Painted flags on forearms, permission to wear football jerseys to class and a relaxed approach to post-match absences – football fever has gripped students so completely that many schools are overlooking what would otherwise count as indiscipline.
At a time when screens dominate much of an adolescent’s day, teachers said a passion for a field sport is something they don’t mind.
During a class activity at The Heritage School, a section of Class X students painted the flags of France, Spain and Argentina on their forearms.
With favourites Brazil, Portugal, the Netherlands and Germany crashing out early, allegiances are shifting just as quickly.
“We painted the flags of our favourite teams on our forearms during the activity period. That’s where it’s most visible, and you are almost announcing your allegiance,” said Aryan Kar, a Class X student at Heritage.
The day-boarding school is screening highlights of the previous night’s matches during breakfast and lunch. For once, teachers are not complaining about the cheering and excitement.
Lakshmipat Singhania Academy has installed a digital board displaying the teams that have progressed to the next round.
The school will also allow students to wear jerseys of their favourite teams on July 17, two days before the final at New York New Jersey Stadium, which kicks off at 12.30am on July 20.
“It is not just about supporting a team or rooting for a player. There is so much more to learn from the sport. It is about boundless energy, resilience, self-discipline, training one’s body and playing together as a team,” said Meena Kak, director of Lakshmipat Singhania Academy.
Kak said she had no problem with children openly expressing their emotions, “whether one loses or wins”.
Modern High School for Girls allowed students to wear a jersey or the colours of their favourite team to school earlier this week, ahead of Argentina’s Round of 16 match against Egypt, in which Messi led his side to scrape through to the quarter-finals.
For the once-in-four-years spectacle, many schools are also bending academic schedules.
South Point High School has postponed its pre-midterm exams for Classes VI to XII by two days so students can watch the final.
Instead of beginning on July 20, the exams will now start on July 22.
Principal Jaidev Ghosh said children were increasingly absorbed by mobile phones and other devices, and field sports offered a way to draw them away from screens. “Football is a team game, and unless children play a team sport, they won’t be able to appreciate or practise inclusivity,” he said.
Delhi Public School New Town and The Heritage School have also postponed their July 20 tests.
The Julien Day Schools have adjusted their calendar so that unit tests, usually held in July, were completed earlier.
“It’s a once-in-four-years event, and we can be a little relaxed with rules. We are not being strict when children stay away from school after an important match the previous night. When there are more absentees on a morning, we understand there was a match the night before and choose to overlook it,” said Terence John, the schools’ director of academics and development.