My Good School 14th December 2025

Описание: The Sunday My Good School session began with Manisha discussing upcoming reading sessions and introducing a discussion on animal communication, sharing research findings and personal experiences about animal interactions. The group explored philosophical perspectives on the existence of the soul in humans and animals, with participants sharing their insights. The session concluded with plans to read and discuss Gerald Durrell's works, followed by a reading and discussion of Ruskin Bond's storybook "The Whistling Schoolboy," and an invitation for students to submit their reflections.

Reading Sessions and Vocabulary Discussion
The meeting began with Manisha greeting everyone and discussing the day's reading sessions, which included "In a Life of Animal" and a Hindi book by Ruskin Bond. Talat shared that she was improving her vocabulary by reading Ruskin Bond, which helped her understand difficult Hindi words. Manisha mentioned that a new reader would be joining to read "The Inner Life of Animals," and she checked if her screen was visible to everyone.

Animal Communication: Insights and Potential
Manisha led a discussion on animal communication, highlighting studies on ravens, dogs, and horses that demonstrate their ability to express emotions and convey messages through vocalisations and gestures. She shared insights from research, including a study on horses' whinnies that found two fundamental frequencies used to convey positive or negative emotions and their intensity. Manisha also introduced the example of Coco, a gorilla trained in sign language, showcasing the potential for animals to communicate complex ideas. She questioned why more effort has not been made to understand and communicate with animals in their own languages, suggesting that future research could lead to more meaningful interactions.

Animal Communication: Experiences and Insights
Minakshi shared her personal experiences of communicating with pets, particularly a dog named Lily, and discussed how animals can understand and respond to human language despite not speaking it. Several participants, including Veda and Abhimanyu, shared their own experiences of animal communication, with Veda describing how her pet dog showed jealousy and affection through physical cues. The discussion concluded that while humans and animals cannot fully understand each other's languages, effective communication is possible through a combination of sign language, observation of animal behaviour, and regular interaction.

Animal Souls: A Philosophical Exploration
Manisha discussed the concept of the soul, exploring both the dictionary definitions for humans and the implications for animals. She argued that animals possess a soul based on their capacity for feelings, actions, and problem-solving, drawing parallels to human thought processes. Manisha also considered the religious definition of the soul and suggested that if humans have souls, animals must as well, given the gradual evolution of life forms. She concluded by expressing her belief in the beauty of the idea that animals, like humans, have souls, which enriches her perspective on life.

Existence of Animal Souls
The group discussed the concept of soul and its existence in humans and animals, with various participants sharing their thoughts on whether animals possess souls like humans. The discussion explored philosophical perspectives on the soul's nature and its potential connection to universal energy. Brinda concluded the session by reflecting on the book's themes, emphasising the importance of recognising animals' inner lives and the insights they offer about the natural world.

Gerald Durrell's Animal Adventures
The class discussed their recent reading of "The Inner Life of Animals" and prepared for their next book about animals by Gerald Durrell. Brinda introduced Gerald Durrell's background, including his childhood in India, his move to Greece, and his career as a naturalist and writer. The students were encouraged to purchase copies of the book, as it is the centenary year of Durrell's birth, and Brinda mentioned that Gerald Durrell's works are available on Amazon. The class expressed excitement about the new book and the opportunity to learn more about animals and improve their language skills through reading.

Ruskin Bond Story Discussion
The meeting focused on a reading and discussion session of Ruskin Bond's story "The Whistling Schoolboy." Manisha led the session, engaging students in a quiz about the story before reading it aloud. After the reading, students shared their reflections, discussing themes such as curiosity, mystery, and the importance of inner qualities over external labels. The session concluded with an invitation for students to write their reflections and submit them for review next week.

AI-generated summary, read with care.