One of the best things to teach children is the importance of a good attitude. Your attitude makes a big difference in your life. I choose to live my life with a cheerful and optimistic attitude. I’ve been burned a few times, but it has served me well.
People often ask me: why do you live in India? Indians themselves ask the question most frequently. It’s all about the attitude. When I first came to India, I had an open mind and a positive attitude. I wanted to meet new people, see new places, and learn new things. 18 years later, I am still learning.
People also ask me: why are you shifting to Chennai? When I first visited this city, almost a year ago, I brought a positive attitude. Therefore, I saw things that I liked: strong academic traditions, a profound and timeless culture, a friendly and easy-going population, the Buddha calmly minding many spaces, a sincere commitment to multiculturalism, and a clear emphasis on the simple joys of life, such as eating with family or relaxing with friends.
More importantly, in KC High I saw an excellent school. It is a school that values authentic learning more than league tables and exam results. It is a school with joyful students, brilliant parents, and extraordinary teachers. It is a school that will welcome me as an educator, and welcome my family, even though we are a bit quirky.
We educators are so busy teaching trigonometry and poetry, or perhaps citizenship and values, that we often forget the importance of teaching a good attitude.
Once, when she was in LKG, my daughter Sophie saw me get frustrated, and she said, “Dad, you get what you get, and you don’t get upset!” These words of wisdom were taught by her kindergarten teacher, Ms. Nerisha, who realized the importance of teaching a positive attitude. She also knew a secret that many teachers miss: a positive attitude is easier to learn than trigonometry!
At KC High, I have interacted with children with nothing but a positive attitude. When I asked these boys if they wanted a math test, they said, YES! This positive attitude will definitely help them achieve in Mathematics.
Mick Purcell is the head of school at KC High IGCSE Board Cambridge International School, Chennai. He teaches mathematics, creative writing, elementary drama, disc sports, reputation management, and Rubik’s cube.
He has 3 beautiful children and a lovely wife, but he dreams about climbing mountains and getting away from it all. You can email him at mick@kchigh.com.
Thanks for sharing this excellent blog about attitude and how its making difference in human life. keep blogging for us.