Madurai School choses Traditional Games to Welcome Returning Students

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The students of the Model Government Girls Higher Secondary School in Othakadai were greeted with a surprise, in a traditional way, after going through a gap of 1 and a half years. This is thanks to the headmistress of this amazing school, S Sasithra. She spent for this special surprise from her own pocket to make a ‘traditional games ground’ placed on the school premises.

According to the headmistress of the school, a traditional games playground (introduced for the first time in a government school), were made to help students step out of the addictions and appeal that the online games set, in today’s date. She said that these traditional games will help inculcate good values in them. It will also improve their concentration and hone the skills they possess. She says that the idea of these games came to her when the school was under renovation during the lockdown period.

Now, this school has got some special zones where the students can play pallanguzhi, chess, thattangal / Sotangal, Neerkodu and Paramapatham / Snakes and Ladders.

Sasithra said that the online classes which had to take place in the p ast 1-and-a-half years have affected a lot of students, in a negative way.

She said, "Now, after introducing the children to the traditional games, there is marked improvement. Every day, Class IX to XII students have a library hour or music class. And, at that time, 20 students are allowed to play these traditional games."

R Thenmozhi who is a student of Class X here, and is also a chess player at the district level, says that she truly enjoys playing chess out in the open, under the shade of trees, and amid the birds and squirrels in the background. She said, "Playing Pallanguzhi helps improve our mathematical skills. For us, these games are a stress buster."

One more student, T Kiruthika, who is also studying in Class X in the school, said that playing Thattangal helps improve quick hand-eye coordination and also improves our concentration. She said, "Snake and ladder indirectly teaches us a very valuable lesson, when we are at a height there is always a chance to fall. With our efforts and hardwork we can climb to the height again. This is not just a game; it is teaching us life skills."

This was about the amazing school in Tamil Nadu that is reintroducing traditional games for the youth. Today’s youth has lost the taste of such games and activities, which are important for our personal growth. It is important for them to get out of the online world and get accustomed to the traditional way of life once again.

This school is doing just that, and in the best possible way. The headmistress of the school, S Sasithra, deserves many lauds for making this happen. We need more such teachers in our community for the youth to be grounded again, and lessen their use of devices. Comment down below your thoughts regarding this step. Do visit the space for more such interesting stories!