It sounds embarrassing, too much hyped at times and very much overstated when we talk of our educational institutions. Big they are the schools, bigger the colleges and yet bigger is what is being expected. But let me tell you as does the law of diminishing marginal utility, richer the schools are, sophisticated are the facilities are, lesser and much worse will be the harvest. Well mannered and good for nothing pappoos are what are going to walk out.
Coming straight to what I want to tell , the education system we boast of, the standard level of schooling we are so proud of, has only been a failure, a failure ever since it has begun to materialize.
No I am not speaking of the teachers, nor am I stating the training provided in the schools is inadequate. But it is the means, the way I am talking of. The method of education has been an utter flop. It is evident too, in the reducing number of school going children, whatever the governments and corporates do to draw children to the school. The children do not want to study or much precisely are obsessed by the ways the classes are done.
Quoting the experiences of children from all walks of life_ rich and poor, educated in a wide variety of schools, ranging from local elementary schools to a branded convent schools, Christian institutes to government colleges, they have had enough. Being average students, they have always feared of schools. Be it the jumble of solving math sums, the difficulty of attending boring lectures or doing rigorous practical work, they have always been bothered by the way they were, pained by way the schools are- rigid and reluctant to change.
There are students, a lot of students who are cool with their studies. They attend classes on tome, home works completed all the time, notes too neat and marks very clean. They do well in sports, get higher ranks, find decent jobs and make the people happy. Let us not talk of them, they are happy simple geniuses and are grounded at that. We need to speak of those hundreds of students who are the converse, they don’t attend the classes, and they do not do their home works well, scores not too good and mostly are termed morons. Why does this role reversal actually happen? Is this mere irresponsibility and laziness on the part of the pupils or what else?
The biggest lethality of the whole system lies here. It is not just the lethargy of the kid that makes him dull. Such low performing children have never been the lazybones reluctant study, rather it is the utter burden meted on them that makes them eschew schools. For how do we attribute it is just the same way each kid thinks if one. Isn’t there anything called differed thinking abilities.
If one child finds it absolutely cool to sit for hours in a class listening to what the teachers say, another child may take in much by doing it i.e., in the practical sessions, yet another child may have an altogether different way of learning things. When we find it acceptable the an individual has his own ways of expression, why don’t we accept that each individual – a child, here- has his own ways of learning too.
There are reasons why there is debate on the issue of a change in the methods of learning. The reason being the raising awareness that learning is too much different from what education is and it is through proper learning that education can be achieved. Education tells us what things are, it tells what an amoeba is, what is money and hoe governments are formed and it is through learning we know how things work and how do they win us our daily breads. Education stops at an age while learning continues.
There are a wide range of avenues that deserve to be looked at. If a kid fails doing math sums, it may mean it has comforts doing English essays or science projects and it also means that the math sums can be taught the way it likes. If a child finds it hard to play cricket but has fun dancing, it should not be a problem as both give the exercise that it needs, inability of a child to write its homework with zeal can be somehow compensated with its agility in theatres and plays. In a pinch, let the children learn what they want to, and let them learn better.
All this needs a hell lot of time to happen. And an abrupt change may lead to futile consequences too. We live amidst a cut throat competitive world and hence a change in the basic education is something to be done with consummacy of care. While how can an artist- a singer, a writer, a painter-survive amid flocks of professional capitalists is still a question yet to be answered, all that we can do is to hope the coming generations wake up with no frowns and rush to schools with bigger smiles ever
Monday, November 8, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
We the People...
We the People....
We are good people, we are nice people, nicer at times, and we are simple people. We are the people who keep our lives to ourselves; we are bored yet happy with our existences. We live with no harm to the other and we live in our own spaces carved out of busy livelihoods. We are satisfied, humble and too much grounded at that.
As individuals we are too different from each other, we are bankers, we are lawyers, teachers doctors, we sport the white collar with whiter smiles. We are rickshaw pullers autowallahs, laborers and vegetable vendors; we are the blue collar brigade. We might be different as persons but we are the same as people. We make up and add up to the ever growing populations, we are the middle class, we constitute the largest democracy.
As people we have had our own histories geographies and economics all the time. We have evolved with time; we have grown with the passing years. We have never been the same; we have come a long way from being illiterate and naive mass to well educated and updated citizens. We have seen the nation change, grow and delve into its very own identity. We as people have been evidences to haw as a culture; we have borne influences from all around the globe. From the time we were just born as an independent state to the times we are ushering in the white elephant of free trade, we stand as apostles of a glorious history
We are the same people who once had come together to get the nation free, we are the same ones who had en-mass demanded our own skies and snatched our own lands from an empire. We are the same people who had walked the roads of courage and sacrifice and transformed from a mere colony to a unified democracy- a sovereign state. We are the same people who came with each other at the time of distress; we gave away our food once a week to feed our soldiers, we once gave a death blow to prime minister for having led the nation to a state of self arrest, self insult and emergency. Yes we are the same.
We have no problems accepting what is true. Yes we have been a very strong force which stood up for itself and the country. We have been the generators of strong public opinions which have shaken governments. Also we have no problems accepting what is reality... Yes we no longer are the same... we have changed or worsened... We are no longer the powerful people, we are just votes now; we are just the capital which others bank upon...
We now are not concerned with what is happening in the nation, true we are updated with the latest news but that doesn't matter to us to a slightest degree. We have been reduced to a nonchalant, bored, inarticulate herd of people. We are no longer agile, we don't feel responsible for the community we live in. we are concerned about only ourselves and nothing else. We are those parasites which feed on the society and harm it at the same time.
Let the term "harm" arise no hurt feelings. To harm here is not related in sense to direct assault to the society. No we are not those who cause damage to the world, no we are in no way antagonists, but we are neither protagonist too. we vote at an election, pay the electricity bills, we never break the traffic rules, we try paying income taxes on time, we never damage the public properties, our children are in no way concerned with the drug mafia or the local goons. We are too ordinary; we own houses, sites and vehicles. Though it is true to the highest degrees of acceptance that we don't harm anyone, it is also a shameful fact that we are numb, dumb and insensitive.
We live in big cities, amid all the civic amenities, we use all that is given to us by statute, but yet, we never feel these amenities need to be preserved from spoilage too. We don spit on the roads although; we never stop others from doing it too. We don't receive bribes although, we don't mind paying bribes or opposing it at the places of public work. Since we are good people we do not object to people smoking at public places. We do not object anything that goes wrong around us. Our cities are dirty and the municipalities seem to take no notice of it, but we don't mind. We turn deaf, dumb and blind to the eve teasers who fiddle with women, we don't speak out when human laws are breached to the core- a murder, rape or whatever, and we don't bother to say a bit!!!
So much is our naiveté as too ordinary aam janta that we do not feel we have something other than to vegetate. Although we caste our votes and ink our fingers, we never remember its we who run the government. We feel proud for having exercised one of the powerful rights of free franchise but we never ask, why is so much money being spent on elections- illegally? We never feel the need the representatives what have they done for us? The roads have dismantled long back, the drinking water is soon to be a luxury, and the fair price shops are no fair in terms of quality. we are cheated at the elections, driven fanatics when religion is at stake. We have been judged as typical bakras as far as making electoral promises is concerned. The whole country, the civic amenities, the public services, basic requirements- health, schools and lot more have only gone to dogs, be the humble, simple people of India, never raise a stink.
We, the citizens of the biggest democracy of the world with the longest constitution ever.... are good people, happy people, nice people........ WHAT A F####KING JOKE!!!!!!
While we know we are too good, why don't we realize that there are other ways of being good too. Wouldn’t it be too nice to stand up for the nation’s good and set things right? If we as illiterate snake charmers could throw the British away six decades earlier, why can’t we as well informed, educated citizens think of throwing corruption, debauchery and hypocrisy away from the nation? Why are finding it so hard to speak out and clean up the system?
Why don't the bakras- the innocuous goats scare the wolves away?? Why can’t we make the dream of a democracy- a governance of the people, by the people and for the people- in true sense a reality????
As individuals we are too different from each other, we are bankers, we are lawyers, teachers doctors, we sport the white collar with whiter smiles. We are rickshaw pullers autowallahs, laborers and vegetable vendors; we are the blue collar brigade. We might be different as persons but we are the same as people. We make up and add up to the ever growing populations, we are the middle class, we constitute the largest democracy.
As people we have had our own histories geographies and economics all the time. We have evolved with time; we have grown with the passing years. We have never been the same; we have come a long way from being illiterate and naive mass to well educated and updated citizens. We have seen the nation change, grow and delve into its very own identity. We as people have been evidences to haw as a culture; we have borne influences from all around the globe. From the time we were just born as an independent state to the times we are ushering in the white elephant of free trade, we stand as apostles of a glorious history
We are the same people who once had come together to get the nation free, we are the same ones who had en-mass demanded our own skies and snatched our own lands from an empire. We are the same people who had walked the roads of courage and sacrifice and transformed from a mere colony to a unified democracy- a sovereign state. We are the same people who came with each other at the time of distress; we gave away our food once a week to feed our soldiers, we once gave a death blow to prime minister for having led the nation to a state of self arrest, self insult and emergency. Yes we are the same.
We have no problems accepting what is true. Yes we have been a very strong force which stood up for itself and the country. We have been the generators of strong public opinions which have shaken governments. Also we have no problems accepting what is reality... Yes we no longer are the same... we have changed or worsened... We are no longer the powerful people, we are just votes now; we are just the capital which others bank upon...
We now are not concerned with what is happening in the nation, true we are updated with the latest news but that doesn't matter to us to a slightest degree. We have been reduced to a nonchalant, bored, inarticulate herd of people. We are no longer agile, we don't feel responsible for the community we live in. we are concerned about only ourselves and nothing else. We are those parasites which feed on the society and harm it at the same time.
Let the term "harm" arise no hurt feelings. To harm here is not related in sense to direct assault to the society. No we are not those who cause damage to the world, no we are in no way antagonists, but we are neither protagonist too. we vote at an election, pay the electricity bills, we never break the traffic rules, we try paying income taxes on time, we never damage the public properties, our children are in no way concerned with the drug mafia or the local goons. We are too ordinary; we own houses, sites and vehicles. Though it is true to the highest degrees of acceptance that we don't harm anyone, it is also a shameful fact that we are numb, dumb and insensitive.
We live in big cities, amid all the civic amenities, we use all that is given to us by statute, but yet, we never feel these amenities need to be preserved from spoilage too. We don spit on the roads although; we never stop others from doing it too. We don't receive bribes although, we don't mind paying bribes or opposing it at the places of public work. Since we are good people we do not object to people smoking at public places. We do not object anything that goes wrong around us. Our cities are dirty and the municipalities seem to take no notice of it, but we don't mind. We turn deaf, dumb and blind to the eve teasers who fiddle with women, we don't speak out when human laws are breached to the core- a murder, rape or whatever, and we don't bother to say a bit!!!
So much is our naiveté as too ordinary aam janta that we do not feel we have something other than to vegetate. Although we caste our votes and ink our fingers, we never remember its we who run the government. We feel proud for having exercised one of the powerful rights of free franchise but we never ask, why is so much money being spent on elections- illegally? We never feel the need the representatives what have they done for us? The roads have dismantled long back, the drinking water is soon to be a luxury, and the fair price shops are no fair in terms of quality. we are cheated at the elections, driven fanatics when religion is at stake. We have been judged as typical bakras as far as making electoral promises is concerned. The whole country, the civic amenities, the public services, basic requirements- health, schools and lot more have only gone to dogs, be the humble, simple people of India, never raise a stink.
We, the citizens of the biggest democracy of the world with the longest constitution ever.... are good people, happy people, nice people........ WHAT A F####KING JOKE!!!!!!
While we know we are too good, why don't we realize that there are other ways of being good too. Wouldn’t it be too nice to stand up for the nation’s good and set things right? If we as illiterate snake charmers could throw the British away six decades earlier, why can’t we as well informed, educated citizens think of throwing corruption, debauchery and hypocrisy away from the nation? Why are finding it so hard to speak out and clean up the system?
Why don't the bakras- the innocuous goats scare the wolves away?? Why can’t we make the dream of a democracy- a governance of the people, by the people and for the people- in true sense a reality????
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