Book Title: Jain Center Los Angeles CA 2008 09 Pratishta Souvenior
Author(s): Jain Center So CA Los Angeles
Publisher: USA Jain Center Southern California
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SpongeBobs & Sponge Jains Teaching Jainism To Young Minds
Hasmita Parekh
"I will tell my dad not to spray around the house and kill ants and bugs," Ankit (age 4) announced in his class after listening to his teacher say that we as Jains respect all living beings including bugs and insects.
"Did you have any dreams when I was born?" the same young man asked his mom after listening to his teacher tell the beautiful story of Trishlamata having fourteen dreams when Mahavirswami was born.
Can you teach Jainism to 3 and 4 year old kids? The answer is affirmative provided you make learning fun and practical. At such a young age, the children may not be able to comprehend and understand a deeper meaning and explanation of the Jain principles and philosophy. However, it is not at all difficult for them to learn the practical concepts of the Jain Way of Life. After all children are
natural learners. They have impressionable minds that will soak up knowledge like a sponge. In the summer of 2005, Sailesbhai Jain, Pathshala Director of Jain Center of Southern California (JCSC), called to inform me that he had volunteered me to start a new Mommy and Me class for the toddlers (ages 3 and 4). In spite of my repeated excuses that I was not capable or prepared to teach such a class, Sailesbhai's stand"we cannot let down the children" - was not negotiable. I am glad that he persisted. At Mahavir Janam Kalyanak celebrations on 20 April, 2008, when my entire class dressed in identical matching costumes - girls in chaniya chori and boys in salvar khamis - performed the Bhakti Ki Nav Chali dance, I wonder who was more excited, ecstatic and proud - the parents or me. By my reckoning, we were equally elated.
My exposure to JCSC Pathshala dates back to 1986 when my kids - Sheetal (age 7) and Shayna (age 6) - joined the classes conducted by Mahendrabhai Khandhar, Girishbhai Shah and Niranjenbhai Shah at the residence of Rajen and Rajul Mehta in Cerritos. Following the inauguration of our custom-designed Jain Bhavan in July 1988, the classes were shifted to the new facility. The enrollment in the Pathshala grew rapidly and new teachers were recruited to address the large influx of students. I volunteered with Amitaben Desai, Smitaben Doshi, Pratibhaben Mehta, and Dipikaben Shah to teach 7- and 8-year old kids. Having a formal qualification and experience in teaching at secondary schools, in early childhood education (kindergarten), and in Montessori schools, an opportunity to teach the Pathshala was refreshing and exciting for me. Also, opportunities to spend time with the students at several winter camps and attending JAINA Teachers' Conferences provided me very enjoyable and memorable experiences. After a few years of teaching Pathshala, I took a break to address some family responsibilities. The break ended in summer of 2005 with the surprise call from Sailesbhai. I spent the entire summer searching and researching through Jain children's books and resources to come up with a curriculum and a lesson plan.
I started the first JCSC Toddler Mommy and Me Class in September 2005 with the help of three volunteers - Miraben Sheth, Vinaben Shah, and Parul Shah. I didn't know what to expect when I entered the class on the first day to face a crowd of approximately 30 young kids and 30 adults (parents and grandparents). After first few anxious moments, I began to feel at ease once I comprehended my first challenge - the situation I was facing was no different than my past experiences in handling kids in the kindergarten and Montessori schools where I had worked. The only difference was that I now had an added situation - to handle and involve the adults as well in a constructive way. I passed out my first class assignment - copies of the Navkar Mantra and some pencils - to the kids and asked them to write their names on the paper.
