Grade 2 MMTS Field Trip - Dad's Reflection

Mr.Sumit Sharma

All Aboard!

A cool cloudy early winter morning and not only children but moms & dads were also geared up to have a day out with their toddlers.

The heat of organizing it cooled down with the weather.

Believe it or not, first we thought its going to be very easy, but it was not so. Come…on having a large number of parents to be available on a same day at a same time, it requires deliberations.

The plan for a field trip to MMTS station cropped up right in our very first Class Reps meeting. It was suggested by one of the class rep and rest quickly encouraged it. Anu was the most eager one for this.

So after initial hiccups (for every one it was a first hand experience), finally dates were finalized for the trip from Lingampally Station to Hi-Tech city.

I started my part by calling up and requesting parents to volunteer for the trip, as we needed enough of them to take care of children. To my surprise every parent was interested and wanted to be a part of it, but some had pre-engagements and some were going out of station, still they were concerned for it. This gave me encouragement and I started my part.

I took initial tips from Madam Anuradha (Coordinator Grade 1 & 2) and worked upon it. She was a great help in designing every detail minutely.

Wow! we had more than 15 (the number asked from us) parents to help on the day. Even after Class teacher Prashobha made the final buddy list, we still had more parents joining in.

It was an excellent response on the very first trip as part of PTA.

So most of the parents accumulated, early morning 8.30 at school and we left for Lingampally station. Few parents reached there directly. My only worry was there should not be any last minute drop outs.

Well I’m blessed, everyone turned up and on time. Great, so buses reached station at exactly 10 A.M. Kids were roaring with lot of anticipation and so were parents. Other sections were also there, and soon we had a big team with joy and inquisitiveness of little bundles of energy reminding me of famous song … Taare Zameen Pe. I felt a great satisfaction for stealing time out of my days schedule for the most deserving souls.

Anu was shouting and giving instructions. I could feel huge personal involvement in her every action. She was charged up and I prayed for her not having a croaked voice at the end of day.

  

Well soon we marched inside the station. School has arranged for tickets for everyone. Station master came and started giving introduction to children about Railways system, MMTS mode of trains etc.

His joy in explaining our children was very evident. He then asked for any queries from children. I guess children were waiting for this moment, coz from the moment they got down from buses one can make out enormous questions crawling in their head, as they had learned a lot about Railway transportation during POI classes. They want lot of clarifications, I felt.

All hands were up for asking their doubts from station master and he was literally confused. But I should really give full credit to class teachers, for the way children were following essential agreements and discipline briefed prior to them.

I prepared a small list of common terms used in Railway transportation. While making it I left out certain ones which I felt are little technical for such young ones. But to my surprise, children asked all such things and station master explained them. As a matter of fact there were few facts which I believe most of the parents never knew earlier.

So all in all interaction with station master was a good learning experience. Suddenly there was an announcement for our train arriving at the platform. Every one started marching towards the designated location on the platform.

“Tadak Tadak … Tadak Tadak”, came our train on the platform. Children were shouting in eagerness. Last few boogies were kept reserved for us. Everyone started boarding in. Prashobha was shouting, “h h … all in one coach”. So we almost had all H section parents in one coach. There was noise all around. School has made excellent arrangements with Security team guiding parents and children inside coaches.

Suddenly horn blew, and slowly though short but a really memorable journey started. All the children made a big roar together as if they have won a championship. Parents and teachers explained children things like rail route pasted inside, hand brake chain etc.

Children sat with utmost discipline; no doubt they were enjoying every bit of it. Everybody was enjoying it so much that it looked as a one big family going for a vacation. On the way came couple of stations and daily commuters got in our coaches. They were also amazed looking at zeal and zest of children. Anu was busy taking pictures all around. For a moment I felt she was enjoying it even more than children. She shared with me the nostalgic recall of her Mumbai local experiences and how it was a fun then.

Finally we reached our destination … Hi –Tech City. Children were still eager to go further, but then that was all for at least this journey. We de-boarded the train and Class teacher took head count of all parents. Still one last experience … Foot Over Bridge … Everyone crossed it, and it seemed the most blissful and harmonious crowd I have ever witnessed on a Railway platform.

We came out of station to the parking lot and guided the children to their respective buses. Everyone for the last time cheered up for school staff, Children and parents. I thanked to all the parents. Everybody was overjoyed and satisfied with a great journey, which certainly will be left as a cherished memory down the years.

Today, I understood the fact preschoolers, toddlers and young children are always learning. When they observe, touch, see and smell-they are learning. It is a never ending part of their young lives.

This ‘learning’ fact is a big reason why it is important for children to experience new things and new environments.

And we have already started planning the next such journey …

Mr.Sumit Sharma