FLAMINGO
Value Based Questions

1. The Last Lesson

Q1. Do you think modern Indian youth in their craze to ape the western culture are ignoring Indian languages/culture?  How can we protect our regional languages from being forgotten?

Value Points:

1. Awareness of our rich tradition
2. Take pride in our language/culture
3. At the same time, refrain from linguistic chauvinism
4. Participate and promote discussions and debates in regional languages
5. Have flexible approach – learn Indian languages alongside foreign languages

Q2. The problem of wastage – school dropouts and illiteracy/backwardness still plagues our country.  What qualities on the part of the administration, educationists and youth do you think will help to surmount this hurdle?

Value Points:

1. Clarity of vision
2. Strong political will
3. Awareness among parents/children-importance of education
4. Affluent or rich – need to give backs to society
5. Educated youth to spearhead the process

Q3. Do you think we acknowledge the service of good teachers/educationists? What values should students develop towards their elders especially teachers?
 
Value Points:

1. Respect/courtesy
2. Politeness
3. Sensitivity in terms of oral responses/body language
4. Pay heed to their suggestions
5. Interact to broaden vistas of knowledge

2. Lost Spring

Q1.  ‘Lost Spring’ by Anees Jung brings out the condition of children in India. Even after sixty five years of independence we have children who do not go to school, work in inhuman conditions and live in slums.  As a nation we have somewhere failed in our duty.  What values do we need to inculcate among the people of this nation in order to bring back the ‘spring’ in the lives of these children.

Value Points:

1. Strong will to ensure that all children get basic education
2. A sense of commitment
3. Wanting to help children
4. Say no to child labour
5. To do something for the society

Q2. Mukesh and Saheb are victims of society’s apathy. What should be our attitude towards them?

Value Points:

1. Complete understanding of their situation
2. To create awareness in the society about the underprivileged
3. To garner support from youngsters and start night school
4. Not to look down upon them

Q3. As citizens of this country what do you think is our duty? What steps can youngsters like you take to reduce the scourge of poverty?

Value Points:

1. Work with NGOs and create awareness on rights and duties
2. Provide education to these children
3. Educate their parents about the ills and dangers of making their children work in inhuman conditions.
4. Create co-operatives to provide soft loan for these people

3. DEEP WATER

Q1. With reference to the big boy who pushed Douglas into the pool we realize that many a times we fail to understand others fears and weaknesses and make fun of them without realising how much harm we are doing to the psyche of the person. What qualities does a person need to imbibe in order not to undermine others?
 
Value Points:

1. Understanding
2. Encouraging nature
3. Sympathetic
4. Kind
5. The ability to guide and talk them out of their fear and not to preach or tease

Q2. From the experience of William Douglas, we understand that it is possible to overcome even our worst fears. How can a person make this possible?

Value Points:

1. Grit
2. Hard work
3. Optimism
4. Persistence
5. Self confidence

Q3. William Douglas did manage to overcome his fear of water but part of the credit also goes to his teacher who played an important part in making this happen. How can learning be made more effective?

Value Points:

1. Methodical
2. Patience
3. Creativity
4. Practice
5. Sincerity
6. Diligence

4. RATTRAP

Q1. The rattrap seller thinks of the whole world as nothing but a big trap and the riches and joys, shelter and food, heat and clothing are just baits for people .This metaphor seems right in today’s world where people are ready to resort to any means to get what they want . They are tempted to resort to bribery, corruption, addiction and thievery at the slightest provocation. As future citizens enumerate the qualities we need to prevent us from falling into this trap.

Value Points:

1. Hard Work
2. Honesty
3. Pride
4. Integrity, Self-Respect and Self Esteem
5. A helping nature

Q2. Edla manages to bring about a change in the rattrap seller. What qualities do you think will help reform a person?
 
Value Points:

1. Care and Concern
2. Trust in others

3. Goodness
4. Empathy
5. Love and affection

Q3.  We were just saying that it was too bad we didn’t have any company for Christmas. The spirit of Christmas needs to be nurtured in our hearts not only during the festive throughout the year. How can the spirit of Christmas be kept alive throughout the year?
 
Value Points:

1. Charity
2. Helpfulness
3. Empathy
4. Caring
5. Goodwill
6. Tolerance
7. Nurturing Brotherhood

5. INDIGO

Q1. Mahatma Gandhi represented the share croppers of Champaran in their fight against the British, seeking justice for themselves and release from the 15 % arrangement. He led from the front and secured justice for the poor and oppressed. In the light of reading the lesson ‘Indigo’ by Louis Fischer, write the text of a speech on ‘The qualities of a good leader’

Value points:

1. Dynamic, honest above all
2. Working as a team, methodical
3. Moral and social grip over the people
4. Transparent, firm and confident
5. Altruistic-welfare of the people under him, at all cost.

Q2. Gandhiji said ‘Freedom from fear is more important than legal justice for the poor. It is very clear from the lesson ‘Indigo’ by Louis Fischer that freedom from fear is a pre-requisite for justice. Discuss in an article for the school magazine the ill effects of fear- analyzing whether Indians are really free from fear after independence.

Value points:

1. Fear is a sign of weakness, fearlessness is strength.
2. Giving up fear needed to fight for our rights.
3. Fear is hindrance to progress, curbs freedom of expression.
4. Humans-born free.
5. Current scenario- Political clout used to twist laws/justice
6. Bureaucracy, red-tapism, money and muscle power rule the roost.

Q3. Gandhiji was not allowed to draw water from the well lest some drops from his bucket pollute the entire source. (Indigo- Louis Fischer). Such discrimination would prove to be detrimental to the society. Analyse the importance of acquiring humane qualities in an article for a newspaper.

Value points:

1. Absolutely wrong to discriminate – not to be tolerated
2. God is one and we are his children.
3. Need to understand the values of universal brotherhood, goodwill and tolerance.
4. Upliftment of the poor and downtrodden, to be humane.
5. Make them more self-reliant

6. Going Places

Q1. To accomplish great things, we must dream as well as act. To reach great heights dreams must manifest into actions. Mere dreams without action remain an illusion.  Sophie dreamed of owning a boutique. What do you think should be the plan of action to fulfill such a dream?

Value Points:

1. Determination
2. Focus
3. Hard work
4. Perseverance
5. Skill

Q2. Sophie like many children today, aspires for things beyond her means and is always looking  for material comforts.  What values need to be instilled in children so that they learn to be better human beings and not purely materialistic?

Value Points:

1. Practical
2. Contentment
3. Satisfaction

Q3. Jansie is pragmatic and realistic in her aspirations and outlook in life. Jansie’s outlook in life is praiseworthy and worth emulating.  Enlist the values that one could develop which could make us endearing and successful.

Value Points:

1. Sincere
2. practical/pragmatic
3. Realistic
4. Frank

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