Stress of Admission
Nursery to
Professional
The best brains of
the nation may be found on the last bench of the classroom
APJ Abdul Kalam
One day my bebe (mother)
gave me bath, put me nice clothes, canvas shoes, combed my hair, vaselined my
face, gave me a parantha and milk and then told, “beta (son) today we are going
to school”. On the way to school she purchased a Kayada for an Adhani (half
Anna=1/32 of a Re). Soon we were in a neighborhood
private primary school. She told the Masterji (Shri Brij Lal, I still
remember his name), “I want my son be admitted in your school”. He was too glad,
wrote my name a register, admission was over, became a student in Kachi (LKG)
did Pacci (UKG) & first from that school. In the second standard I was to be
admitted to Sanatan Dharam High School, my father took me there filled up a
form and I was in a regular school. The process went like that right up to admission
in B.Com in the Govt Bikram College of
Commerce, Patiala in April 1962, I just went to the college filled up a
form and the next day deposited fee of just Rs.160/- which also included
tuition fee for three months admission process was over, no cut off or merit lists
no waiting nor checking the list on the notice Board. Admission used to be that
easy just fill up the form, pay the fee and get admitted.
Every child used to be admitted to Sanatam Dharm,
Arya, Khalsa community schools, a few also went to Govt schools, private
schools were almost non-existent. One book per subject that was the norm up to
primary classes. A wooden plank with coating of Multani Mitti (now used as a
face pack and beauty parlors charge a few hundred rupees for the service),
being written over with black ink and a Kalam (wooden pen) was used for
practice both for language as well as tables up to 4th standard.
Principals, known at that time as the Headmasters, were highly respected
persons of their area: their cane was too strong and honoured not only by the
students but also by their parents. Spare
the rode spoil the child that was the norm. All examinations were narrative
long answers and viva were open and in the class room itself. Nobody questioned
teacher’s assessment. No buses, taxies, cars, rickshaws every child went to the
school on foot and alone. Very few had cycles. Matriculation was big examination and a stage in the career.
Reservations for SC,
ST, OBC, EWS, Management Quota, Govt guidelines, under the table donations,
capitation fee, parents’ interview obviously for money, references, like words
were not coined till then in the education field. B.A., B.A.(Hon’s) and LLB
were socially respected and people used to engrave these qualifications along
with their name on plates at the entrance of their home. Worry, anxiety, stress, depression, were not there in education field
neither for parents nor the students.
Today even after
spending trillions on the education parents continue to get stress right from
admission in nursery to graduation, post-graduation, professional, even in Doctorate courses. The
greatest reason being, we are too many, in 1962 we were just 46.90 Crores:
today we 133 Crores addition of 86.10 Crores.
Student group between 5-19 years constitute 34.3 % (29.53 Crores);
between 5-24 years constitute 43%. (37.10 Crores). Literacy rate is about 75%.We
require education system for additional about 32 Crore people. Obviously uphill
task. No attempt has been made to stop additions to this huge number by controlling
population-the solution to every problem: all politicians are afraid of.
We cannot change the
system overnight it takes decades to change education system so we have to live
with whatever is available to us in this country. In this blog we are more
concerned with the stress for parents as well as for students.
Admission to nursery
is a headache for those parents who want admission of their wards in private
schools as it is a belief that they are doing better upto 10+2.Children are too
young to understand stress hence stress free. Stress to parents - very complex
issue: Schools with bombastic nomenclatures without any norms approved by Govt confuse and to make every parent think;
admission in a big name school as if, is end of the career-which is not: it’s an
ape race: air conditioned buses, class rooms: foreign educational trips: annual
fete; glittering uniforms; big pump and show at annual functions presided over
by big names many of whom seldom attended, glittering trophies for meritorious
even in a single subject: so called educational tours: parents and grandparents
day observed; every functionary at the school has limited tutored brief nobody
dares to cross, guards and gates everywhere, uniforms, books and stationery at
school only, everything for a price as in the Mall wonderful displays for
wonderful insane prices. The so called most of big schools are corporates run
for profit by those who have no connection with education and many are not even
well educated.
No parents check the
educational qualifications, skills, general knowledge, understanding of child
psychology, experience of teachers, teaching methods followed at school,
dedication and devotion of teaching staff;
the ratio between taught and learned, assimilation by the student: early
childhood education should activate the natural desire to learn in the child,
the instinct inside a teacher to learn and teach, sobriety of the teaching
staff, the things parents should really check
perhaps want to know also but not able to express and pursue; nor made are
available by these bombastic named schools: fact is India has very limited number of real public schools where there is
holistic development of personality of child.
Parents must make distinction
between how and what children are being taught and not where they go for
schooling: that would help to reduce the stress of the parents and save too.
Possibility of a good school nearby for lower fee can’t be ruled out. It is the
men in the school that matter not the building and buses. All children start
their school careers with sparkling imaginations, fertile minds, and a
willingness to take risks with what they think, said Ken Robinson. We need
right teachers to put them on the right
track that may be available in humble schools not in show-ofs.
It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in
creative expression and knowledge. --Albert Einstein
In a completely rational society, the best of us would
be teachers and the rest of us would have to settle for something else.
--Lee Iacocca
The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains.
The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.
--William Arthur Ward
(Parents should
check above before admitting their wards in a nursery school)
Raring children is
like clay modelling, they have to be taken care of at home also, taught and
guides because they want to learn. Parents, of which mother is the most
important person, she has to play the role and empower the child for higher
studies and make him rough and tough to face the world outside, ensure other
things which don’t happen at school. Such things will reduce stress for parents
and child would be excellent human being and a good citizen too.
Admission to degree and
professional courses is a stress both for students as well as for parents. Students
are under stress twice once with the marks obtained in 10+2, and then with the
admission in their choice course and the institute.
Marks in exam are
important through the world, but everybody cannot be in 95%+ bracket: it is
also a fact that all the seats and courses can’t and do not go to them. Marks
are not everything, this fact has been recognized in some foreign countries and
universities but not so far in India hence the students and parents are under
stress of marks which spoils the game-student run after the marks not after the
studies whereas it should be other way round as marks have to follow the
preparation. Follow the correct path and leave the stress miles behind.
Here the role of
parents that comes into play. They must consider not only the marks and but
also the total personality and faculties of their child, they are the best
judge, professional help if sought is an added advantage and find out wherein
their child has interest and can succeed: always keep plan A and plan B ready: not to be led by desire to get the best of
all but must be led what the child deserves, can get and succeed and convince the child about the course and
the institute: it is tough task but prudent parents have to do, both for their
child as well as for themselves. Don’t
be led by what others are doing, their marks, finances, circumstances,
interests, priorities, approach, thinking, faculties, genes, resources are
different: possibly there is something else also they are hiding. Students at
this age are immature, unable to understand realities of life, future of
particular streams, their minds are too impressionable, these days children
have too much information about what they intend to do and can argue well with
all those who want to impress them, but life-the teacher and experience are
different, strike a bond between desired and deserved, convince the child about
the best for him so that he is relieved of the stress. Those who can excel for
them careers are there in every subject and stream but everybody is not
extraordinary: hence the stress and prudence of the parents to overcome that
stress.
Subjects at 10+2,
are no doubt indicative of future plan of studies: it is also fact that 9th
to 12th class when the students are in age from of 14 to 17 are very
crucial, possibility of the child developing interest in some other discipline
or going astray can’t be ruled out. To select the stream not necessarily an
outcome of 10+2, subjects and streams, which has become his hobby would relieve
parents and students of stress as well as give him the career of his liking and
strength.
Degree do facilitates
direct entry into jobs. But fact of the matter is job-profiles have very little
to do with the educational qualification except basic knowledge do comes to
rescue in many situations. Success stories have novel inputs like an IIT graduation
degree holder becoming a successful Police Officer of the highest repute and
serving even after retirement and a just graduate rises to the level of a
Secretary to Govt.
Fundamental
qualities hard work, responsibility, devotion to duty, integrity of character, courage
put one ahead of others. Admissions to high ranking institutes are not
everything; people from other institutes also succeed and they are more in
numbers. Do not be discouraged if got admitted in unknown institution their
students also succeed many a times in unknown and excellent fields.
Wherever one gets
admission it is the result of the labour, time spent, sacrifice made, self-denial
done by the student and parents as well as hard earned money spent by parents
then why to be unhappy with the results. Respect your hard work and sacrifices
made and be on the road to face the world better equipped.
It's the teacher that makes the difference, not the
classroom.
--Michael Morpurgo
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