New Modes of Cooperation
April 2008
Banner photo: Frank Krahmer/Getty Images
Kindergarten Teachers: Taking Care of the Future
Yin-Chen (right)
Lin Yin-Chen has been involved in early childhood education for over 20 years. She is currently the director of the Xing Fu (Happiness) Day Care Center in Tainan, Taiwan.
Diya Chopra received Montessori teacher training and has been working at the Delhi Public School nursery in India for the past three years.
Diya
What attracted you to the idea of being a teacher for small children? Was the reality of the job what you expected?
Diya: I am excited by the idea of helping the next generation to grow into world citizens who can contribute to society. Ever since I was a child I wanted to be a teacher, but I never imagined that children would be so much fun to be with.
Yin-Chen: I believe that nothing is more precious than children’s well-being, and I feel fortunate to be around children all day long. When I first started, I found things very difficult, but I was lucky to have wonderful colleagues and, with their support, I’ve been able to rise above each challenge. Now, as an administrator, each year I set specific targets, and we’ve always met or surpassed these.
What is the most difficult thing about your job, and how do you cope with it?
Diya: For me, being patient was one of the most difficult things at first. Now I self-reflect more. I feel that we, as adults, are role models for the children and they will emulate whatever they see in their environment.
Yin-Chen: It has been more than 10 years since I made the transition from being a kindergarten teacher to running a kindergarten. Looking back, the most difficult aspect was having to face so many responsibilities each day--solving human relationship issues and administrative problems, managing nutrition and sanitation, planning and coordinating events, ensuring good communication with the parents, safety, etc. As the administrator, your wisdom is constantly challenged to get through the day efficiently and effectively. You need courage and conviction when you’re in a difficult situation. Also you have to face situations head-on with the determination not to be defeated, and do all you can until you succeed. These are attitudes that I’ve learned and cultivated through my Buddhist practice and SGI activities.
What do you like most about your job?
Yin-Chen: I am really grateful to be able to work with a team of excellent teachers. And the greatest pleasure for me is to be able to watch the children grow up safely and happily.
Diya: Interacting with children from different backgrounds really opens my mind and helps me to grow.
How do you stop yourself losing your temper with difficult children?
Yin-Chen: I appreciate more than anything else the fact that I have been able to get to know and be around these children. I try to always regard each child as an individual with dignity, and I always pray for their happiness. The fact is that getting mad at them never solves the problem. Admonition, encouragement and praise bring out fantastic results. Children have extremely sensitive minds and hearts, so we have to respond to them with honesty and sincerity, and use difficulties as nourishment for our development as educators. That way, both the children and we the teachers can grow together.
Diya: It is quite a challenge. Initially I did lose my temper, but now I handle such situations better. My Buddhist practice is very helpful and enables me to draw out wisdom to deal with different situations and to base my actions on concern for the children. For example, I had a student in my class who would hit the other children and the teachers in anger. I addressed the situation based on my practice and prayer and brought it to the notice of the principal and parents, with the intent of finding out the root of the problem so that the child could be helped.
What’s your basic approach to getting children to cooperate (with you and with each other)?
Yin-Chen: I try to make sure that the teachers and children have a common awareness by helping them understand the meaning and purpose of each activity and making a thorough plan in advance. We always put the children first.
Diya: My basic approach is to be friends with the children and at the same time try to make them understand that they have come to school to learn and create value, that with cooperation and sharing, things can be done more easily.
What elements of Buddhist philosophy are most useful to you in your day-to-day work?
Yin-Chen: I try to greet each day with a sense of appreciation. There is a Buddhist text that says this world is "where living beings enjoy themselves at ease." I try to create value each day. Obstacles can spur one’s growth. I always pray that I will be able to cherish those around me and enjoy helping others instead of being trapped in my own problems. I also try to have the attitude to continually develop myself and to use my time more effectively.
Diya: My Buddhist practice has given me the courage to challenge difficult situations with the belief that I can bring forth the required abilities to succeed. I struggled a lot when I was at school with very poor grades and very low self-confidence. My teachers just about gave up on me. Based on my Buddhist practice, though, I was able to turn the situation around completely. So much so that later, after I graduated and completed a teachers training course, my ex-vice principal, who had been unwilling to let me sit my exams, recommended me for a job as a nursery school teacher at my old school.
Also, SGI President Ikeda’s constant emphasis on dialogue is very inspiring for me. Through dialogue with the parents I try and help the children in every way possible.
What do you see as the most important values to transmit to young children?
Diya: Truth, cooperation, working in unity with one another and most importantly solving problems through dialogue are I think the most important values to transmit to the children.
Yin-Chen: To have confidence in their own unique abilities and bring out their own potential, and to learn the spirit of gratitude and sharing. The founding president of the Soka Gakkai, Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, an educator, said that the ultimate purpose of education is children’s happiness. We need to help children acquire the basic life skills so that they can take care of themselves and care for others. I deeply believe that children have unlimited potential, and through working with them, I have come to believe even more deeply that we can unlock this through love, confidence, understanding and dedication.
