Open House (Whole School)

On the 12th of July, we held an Open House for the entire school on a pressing issue that the students and teachers had been facing for quite some time: the ‘stealing’ of umbrellas. In Sahyadri, a culture of picking up and using random umbrellas that might have belonged to someone else had been established for quite some time.

However, the intent behind this was never that of stealing. People just forgot to carry their own or bring one to school at the start of the term. All these issues happened to occur at around the same time as when it would be raining cats and dogs.

The Reality of the Situation

Prior to Open House, many people thought that even if they did take someone else’s umbrella in case of an emergency, as long as they returned it to its rightful owner, it was alright. And this is what many assumed was happening.

However, in reality, after using an umbrella, some of us either misplaced it or chucked it away, neither understanding the gravity of the situation nor contemplating how this misplacement could affect someone. Only during the session did it occur to us that this problem was not just about umbrellas. Many students and staff members opened up about how this left them saddened and disappointed.

Over the course of the session we discovered that these stolen or lost items also included things that held immense sentimental value. We were exposed to another nuance; that this can lead to emotional stress for some and we realized that at the end of the day, we are answerable.

Growth and Reflection

The session ended on a beautiful note, reminding us that although we are emotionally attached to the culture of this school, it is not perfect. It also reminded us that culture is not static either. We have to learn to recognise its shortcomings, and work towards improving them to foster a welcoming environment, as allowing people to feel safe and comfortable is imperative.

We are all still growing children, making mistakes in life, but conversations can be a big help, and what better place than Sahyadri to provide that forum?