Years ago when we had a nursery school near our home in India, it used to be a gory sight in the morning for few months every year, when children cry like anything for being dropped at school. The parents will try every possible trick in their books by cajoling, coaxing and bundle them in to the school building.
Cutting out the flash back and coming to reality, it is a funny situation at this end now. Time and location has changed. As Anirud stepped into the school (play group) today for the first time, it was funnier to see kids stepping in with glee. The area where these buggers are meant to be seated were filled with toys and what not. There was no ‘miss’ standing with a scale (ruler). Atmosphere was welcoming and children were made to feel comfortable. It is quite some time since I saw a child in close quarters going to school and whenever I think of schooling, invariably I am reminded of the scene described at the beginning of the post. I keep hearing from folks that things have changed a lot in India and they don’t spank the kids as they used to do during our times. Would be interested to know how else the schools have changed in India.
Quite funny to think of “such-completely-new-world-for-the-kids” kind of school days. And I was put in school when I was two and half years old. Though I was supposed to sit in pre-KG and scream amongst those silly crying brats, I was sitting in my sister’s class for almost an year (and she was in 1st std then). The very mention of me sitting next to my sister in her class would actually lure me to goto school. Maybe, I needed a known company at school or I did not like my pre-KG teacher. Or maybe her ruler. I still feel like kicking most of the teachers who ruled those days with the “ruler”(or scale). Stupid tyrants most of them were. And all they do is innovate punishing methodologies (gave me a feeling as if they’ll sacrifice their sleep in the nights to find a new way of penalizing kids)! Am sure days are changed nowadays. Good for the kids!
Well! I studied in a Christian convent. Teachers there, never spanked the kids beyond 3rd std(thanks to God, else I would’ve got some everyday!!!).
But I agree, Parents, teachers all have started believing in Ahimsa. Maybe it has become a business!!! But you know what, kids these days take so much more load than we used to a decade ago. They better have their way somewhere(other than home that is)
Dear Chakkrpani Sampath. I quite easlily understand Ur elation when ‘Anirudh’entered the school there.It is also the same in U.S.The nightmare od scalle in hand balling out eyes Ronly in our country more so in the rural side even today.
The claim of Montessori system by many intheir Ads are all false.Macaulay still lives in India.Mygrandson Arun Dilipan was encouraged to write the ‘Magnet Exam’ by his school who spotted his strength in maths andvesatility in computers,last week.If he comes out succesful he will be permitted to sit in ahiger grade in respect of Maths and computers.
I have stARTED BLOGGING IN ALL SERIOUSNESS.I TRIRD TO REACH Ur site but unsuccesful.Mukund has sent an EMail to U
Blessings and best wiehes for pongal to U and your family
Incidentally my B’Day falls on Maatu pongal day 16th Jan
parthakrish
Chakra, although some schools in big cities have implemented the Montessori system, the generic system of schools hasn’t changed much, I would say. One of my friend’s son born here – their family went back to India when he started schooling tells me that the LKG class has less space and nearly 20 kids are made to sit in one place for the entire session in a 10 X 10 room. I appreciate it very much to know how blessed our kids are!
Chakra,
Welcome to the real family and child upbringing phase. What you are seeing here is luxury. Even the highest fee paid motessori schools in Chennai will be crowded. It is becoming too commercial. Many parents admit their younger ones just for the heck of it in a ‘famous’ school. They do not try to understand the other basic needs and principles. I am talking about our place and not here. There are parents who used to just let the kid hurriedly from their Auto or two wheeler and there are child handlers who are still a nightmare to the kids. The behaviour of the child depends on the upbringing as well. If they are over pampered they behave eccentric in school. Whatever said, I am still not happy with certain schools in our places. There are less familiar schools who do wonders in handling kids.
Hi Chakra,
Coming here after a very very long time. How are you doing. Last time I came your kid was in the cradle and now he is off to school. Great. Its nice to see the play school becoming a place for children to get excited as against our days of battleground.
I have started blogging again. Keep coming.
Arun Sundar – Your words sound as if you were at the receiving end for too long. I can very well understand and relate to it.
Meera – i am not sure if they started believing in Ahimsa. For some inane reasons, these kind of stuff quickly makes it to the press and no one wants to be in the spotlight for wrong reasons.
Kichami Sir – Thanks for your kind note and email. Please do keep blogging.
Uma – Remember the Kumbakonam incident few yrs ago? I am not sure whether the right lessons were properly learnt afterwards.
Balaji – I very much agree with you on the less familiar schools.
Hari – Welcoem back. Keep blogging. Time sure flies, isn’t it?