Fundamentals are seminal

An Abacus is a learning companion to children. In Japan it is the at the heart of helping children to develop mathematical concepts and arithmetic proficiency. It is a fundamental tool in integrating knowledge on numbers and their applications. The engineering and innovative genius ,the Japanese have, seem to have developed began from disciplined activities of the mind from childhood, one of which  is  training children to use an abacus from early childhood.

Let me share something about the symbol, an abacus is to our understanding of fundamentals of human behaviour.

A child uses an abacus motorically, visually and cognitively. Learning is reinforced as three domains are integrated in this exercise. 

Human behaviour is a creation of personality, which is both inherited and acquired; humane experiences in childhood which form a person's character and intimacy of relationship with stable care givers. 

I have been fortunate to meet a middle aged person, who helps us by doing odd jobs in our cottage, who narrated his childhood story to me today. His father had a meagre income, but he talked to them, took them to the stream for a bath and played with them foot ball, with ball made by rolling paper together. His mother was a good cook. But all that she could provide was one rice based meal and the two other meals were made from tubers such as tapioca, which is even today the cheapest source of starchy food. The three brothers, he has, were friendly to each other and cared for each other, which continues even today. 

As he shared his story of his humble beginning and the present struggle of making both ends meet, (his wife is admitted in a hospital for fever for the last two days), I realised that his honesty, caring spirit and   friendly disposition originated from his formative experience.

I write this on the eve of the city of Boston of hunting for the suspects of the bomb attacks two days back and a five year old girl battling for her life after she was sexually assaulted in New Delhi. 

As we listen to such intensely painful stories, a question surfaces in our minds, 'where are are heading behaviourally as a humanity?'

Children suffer nutritionally, emotionally, socially and morally in many parts of the world. As adolescents or young adults they show forth reactive and resentful behaviour due to the stress and trauma they suffered earlier in life

The head master at St Thomas High school, where I completed my schooling, late Rev. P.C.Cheriyan, used to say,'love children and instruct them well', which he did extremely well. He gave  separate audience to some of the students, to help them to reflect on their acts of commission and develop good behaviour. One such student who is a leader of some repute now, who benefitted from this mentoring from the headmaster, said to me, 'Rev. Cheriyan gave me roots to belong and wings to fly'.

To me instruction, reinforcement and correction and living examples of who 'walk the talk' are seminal for human formation.

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)