AUTHENTIC FAIR

 

The most important quality of human life which decides the character and quality of a man makes an impact in the long run. This particular trait puts the person in danger, allowing a lot of troubles to be faced, but in the end, it is this trait that saves him or her paving the way for others to be considered a faithful souls. This important character defines such persons as trustworthy humans and hailed by all, not only that they are remembered by generations throughout their life.

 

Many times when alone, I always think  ‘ What would happen if the whole world turns to be honest’. Everything would be at peace and pace. This value has to be set in the minds of students at an early age like how they are taught the alphabet. 

 

What is Honest Shop?

A shop operating on a self-service basis, purely relying on the honesty of customers to keep track of the sales and leave money in the box for collection.

The ‘Honest shop’ stock includes home-grown fruits, flowers, vegetables, cakes, ready meals, preserves, and craft items made by local community groups or individuals.

The ‘Honest shop’ has no shopkeeper, no cashier, and no salesman, only items with price tag is displayed. Those who want to buy things can drop in, purchase, look at the price tag, and deposit money in a cash counter box based on their heart’s desires where the value of being honest is incorporated.

 

We must be truthful to ourselves and make it happen in all our endeavors is our motto we must stand by in our lives.

 

“A day without honesty is like a day without sunshine”

 

“The true measure of LIFE is not length but HONESTY”

- John Lyly

 

“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom” as an eminent scholar, Thomas Jefferson puts it because, in Tamil, it is called “Nermaiyalar Kadai”, which is an honest shop. Now gaining importance, its popularity in schools has led to the sales of stationery items like pens, pencils, rubber, etc., which are sold to promote the thought of honesty among students.

 

Activities through ‘Student Activities Council’ has been formed rather punishing students for dishonesty, putting more importance for being honest. Having honest shops promotes integrity, honesty and brings the practice of speaking truth in school at an early age.

What is honesty in school ?

To speak truth with integrity and to have open communication at home and school. This has to be practised at an early age. Values and good attributes like kindness, discipline, sincerity, being loyal, truthfulness, good behaviour, punctuality etc., are closely related to honesty.

 

“Never be afraid to raise your voice for HONESTY and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed, If people all over the world… would do this, it would change the earth”

                  -  William Faulkner

 

“Your conscience is the measure of the honesty of your selfishness. Listen to it carefully.” - Richard Bach

 

At St.Britto’s, the teachers share their experiences in short passages about the topics “I learn from my mistakes”, “I can do a difficult task”, and “I can accomplish anything”. These topics celebrate this marvelous quality, when things are tough sometimes, and being honest, can make us identify the problems and seek help rather than complicating them. However, being honest is challenging and in due course of time, children learn to follow it by practice.

 

Sometimes, students commit mistakes, and then realize to take responsibility for the outcome of it, to become accountable is also a part of honesty. Honesty is not an easy character trait to be taught, instead is imbibed in the minds of students naturally for instance sometimes students are strangled between being honest when caught and committing mistakes also, finding it difficult to decide on what should be the priority of such acts.

 

“Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters” - Albert Einstein

 

“Honesty is doing what you know is right. Integrity is doing what is right and truthful” - Ray Bennett

 

(Eg) A panchayat union school near Aranthangi in Pudukottai has been imparting lessons on honesty in a practical way by setting honesty store. The idea behind this concept is to teach life-oriented lessons to students so that they should be self-aware and honest. This experiment has made students handle money by giving the amount and getting back the balance which helps to relate what they have learned in the classroom.

 

Parents feel that the honest shop has brought a positive change among students. They speak the truth and it can be carried in their journey. Honesty is the best policy, especially for students. 

 

Despite hardships, ‘truth always triumphs’, it will shape the lives of students. By experiencing the hands-on honest shop, the virtue of honesty is upheld by the students. It is the courage to speak the truth. The honesty shop is not about being honest, a choice but should extend to all walks of life.

 

“Integrity is telling myself the truth And Honesty is telling the truth to others” - Spencer Johnson

 

“Being honest may not get you a lot of friends but it’ll always get you the right ones” - John Lennon

 

Honesty refers to the truthfulness and high morale of a person.

An Honest person can be trusted in any circumstances.

Honesty gives man strength to face the world.

Honest persons are role models in society.

Honesty is a rare quality, but precious to keep with us.

Honesty is the greatest virtue a man could hold.

A person’s honesty is a mirror of his / her moral value and conduct.

 

“You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life” - Winston Churchill

 

Honesty is completely washed out of this world because the world is full of unfaithful people. Honesty is when you speak the truth and act truthfully. Honesty is not only saying “don’t tell a lie”, but speaking the truth and acting truthfully. If you are honest, you will be trusted by parents, teachers, and all people in society and you can make your own choice with confidence. To live and work together, we need to know that we can trust each other.

 

“Honesty and  integrity are by far the most important assets of an entrepreneur” - Zig Ziglar

 

If all people follow honesty, society will become the breeding place for it, being an ideal choice for some of the qualities of human life making the whole world corruption free. It is one of the best habits that helps us to solve and handle difficult situations in life. It strengthens our willpower and to face any odds in our life.

 

“Trust, honesty, humility, transparency, and accountability are a positive reputation. Trust is the foundation of any relationship”

 - Mike Paul

“When you do something with a lot of honesty, appetite, and commitment, the input reflects in the output” - A. R. Rahman

I truly feel happy of making students realize the value of being honest by experiencing the honest shop. This experience will make them take it over in life. Thus, I am instrumental in making students learn life-oriented lessons for their future.

 

Testimonial

 

Hi, I’m Abiram Shiva, just completed my 12^th standard and have applied for colleges. My days at St. Britto’s right from primary education have been a place of golden opportunities where not only I learned education, arts and crafts but also life lessons which have shaped me as a fine person, whereby first and foremost I’m appreciated by all known to me as an honest citizen - which is not easy to get by all. Whether it is a small, trivial, or a big thing, being honest and trustworthy has earned me credibility, where my neighbors, relatives, and friends ask me for suggestions, and advice on certain things like education, hobbies, shopping, etc. “Honesty is the best policy” which I have clearly understood and implemented in my life has earned me a good name.