Summary: The New School | Class 6 English Skylark: Summary, Worksheets, Question & Ans PDF Download

Key Points of the Story

• Totto-chan arrives at a unique school in an old-fashioned railroad car.
• The school setting resembles a train journey with school desks and chairs.
• Students feel excited and happy in the unconventional school environment.
• Lessons are flexible, allowing students to choose their starting subjects.
• Teaching methods focus on independent study and individual interests.
• Totto-chan befriends Yasuaki, who has polio, showing kindness and understanding.

Detailed Summary

Unlike traditional schools, students could sit wherever they wanted. Totto-chan chose to sit next to a girl with a pinafore featuring a cute rabbit. The teaching methods at this school were as unique as the school itself. Instead of fixed subjects at specific times, students could choose what to study first. This allowed teachers to understand each student's interests and thinking better. Students had the whole day to work on subjects they found challenging, making study mostly independent. The students could consult teachers whenever needed, and teachers would explain concepts until they were fully understood. This interactive and personalized approach to learning ensured that no student was left behind or bored during lessons. One day, Totto-chan noticed a boy with a limp. 

She learned that he had polio, a condition that affected his leg and hand. Despite his condition, the boy, Yasuaki Yamamoto, was cheerful and friendly. Totto-chan and Yasuaki became friends, showing that true friendship knows no boundaries. As the sun shone through the window, making the car warm, the students enjoyed the fresh spring breeze. Totto-chan's first day at this extraordinary school, Tomoe Gakuen, marked the beginning of an exciting and unique educational journey for her. In this chapter, we learned about Totto-chan's fascinating experience at a school like no other, where freedom of choice, independent study, and understanding were valued above all else. The story highlighted the importance of inclusivity, friendship, and the joy of learning in a creative and unconventional environment.

Theme/Message

Theme: The theme of the story revolves around the importance of unconventional education and the power of kindness and understanding.

Message: Through Totto-chan's experiences, the story conveys that learning can happen in various settings, emphasizing the significance of individuality, empathy, and friendship in education. It highlights the value of accommodating diverse needs and differences in a learning environment, promoting inclusivity and compassion among students.

Difficult Words

• Perpetual: Continuous or never-ending.
• Railway carriage: A compartment on a train for passengers.
• Comprised: Made up of; consisted of.
• Stationary: Not moving; staying in one place.
• Scrambled: Moved quickly using one's hands and feet.
• Pinafore: A loose dress worn over a shirt.
• Callisthenics: Physical exercises.
• Polio: A disease that can cause paralysis in one's limbs.
• Cupped: Putting both palms together in the shape of a cup to support one's face.
• Abandon: To give up completely.