By Jyoti Verma
NCERT Class 6 English Honeysuckle Book Chapter 5 A Different Kind of School Summary, Explanation and Question Answers
A Different Kind of School – NCERT Class 6 English Honeysuckle Book Lesson 5 A Different Kind of School Summary and Detailed explanation of the lesson along with the meanings of difficult words. All the exercises and Question and Answers given at the back of the lesson has been covered.
Class 6 English (Honeysuckle Book) Chapter 5 – A Different Kind of School
By E.V. Lucas
- Introduction
- A Different Kind of School Summary
- A Different Kind of School Explanation
- A Different Kind of School Question Answers
Introduction of the lesson
This lesson is a message about how doing simple things can make learning more interesting and easier. Learning while doing is the best way to learn different things. Moreover, other than learning routine things, we need to make ourselves aware and concerned about our environment and its problems. How we can make children more responsible and aware citizens? To know this, let’s read the lesson.
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A Different Kind of School Summary
The narrator had heard a lot of good things about Miss Beam and her school. Miss Beam was known for using simple teaching methods in a perfect way.
The narrator visited the school. He posed some questions to the teacher. She told him that she taught nothing special but simple calculations and writing. The boys and girls were taught how to do things independently without any help. Few things were read to them. Interesting talks were held to raise their interest. The main objective and aim of the school was to make students more thoughtful and responsible citizens.
The narrator went to the school gardens which were beautifully maintained. There, he noticed a poor little girl being helped by a boy.He also saw a girl with a crutch.He thought the one was blind and the other was lame. But Miss Beam explained that the school observes one blind, one lame, one deaf, one injured and one dumb day for every child in a term. These activities make the children more thoughtful and concerned.
On a blind day eyes were bandaged of one child and other children helped the blind throughout the day.This game became a great learning for both the blind and their helpers. Thereafter, Miss Beam took the narrator to one of the bandaged girls. The girl shared her feelings and learning with him. She related how she felt scared of being hit at every moment and this feeling was the most painful one. After this experience, the narrator realized that he had also developed a concerned attitude towards the disabled. He told Miss Beam that he was sorry to leave her school. She felt happy to know that the system in her school was good and her teaching style and way of imparting values was marvelous.
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A Different Kind of School Explanation
Passage – I had heard a great deal about Miss Beam’s school, but not till last week did the chance come to visit it.
Word Meaning
great deal: to a great extent
Explanation of the above Passage – The narrator is saying that he had heard a lot about Miss Beam school, but he got a chance to visit it the previous week.
Passage – When I arrived there was no one in sight but a girl of about twelve. Her eyes were covered with a bandage means she had a blind fold on her eyes and she was being led carefully between the flower-beds by a little boy, who was about four years younger. She stopped, and it looked like she asked him who had come. He seemed to be describing me to her. Then they passed on.
Word Meaning
insight: to be seen
Explanation of the above Passage – When the narrator reached the school, no one was there except a two years old girl. Her eyes were covered with a bandage and a four years old boy was guiding her between flower-beds. She stopped as if to ask who had come? It seemed that he explained the visitor details to her. Then they passed on.
Passage – Miss Beam was all that I had expected middle-aged, full of authority, yet kindly and understanding. Her hair was beginning to turn grey, and she had the kind of plump figure that is likely to be comforting to a homesick child. I asked her some questions about her teaching methods, which I had heard were simple.
Word Meaning
kindly: friendly
plump: stout, pleasantly fat
Explanation of the above Passage – As per the narrator expectations, Miss Beam was middle-aged, dominating, yet friendly and understanding. Her hair was turning grey. She was fat and probably was trying to make a homesick child feel at ease. The author questioned her about the simple methods she used for teaching.
Passage – No more than is needed to help them to learn how to do things simple spelling, adding, subtracting, multiplying and writing. The rest is done by reading to them and by interesting talks, during which they have to sit still and keep their hands quiet. There are practically no other lessons.
Word Meaning
still: without moving
Explanation of the above Passage – Her reply was that in her school they taught simply by helping them to learn simple spellings, adding, subtracting, multiplying and writing skills. The rest of the learning was done by reading to them and conducting interesting talks, during which they were supposed to sit silently without moving. Except this, there were actually no other lessons.
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Passage – The real aim of this school is not so much to teach thought as to teach thoughtfulness kindness to others and being responsible citizens. Look out of the window a minute, will you?
responsible: aware of the duties
Explanation of the above Passage – Further, she added that the actual aim of this school was to teach thoughtfulness to the students, to make them sensibly kind and concerned towards others and to awaken them to their duties. Then, she asked me to look out of the window.
Passage – I went to the window which overlooked a large garden and a playground at the back. What do you see? Miss Beam asked.
Word Meaning
Overlooked: have a view of something from above
Explanation of the above Passage – The narrator went to the window and viewed a large garden and a playground. Miss Beam asked him what he was able to see.
Passage – I see some very beautiful grounds, I said, œand a lot of jolly children. It pains me, though, to see that they are not all so healthy and active-looking. When I came in, I saw one poor little girl being led about. She has some trouble with her eyes. Now I can see two more with the same difficulty. And there a girl with a crutch watching the others at play. She seems to be a hopeless cripple.
Word Meaning
Cripple: disable
Explanation of the above Passage – The narrator explained what all he was able to see- Beautiful grounds, many cheerful children. He was sad to notice some children who were not very healthy and active. After coming in, he noticed a girl who had trouble with her eyes. Then, he observed two more with the same kind of disability. He also noticed a girl with a crutch who was watching the other children at play. Perhaps she was lame.
Passage – Miss Beam laughed. Oh, no she said. She’s not really lame. This is only her lame day. The others are not blind either. It is only their blind day. I must have looked very surprised, for she laughed again.
Word Meaning
at play: playing
hopeless: unfortunate; without hope
lame day: day on which she acts as if she was lame
Explanation of the above Passage – Miss Beam laughed and explained that she was not lame rather it was her lame day. The others are also not blind but are observing their Blind day. She laughed again at my astonished look.
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Passage – This is a very important part of our system. To make our children appreciate and understand misfortune, we make them share in misfortune too. Each term every child has one blind day, one lame day, one deaf day, one injured day and one dumb day. During the blind day their eyes are bandaged absolutely and they are on their honor not to peep. The bandage is put on overnight so they wake blind. This means that they need help with everything. Other children are given the duty of helping them and leading them about. They all learn so much this way both the blind and the helpers.
Word Meaning
misfortune: unfortunate condition; bad luck
their eyes are bandaged: they are blindfolded
are on their honor: have promised
Explanation of the above Passage – Thereafter, she explained that to make their children appreciate, accept and understand misfortune with the same mind as fortune they have made such activities an essential part of their system. Each term, every child is supposed to observe one blind day, one lame day, one deaf day, one injured day and one dumb day. On blind day their eyes are blindfolded and they promise that day not to peep at all and this is done overnight so that they wake up in a blind-like condition and get help for everything they do. Other children have the duty to help and guide them. This way both the blind and the helpers learn a lot of things.
Passage – There is no misery about it, Miss Beam continued. Everyone is very kind, and it is really something of a game. Before the day is over, though, even the most thoughtless child realizes what misfortune is.
Word Meaning
misery: difficulty; unpleasantness
Thoughtless: careless
Explanation of the above Passage – Miss Beam further said that with this type of a game even a very careless child learns to be responsible at the end of the day.
Passage – The blind day is, of course, really the worst, but some of the children tell me that the dumb day is the most difficult. We cannot bandage the children’s mouths, so they really have to exercise their will-power. Come into the garden and see for yourself how the children feel about it.
Explanation of the above Passage – No doubt, that blind day was the worst but according to some children, the dumb day was the most difficult as mouths could not be bandaged. The children had to use their willpower in that case. Then she took him to the garden to let him to watch the children and their feelings himself.
Passage – Miss Beam led me to one of the bandaged girls. Here a gentleman come to talk to you, said Miss Beam, and left us.
Word Meaning
come to talk: who has come to talk
Explanation of the above Passage – Miss Beam took the narrator to the bandaged girls and after introducing to them she left them.
Passage – Don’t you ever peep? I asked the girl.Oh, no she exclaimed. That would be cheating! But I had no idea it was so awful to be blind. You can see a thing. You feel you are going to be hit by something every moment. It was such a relief just to sit down.
Word Meaning
awful: bad
Explanation of the above Passage – The narrator asked the girl if she ever tried to lookout. The girl replied anxiously that it would be cheating. Before this experience, she never realized that being blind was that bad. One was not able to see anything and at every step one fears of being hit by something. Just sitting down was a comfort.
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Passage – Are your helpers kind to you? I asked. Fairly. But they are not as careful as I shall be when it is my turn. Those that have been blind already are the best helpers. It’s perfectly ghastly not to see. I wish you try. Shall I lead you anywhere? I asked.
Word Meaning
Ghastly: causing fear or horror
Explanation of the above Passage – He further asked her if her helpers were kind. Her response was positive but according to her the intensity of help and care was lesser. She would be a better helper during her turn. As per her statement people who had experienced blindness become better helpers. As they were able to understand their position. The inability to see was scary and full of fear. She wished he could give it a try. Then, he asked her if he could show her the way and help her to go anywhere.
Passage – Oh, yes,” she said. Let’s go for a little walk. Only you must tell me about things. I shall be so glad when today is over. The other bad days can’t be half as bad as this. Having a leg tied up and hopping about on a crutch is almost fun, I guess. Having an arm tied up is a bit more troublesome because you can’t eat without help, and things like that. I don’t think I’ll mind being deaf for a day” at least not much. But being blind is so frightening. My headaches all the time just from worrying that get hurt.
Where are we now?
Word Meaning
glad: happy
Hopping: to leap or jump with quick short steps
Crutch: a long stick to support a disabled person
Troublesome: annoying, irritating
Frightening: terrifying, making afraid
Explanation of the above Passage – She replied in acceptance and suggested to go for a walk. She also asked him to tell about things She said that she would be full of joy once the day is over. She further said that even the bad days would be half as bad than to be blind. In her opinion, other things were fun like to have a leg tied up and jump on a support Having an arm tied up was still annoying as it was difficult to eat without help and so on. She said that she would not mind to be deaf for a day but being blind actually scared her. It troubles her mind with the fear that she would get hurt.
Passage – In the playground, I said. We’re walking towards the house. Miss Beam is walking up and down the garden with a tall girl. What is the girl wearing? my little friend asked. A blue cotton skirt and a pink blouse.I think it’s Millie? she said. What color is her hair? Very light, I said. Yes, thatâ’s Millie. She’s the Head Girl. There’s an old man tying up roses, I said. Yes, that’s Peter. He’s the gardener. He’s hundreds of years old! And here comes a girl with curly red hair. She’s on crutches. That’s Anita, she said. And so we walked on. Gradually I discovered that I was ten times more thoughtful than I ever thought I could be. I also realized that if I had to describe people and things to someone else, it made them more interesting to me. When I finally had to leave, I told Miss Beam that I was very sorry to go. Ah! she replied, then there is something in my system after all.
Word Meaning
troublesome: difficult
gradually: slowly
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Explanation of the above Passage – The narrator told her that they were in the playground and were walking towards the house. Miss Beam was walking up and down the garden with a tall girl. The little girl called the narrator and asked what dress that tall girl was wearing? He explained to her the details of the dress: a blue cotton skirt and a pink blouse. She further enquired the color of her hair. And knowing the the light colour of her hair, she guessed her to be Millie- the Head Girl. The narrator told her that an old man was tying up roses. She responded that he was Peter – a 100 years old gardener. Then a girl with curly red hair on crutches crossed, she told that she was Anita. The narrator realized that he became more thoughtful and sensitive towards the issues of disability and did not want to leave the place, but he had to go. Miss Beam proudly said that the system of her school was so special and unique that the visitors also feel so.
A Different Kind of School Question Answers
A. Put these sentences from the story in the right order and write them out in a paragraph. Don’t refer to the text.
I shall be so glad when today is over. Having a leg tied up and hopping about on a crutch is almost fun, I guess.I don’t think I’ll mind being deaf for a day at least not much. l But being blind is so frightening. Only you must tell me about things. Let’s go for a walk. The other bad days can’t be half as bad as this.
Ans. Let’s go for a little walk. Only you must tell me about things. I shall be very glad when today is over. The other bad days can’t be half as bad as this. Having a leg tied up and hopping about on a crutch is almost fun, I guess. I don’t think I’ll mind being deaf for a day – at least not much. But being blind is so frightening.
B. Answer the following questions
1. Why do you think the writer visited Miss Beam’s school?
Ans. The writer visited Miss Beam’s school because he had heard a lot of good things about the school.It does unique games like they observe Blind day, Deaf day etc where the students act like blind,deaf, lame children and others act as helpers .These games ensure to sensitize the children towards the disabled.
2. What was the game that every child in the school had to play?
Ans. The ‘game’ that every child in the school had to play was that each term every child had one blind day, one lame day, one deaf day, one injured day and one dumb day.
3. Each term every child has one blind day, one lame day Complete the line. Which day was the hardest? Why was it the hardest?
Ans . Each term every child has one blind day, one lame day one deaf day, one injured day and one dumb day.The blind day is the hardest because one was always scared of being hurt.
4. What was the purpose of these special days?
Ans . The purpose of these special days was to enable children to appreciate the misfortune and sensitize towards the disabled.
A. Match the words and phrases with their meanings in the box below.
Paragraph numbers
1. homesick (3)
2. Practically (4)
3. it pains me (7)
4. appreciate (9)
5. thoughtless (10)
6. exercise (11)
7. relief (13)
8. ghastly (14)
Almost |
It hurts me |
terrible |
Test the strength of |
Understanding the difficulties |
Wanting to be home |
A welcome change |
Not very caring |
Answer
1- wanting to be home
2- almost
3- it hurts me
4- understanding the difficulties
5- not very caring
6- test the strength of
7- a welcome change
8- terrible
Grammar Exercises
B. Re-word these lines from the story
1. I had heard a great deal about Miss Beam’s school. 2. Miss Beam was all that I had expected — middle-aged, full of authority. 3. I went to the window which overlooked a large garden. 4. “We cannot bandage the children’s mouths, so they really have to exercise their will-power.
Ans. I had heard a lot about Miss Beam’s school. So, I visited her school. Just as I visioned her, she was middle-aged, dominating personality. From her office. I peeped out of the window and observed a large garden. Children were playing there. They had their Blind day and were acting as Blind. Some others were helping them. Miss Beam told that they are doing this in the school to sensitize their children. But they can not bandage their mouths, here they exercise their will-power.
C. 1. Given below is a page from a dictionary. Look at it carefully and
(i) find a word which means the same as ghastly. Write down the word and its two meanings.
(ii) find a word meaning a part of the school year.
(iii) find a word that means examination.
Ans. (i) ghastly means terrible. Terrible means causing fear or very bad.
(ii) term means part of the school year
(iii) test means examination
2. Now make lists of (i) all the words on the page (plus any more that you can think of) that begin with terr- (ii) five words that may follow the last word on the page, that. (iii) write down your own meaning of the word thank. Then write down the meaning given in the dictionary.
A.
(i) all the words on the page (plus any more that can think of) that begin with terr-
- Terrain, terrace, terror, terracotta, territory
(ii) five words that may follow the last word on the page, that.
- theatre, thin, thumb, thump, this
(iii) write down your own meaning of the word thank. Then write down the meaning given in the dictionary.
- Thank means to show the feeling of gratefulness when someone gives you something or do some good to you.
- Meaning in dictionary: Thank means to show gratitude for any kind act or gift you receive.
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