Bicol State College of Applied Sciences and Technology

Peñafrancia, Naga City

S/Y: 2020-2021

THE TEACHING PROFESSION

ACTIVITY 1
Reflection on the Movie: Every Child is Special

Submitted by:

Angelica S. Paga
SLP 1B
 Reflection Paper: Every Child is Special

The title of the movie says every child is special. Every child is different. They
have their own nature/ character; which they express in diverse ways. They have this
uniqueness that we failed to fully recognize as some of us lack understanding and
patience to even acknowledge them.

The movie is about a nine years old boy named Ishaan Iwasthi who suffers from
a disability called dyslexia, a reading disability due to problems identifying speech
sounds. Ishaan’s parents and teachers aren’t aware of this matter as they only thought
he was a mischievous child. They failed to recognize that the boy is having a hard time
dealing and coping in school as he can’t write nor read letters properly. He sees things
differently that his teachers and classmates failed to understand. His parents are more
focused on his brother who is much smarter than him. They never seem to appreciate
Ishaan’s talent and creativity towards arts and only sees him as a troublesome young
boy who can’t do simple things right. 

Having trouble in his current school, his parents then decided it is better for
Ishaan to be in a boarding school where he can learn how to be more disciplined and
productive. However, this just makes him more confused and depressed, angered as he
can’t do things other children his age can do no matter how much he tries. He was
called an “idiot, crazy, duffer and lazy” all the time.

  Then he met Ram Nikumbh, his new art teacher who noticed his difficulties.
Ram sees himself in Ishaan as he also suffers the same when he was a child. He
wanted to save Ishaan and help the boy in his studies by staying persistent, showing his
sincerity by understanding the child’s problem in reading and writing and acknowledging
Ishaan’s talent and creativity in life. He talked and consulted the child’s parents to be
fully aware of Ishaan’s problems and disability and to give them the chance to fully
understand the struggle of having dyslexia. He helps Ishaan in many ways giving the
child a chance to prove the beauty in him.  Ram taught Ishaan through different
methods making studying fun. With time, Ishaan began to improve, he now knows how
to write little by little, he can also read and do math.  The child is much happier than
before finding a friend and a father through Ram who can understand him better and
see the beauty in him that the other failed to notice. 

As a future teacher, teaching is not just sharing and imparting knowledge to the
students but it is also a process in attending their needs, understanding their feelings,
building relationships and involving yourself in different methods or ways to help them
learn new things. I believe that teaching is also a form of learning. We need to listen to
the students' concerns and opinions and learn from it. We need to fully understand them
to know how to help. 

 Somehow the movie broke my heart that some people specially in a place where
they should be guided and understand are the ones who failed to see and understand
them. I cried seeing a child being judged because he can’t do things people expect him
to do. They called him names that are inappropriate and make fun of him instead of
helping him and knowing what’s wrong with him. Through this movie, I somehow
understand how hard it is to struggle to prove yourself to people and to meet someone's
expectations. How hard it is to be constantly not understood by society. Though I
believe that no parents want to see any of their children hurt, what Ishaan’s parents
have done are what they think is the best at that moment. I felt like a lot of parents focus
on shaping and preparing their children for their future, working hard to give what they
need and to give the proper life they deserve. Sometimes they forget to pay attention
and observe what is happening towards their children, what their struggles are, what's
on their minds.

The movie also opened my eyes to see the beauty in every child, that they are all
special in their own ways and that people need to accept and learn from them. It gives
hope and insight that having disability is not a hindrance to be able to learn and
definitely not a hopeless situation. As a future teacher and as a future mother, we need
to be observant, patient and we should be open to finding different methods and
strategies to help them learn things, cope with their surroundings. We need to
understand them truly and acknowledge what they can. What a child needs the most
are support, love and acceptance.  At the end of the movie, people accepted Ishaan
and his uniqueness, his parents now understand and see what a wonderful child he is.
He is special just like how every child is special in their own ways.