Chapter 5 A Different Kind of School notes | class 6th English Honeysuckle

A Different Kind of School Summary will take us through a unique school of Miss Beam. The story begins with the writer getting curious about Miss Beam’s school. He decides to visit the school himself. Upon entering the school, he notices a girl with bandage covered eyes being led by a little boy. He proceeds to meet Miss Beam who tells him about her unique teaching methods. She explains that her main aim to teach children to be thoughtful and kind towards everyone. He notices that in the open field, many children were on crutches, while some had eyes covered with bandages and so on. To his surprise, Miss Beam tells him that the one with crutches is not lame. Similarly, one having bandages on the eyes is not blind. It is Miss Beam’s way of teaching them to experience the pain and struggles of those less fortunate than us.

A Different Kind of School Summary in English 

It is a story which revolves around a unique school where the main aim is to teach children how to sympathize with others and be helpful. The writer of the story has heard a lot about Miss Beam’s school.

So, he decides to give it a visit. Upon reaching there, he notices that a saw with bandage covered eyes is being led cautiously by a little boy between the flower bed. He finally meets Miss Beam who explains her teaching methods.

She tells him that her main aim of teaching in this school is to help children become more kind and thoughtful. He looks out a window and it pains his heart to see a field full of happy children but not healthy ones.

Two girls have a bandage on their eyes while one is watching the others play as she is on crutches. However, to his surprise, Miss Beam tells him that the girl with the crutches is not lame. Similarly, the one with bandaged eyes does not have trouble in her eyes.

In order to help her children appreciated and understand the less-fortunate, the school makes them share in their misfortune. So, they are made lame or their eyes are covered so they can realize the true essence of the misfortune.

Similarly, she tells other children to help them out. Thus, each term, every child has one blind, one lame, one injured, one dumb and one deaf day. Everyone plays this ‘game’ at school.

Miss Beam asks the author to spend some time with the girl having a bandage on her eyes. The author finds out that the girl appreciates the help she got from the other children. Thus, it makes her strive to become a better person and help out others.

The girl tells the author how being blind for a day is the hardest thing to do. It is because movement becomes difficult and they always have to worry about getting hurt. They keep dodging things which are not even there.

Then, the writer goes for a short walk with the girl. After that, he realizes that he has become ten times more thoughtful. Moreover, he also realizes that describing things to people brings him great pleasure.

Conclusion of A Different Kind of School Summary

A Different Kind of School Summary teaches us how apart from education, we must also learn how to be respectful of others. Moreover, we must always help out the specially-abled people and be compassionate towards them. Finally, we must be grateful for what we have and make the most of it.