.

4. What was the purpose of these special days ?

Ans: The purpose of these special days was to teach the children thoughtfulness – kindness to others, and how to be responsible citizens. These days make the children appreciate and understand misfortune by making them share in the misfortune of others.