Mama-papa back to school.
School is a vital unit of community created for the need of learning. It is sad though, that the trio - parents, teachers and students have become exclusive entities instead of a happy wholesome which is much required to train, teach & transform a young mind. The environment can make or mar a child. The continuous and comprehensive effort to teach the academic, inculcate soft skills and values for life is a big challenge for the schools and the parents. Parents too are pacing hard to match up with the new educational challenges which are our only hope for a bright future. Our country comprises of the highest population of kids in the whole world. With focus on strengthening the teaching-learning scenario, we can achieve the impossible and conquer the entire world in all fields. Knowledge that is application and skill based is desired in our educational sector. Schools have evolved and parenting has got tougher in the past two decades. Ideally speaking, a unique partnership between parents and teachers nurtures a child for future. In today cut-throat competition the child needs a strong base and should also be well prepared to face all competitions.
Parenting is a challenge – it is like
walking on a razor’s edge. Being a parent might be technically easy but
practically and it the real sense of the word, it is one of the toughest task but in exchange it teaches you the meaning of
unconditional love. Once you become a parent, you have to work 24/7 because that's the
only shift they offer, alongside there are no bonuses, no hikes, no over-time.
You are expected to have 206 moveable bones & parts...all replaceable and endless pairs
of hands. You must be able to thrive on an empty stomach, run on black coffee or even
leftovers. You are miraculous for your hug or kiss can cure everything from a broken arm to a
broken heart. And at the end of it all, after every painstaking moment that you have spent with your child, you may be hated by them sometimes.... bitter but true... and that is being a parent. But you are a parent, you are not contesting for elections and not looking for cheap popularity. So, be... just be a parent!
Remember that children are merely born to parents and not an extension of them, they ought to be understood in their perspective. Despite being born to a doctor or engineer, they may fancy a fundamentally different stream. Their mind dwells in tomorrow and sometimes their destinies direct them differently. Parents and teachers must use perseverance, patience and precision in dealing with them. A child can be understood and helped to nurture better if the major stake holders- parents and teachers join hands and support him fully. The modern teaching in many ways is going back to our old and rooted education system of ‘Gurukuls’. Once again we have to lay high emphasis on learning skills that prepares a child for global competition, universal brotherhood and make him a follower of peace.
Today, the teachers set goals and pre-define the learning outcomes. They set a benchmark and clearly expect the children to achieve it. The teaching is conceptual and comprehensive. Students are partnered in this process and periodic evaluation prepares them for the standardised assessments. The comprehensive planners in school include assemblies, activities, seminars, excursions, field trips, projects and computer aided learning. There are Group-discussions, creative writing and many such activities to boost the intellectual and emotional quotient. All these increase learning, and makes education holistic in nature. ‘Inspire to learn’ is the motto behind each lesson plan and activity taken up by the school. ‘Hands-on’ training and imparting practical application based learning is the way forward. Schools try to incorporate lessons on moral values alongside. Role plays, radio shows, debates and quizzes are carried out with the intention of involving students and unleashing their innate potentials. While there are regular PTMs and annual orientation programmes where parenting is discussed and the mutual relationship is strengthened, it is heartening to bring students-parents together to relate better and reinforce the strong bond. Parents are sometimes invited to conduct sessions with students and also to judge the activities they carry out in school.
The dynamics of this age are massive, while there is a desire to hold on to our roots, there is an urge to reach the sky. Competitions and its bars are escalating, we need to prepare the next generation for it but equally strong is the need to preserve the ‘child’. Children show us in their playful smiles that divine is everywhere. Their childhood can’t be crushed or sacrificed on the altar of competition, success and money. We need to understand the competition and then cooperate and collaborate our energies in the right direction. Beyond every aim, is the global want of leaving behind a generation that is human and humane; and consists of responsible citizens that are real saviour of mother earth.
The theory is perfect but practice poor. The ever widening gap between them is visible and so are the efforts to bridge the same. This bridging is our hope in achieving a lot for the next generation. You would frequent parents saying derogatory statements to their kids since they fall short of their expectations. It is hard, very hard for the parent to relate sometimes. Why?... Because if there is someone scared of the future, it is the parent and not the child.
The best way to collate the views of this important segment is to bring them together in some informal interactions. Active involvement of parents can change the face of the institution. Parents are the major stake holders and their opinions are invaluable. Their help is required in making the child an independent learner, they need to give feedback about what is taught and learnt. This is essential in improving the learning graph.
I recently got invited for 'Mama pretty, Papa Chef', a unique show showcasing this new generation of ramp-walkers & kitchen-kings. These occasions & events highlight a lot. Inhibitions are shed and it helps to increase the already existent bond of love, respect and understanding. ‘Mama pretty, Papa chef’ was an entertaining event with moms walking down the ramp, giving a 2 minute introduction, presenting their talent & then being shortlisted for the question-answer round. Indeed grilling and testing every bit of their real beauty deep until the soul. The finalists were crowned 'PRETTY MOM'. Dads had to cook without fire. The dish had to be labeled with nutritional details. These first-timers were then required to answer the questions related to their dish. There existed a well set question paper with high order thinking skills. After the meticulous marking and totaling, they were proclaimed the 'BEST CHEF'. The last laugh was for the lady... who looked pretty, competed for the crown & got a certified kitchen help as a bumper sale add-on coupon. It was a 'win-win' pack for the husbands too since they either learnt or won. Keep learning, keep winning ought to be our success mantra.
But behind all this fun and frolic, dresses and dishes, were some hidden objectives. There was a certain plan to turn the tables & let the parents know that stage-fright & nervousness is felt by all. Also that all competitions have challenges and winning is tough and tedious. The difference between the winner and first runners-up is sometimes so minute and the parents need to understand the psychology, pressure and pain of their little one. This sets the mind to unique fact that treatment of task is objective in nature but assessment is entirely the prerogative of a teacher. Well, learning should be for life and not merely a living. It must open one’s mind and make him inquisitive and curious about all the things around him. Children are living beings - more living than grown-up people who have built shells of habit around themselves. Therefore it is absolutely necessary for their mental health and development that they should not have mere schools for as their lessons, but a world whose guiding spirit is personal love.
'Parents’ participation is bound to bring about a radical change!'. One day, one
event left this message, since everyone enjoyed the grand and pompous programme
that lifted them as parents. The emotions,
whether they were of joy, sorrow, love or pride, were deep and in the end they
left parents exposed and elated. The human heart was not designed to beat
outside the human body and yet, each child represented just that - a parent's
heart bared, beating forever outside its chest. Competing or
winning for your kids is a very special feeling, I am glad they all walked home happy as they were all winners.... they had beaten everybody who
lacked the courage to compete!
Dr Anshu Arora (Maheshwari)
(Principal)
Bal Bharti School
Authored -
1) FICTION - 'School Truths.. REVEALED' – http://tapatbooksonline.com/?books=books-school-truths-revealed
2) SHORT STORY - http://www.sparkthemagazine.com/?p=6698\
(overcoming fear) - http://www.penpencileraser.com/blog/know-your-destination-you-are-the-driver-of-your-life/
5) BLOGS - Campaign for justice - http://www.pleaforjustice.blogspot.com
6) REVIEW - About hotels - http://www.our-hospitality.blogspot.com
7) ARTICLES - About women-http://www.womeninwrath.blogspot.com
About parents-teachers-students - http://www.parents2school.blogspot.in/
But this is not all, for she may offer advice on green tea http://www.ahemahem.com/does-green-tea-help-you-lose-weight/2474/
or may make you laugh through her reasons to befriend Bengalis… http://www.thatscoop.com/anshu.arora/reasons-to-be-friend-a-bong .
Food bite - http://dal-batti-churma.blogspot.com
