Care costs nothing!

People say working with kids is like 'therapy". Kids generate a lot of positivity. Their smile is quite infectious and can make you feel happy in a grave situation.
I have been working with kids for almost a decade and I believe it. They have the power to make you feel younger every day. One feels rejuvenated in their company. I have learned many things from them.
 " Beverly" was a nine- year old boy who knew how to live his life without any regrets and complains. Beverly lost his parents when he was a year old. He was brought up by his uncle and aunt. His aunt was not so generous to him and maltreated him at every given opportunity. He never made people realize that behind every smile there was a dreadful incident hidden. Every day he greeted me at school with a broad smile. Over a period of time, I had developed a soft corner for this boy in spite of repetitive warnings from my colleagues. I was given sermons for hours altogether to understand the professional ethics that we teachers are supposed to be impartial, non-judgemental and unbiased. Does that sound sane? When we are associated with them for 7-8 hours a day,1500 hours in a year, affection towards him was very natural. Not understanding much of it, an informal counselling was organised by the management to change my perspective towards the kid. I was told to be more professional, being detached was called to be "professional". Our job demands not to get attached to the tender souls. My question is "What are we dealing with, children or machines? After a couple of such heavy sessions, I decided to change my outlook towards the kid. I pretended to be extremely professional and maintained distance with the kid. Beverley understood that I was ignoring him. He tried to interact with me but I refused to discuss anything personal beyond academics. My behaviour disturbed him a lot. He craved for more my attention and love from his friends and teachers as those elements were missing from home front. Beverly forgot to smile as the academic year progressed resulting in the decrease of his grades. One fine day, his uncle was called and intimated about his performance. Quite a couple of warnings and slips were issued regarding his performance but he failed to improve. At the end of the academic year, he was asked to leave the school. A care which would cost nothing left a mark in his life.