A handshake or a hug to boost students’ morale
- 16 May, 2019
A handshake or a hug for students before the morning assembly by the teacher or a principal of a school is said to boost students’ morale while making them happy and confident. The Principal of Telangana Social Welfare Residential School/Junior College (Girls), S. Rupa was inspired by a YouTube video where a primary school teacher greets her students by handshakes, fist bumps and hugs.
Motivated by it, she decided to try out the gesture in a summer camp where she received a positive response. She greeted her students belonging to the backward sections of the society with either a handshake, a hug, a high five or a fist bump.
She then took printouts of these gestures and put it up in places where the students could see it. Students were then randomly asked to select the signs they liked.
"We asked them to select any. We did not tell them what it was. We were doing it as a surprise for them. They felt happy and some children wanted all four," she said.
Her efforts is said to have increased the students’ morale and built their bonding with the teachers.
Her thoughtful gesture has won the praise of many officials who have now decided to implement this practice in all schools on alternative days for fifth standard students.
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