Posts

Showing posts from April, 2011

Examination-A test for parents and children alike

There is serious discussion taking place in the field of examination reforms. Last few years have seen many changes proposed and implemented.But that is mostly confined to school education and the higher education in the country remains almost unaffected by these changes. Many  people think that the policy makers should not treat this in isolation but a comprehensive approach is required if proper positive results are to be achieved.The policies say that no child will be detained or failed up to class VIII and in classes IX and X also the pattern of the question papers is such that almost all children should pass the so called examination. What happens in class XI when all of sudden the syllabus becomes elaborate and also the students have to pass in the examination.Will the children be ready for the exam when they had not be taking them very seriously in the lower classes? Naturally the people have their own opinion in this case also but in spite of trying to be ideal only the real si

Excess of everything is bad

The people in business are told that the price of any commodity will depend upon the demand and supply and that seems to be absolutely true. This has been a regular feature in the recent past that if the price of something is to be hiked then a phobia is created that this particular item is in shortage. The prices of sugar, onion and vegetables keep on fluctuating depending upon the so called availability or shortage. These are extreme conditions and in both the situations people get affected most of the time negatively. Another extreme is seen in the newspapers and on TV channels. If the Indian team does well one day then, so much of hype would be created so as to get a feeling that this team is the best and nobody can beat them ever and if unluckily they get defeated( which is natural) then the reports will make you feel as if there is no team worst than this. Not only this,a lot of negative will be written and spoken.This is another  example of an extreme and there are many more li

Let me study and learn in the class

The thrust of my thoughts has always been on the role played by the parents and the teachers in the life of a child. Some people ask if it is not the duty and responsibility of the children also to think about themselves, their future and the sensitivity towards others particularly their own peers who want to do well in life? Another question raised is, what is the right age up to which children are to be supported, guided and counselled and when are they expected to take their own decisions? This is well known to everyone that the brain of the child develops maximum up to the age of five and the development is almost complete by the time the child is ten years old. Though  learning is a  life long journey which never ends till a person is alive but this usually takes place based on the desire and will power of an individual.Everyone keeps learning one thing or the other every moment. The children should be given freedom of doing things themselves from the age of five or six years and

Teachers need to impart quality teaching.

While thinking to write more about the problems faced by the children at home and in the school ,I happen to read a quote in one of the books which gave me direction for the topic to be shared with you today. A child expresses his views in response to the parents desire or may be the teacher. And while doing so, he raises a very important issue. The conclusion drawn from the  statement is that every child wants to learn but may not be always wanting to be taught. It is a very important lesson to be learnt by all teachers and the parents. If a serious thought is given to day -to- day life at home and also in the school, it is noticed that children are forced to do so many things though they may not be wanting to do that. For example, the child has just come back from outside, may be from the playground or the coaching class or may be was with the friends for sometime. During this time the mother or father or somebody else must have been thinking about his/ her studies and that makes the

Child marriage-Serious problem faced by the nation

The child marriage menace has been in this country for hundreds of years and despite the efforts made by the social activist, saints and the government not much improvement has been observed. There were reasons for this to begin with and eventually it became a kind of tradition to marry the children at early age. As per the scientist, doctors and researchers early marriages lead to complications and in most cases both the couple suffers. The appropriate age of marriage in our country is eighteen years for girls and twenty one years for the boys. There must have been some scientific and social thought behind this because marriage before this age may not be good as per the health reasons and also for psychological reasons. When this problem of child marriage could not be handled at social level the government of India enacted a law against this.This act known as Sharda Act that has been in place for many years but not much improvement has been noted. Every year on the occasion of aksya

All Pass- No Fail Policy

Quality education means that all the learners attain minimum level of learning.To achieve this level the students have to study and work hard.This also acts as the motivation  and helps an individual to try and reach this level.In everybody`s life there are goals and to achieve those goals they need the process the path and find out ways to reach the goal.If one does not have a goal to reach in the life, the life becomes dull and monotonous . All know it well that anything which is achieved by hard work and perseverance gives more and enduring satisfaction than the one achieved easily. Education makes a person to discover self and exploit the potential possessed by the individual. Every country has an important place for its education system depending upon the requirement of the people and the nation. Though the basic aim of the education may be same but the teaching learning process and the evaluation have been quite different. The present Indian education system has been in place  f

Girl child is precious- Save her

The recent reports in the newspapers regarding pre natal test conducted by some doctors in Haryana and other states are very disturbing to all.Though the government has banned such tests but these are still conducted by some greedy clinic/ hospital owners. The doctors are to be blamed for this but the ones who go to them and request or force them to get the test done should also not be spared rather the punishment given to them  should be more harsh. This is also true that very few cases are reported and there are so many which go unnoticed or unreported. Banning the test may not be an effective solution or cure for the serious problem the country is facing. The census 2011 should awake all the citizens of the country to take immediate corrective measures before the situation go out of control. The government alone can not do everything to remove wrong doing in the society rather the role of the society is very important if the social evils are to be uprooted completely  . In the name

Save Earth- Save self

Every year, 22nd April  is celebrated as earth day and many programmes are organised all over the world and leaders and the ones who are in a position to take decisions promise lot many things to be done to save earth. It was way back in 1970 when an American senator initiated campaign to save earth and from then onward this is repeated every year on this day. So many conferences and meetings are held on this day and during the year but not much has been changed by that. It has been reported that in the last about 20 years the carbon dioxide emission has been increased by approximately 40%  which has resulted in the temperature increase by about 1%. Due to the increase in temperature the glaciers are melting at a  fast rate and if this continues , all glaciers will be depleted by year 2040. The level of sea water is rising every year and in the next 50-60 years many countries and the cities will become a history.I may not be the competent person to elaborate on the disastrous results o

Country of holidays

The new academic session started in most of the schools from 01 April and there would have been an enthusiasm among the students because they had moved from one class to a higher class. The parents must have also done quite a preparation. There are many children who go to a new school or for the first time and expect to be friendly with the schoolmates and the teachers.But unfortunately there have been a number of holidays in the last few days which disturb the routine of the schools and the planning of specific tasks get derailed. Many people will not agree with what is being shared but I always say these are my thoughts and I do discuss such issues with many people. This is true that not many parents and other people appreciate so many holidays but as these holidays have been decided by the government hence they expect the schools also to remain closed on these days. One of the most respected educationist of the country mentioned sarcastically that the thrust is on enrollment of the

Dignity of labour

The father of the nation , who is appreciated and followed by the people around the globe , had many qualities which made him so popular and different from others.Non- violence or as popularly termed "Ahimsa" is most talked about and discussed. But the other very important quality which people do talk but in the recent past has not been heard of much ,was extremely significant in the life of Gandhiji and that was 'dignity of labour'. He used to do all his daily work himself and advocated the same to his followers. Gandhiji took pride in cleaning his room or doing other such work and did not allow himself to be helped by others. According to him no work for him was below his dignity.This was so because he was aware that everyone is important and should be respected irrespective of his caste,creed,religion,race ,profession or any other classification. He knew it well that it could not be possible by lectures or passing laws ,but by examples. He showed us the path that

School hostel-Need or compulsion

Our country has the tradition of having Gurukuls where the children from all families would go and get education for life.Even the kings` and Shanshss` children were sent to the Gurus and Maulvis to learn the lessons of life. Gurukuls used to be away from the cities where the pupil were supposed to remain cut off from the general public.They were not only taught academics but also other life skills. There are many examples in the ancient books in which the all children were treated at par and they used to almost everything all by themselves. There were no helpers for anything and everything was to be done by them only. Whether it was to collect the wood or things required to cook food the responsibility was on the children.The wife of the Guru was addressed as Guru Maa, meaning thereby that she was treated as the mother of the pupil. Then over a period of time the gurukuls changed to 'Paathshalas' and education became more formal and structured.When the British empire took over

Major cause of stress among children

Change is inevitable and it does not happen without inconvenience.Many people think that  the children nowadays mature before time. In most cases, people feel good about it but when it comes to friendship with opposite sex, not many are comfortable with it.The counsellors and psychologists are serious about such immature relationships.The major problem in our society is that we feel shy of discussing such issues in public.I also took quite long before deciding to write something which is affecting our children because they are not guided or advised properly by elders.There was a debate few years back to make sex education as a part of school curriculum but there was  a lot of opposition from many corners. People both in favour and against had their point of view but they agree that something needs to be done in that direction so that our children do not go off the track. It has been found in many cases that the problem between two teenagers was because they liked the same person. There

Stress and tension- Two major cause of concern

The youth of today is often found complaining of the stress and the pressure in which they are working today. Prominent news reports of fat packages lure children to get a placement in an organisation which pays them the most. This is very natural but should it be the money only which is to be a considered or the liking and the interest in a particular task undertaken by individuals. Young people keep talking that though they have means but do not have time to make use of those means. Some people keep working for months together and do not get time to purchase essential things of daily use.The work pressure is so much they hardly get any time to think of their family.There are so many young people specially in big cities who do not wish to get married because they consider it to be a hurdle in their progress. Those who get married do not want to have children because they feel that they will not be able to do justice to the kids.Staying alone away from the family do not make things bet

Safety of the children

The newspaper reports regarding child abuse in different forms are disturbing to everybody specially the parents and teachers. One or the other case or the problems faced by the children,  who suffer in silence, are reported almost every day. This number should be of the cases reported by the parents and  they would have lodged an FIR. A number of cases go unreported even if the parents knew about the incident. In many cases even the parents would not be aware of any abuse because most of the children do not share everything with the parents.Some organisations have attempted to carry out survey regrading child abuse in the country and the results are shocking. The psychiatrist and educationist have been suggesting the methods of preventing this menace but the result is not encouraging. Child abuse can be of different nature due to which a child is psychologically disturbed. It has been observed that some children who have been very active in the school as well as at home, become quiet

Importance of media

The recent happenings in middle east which gave fresh hopes to the people to voice their views could be possible largely due to the role played by media.The support which the movement of Sh.Anna Ji got was again possible on account of the media. In today`s world the newspapers, magazines and TV news channels have become an integral part of everybody`s life. TV and newspapers have contributed immensely in bringing the people of the world close to each other. Then why the media is criticised by many people? There must be some genuine reasons for that ,but to blame media for everything happening wrong is not the right approach.It has been observed that many of those people who criticise media do not miss any opportunity to gain mileage by the same media.Lot many things are spoken about some wrong being done in rare cases, but who promotes that . A few months back a particular newspaper reporter declined so called gift offer by a government department on the occasion of some celebrations.

Can moral values be taught ?

Newspapers and the magazines cover many stories related to moral degradation in the society. This is suggested that if the values are to be inculcated then this  should be done right from the childhood. The family and the school, play a very important role in this.A number of books have been written on this topic . The series of moral science books are in abundance in the market. The schools think of doing great by introducing such books to the children and consider it as they have done their duty.Many people argue that morals can not be taught through the text or by lectures but by actions and examples.Very rightly mentioned by somebody in a talk show on TV that the elders specially the parents and teachers ask the children not to fight but they fight among themselves, at times in the presence of the kids and also grown up children. If a child is rude to somebody due to some reason the elders advise him not to be so but many times they themselves are rude to the children while advisin

Salute to all the citizens of the nation

Last few days have seen something which not many people had even thought in their dreams.One man , who has devoted his entire life for the cause of the people, could make the whole nation awake. The dark days of the last few months which witnessed so much revelation of corruption by the people who were directly or indirectly elected by the people of the country. The disclosures of different episodes of corruption had pushed the general public to a situation where they stopped having any faith in the system. Every body was in a state of shock and depression with little hope of improvement. The word  corruption  had become synonymous to cat. The children had started learning 'C' for corruption instead of the traditional 'C' for cat.Many people thought that no one is capable of bringing this country out of the grim state of affairs.  The progress made by the country and discussion about that was over shadowed by the menace of corruption. The high courts and also the suprem

Census 2011-Surprising and shocking revelation

Census 2011 data have been released recently and the country should be proud of the progress made in certain areas in the last ten years. The detailed report is yet to be released but whatever could be available through the media report, there are many interesting facts released. One of the most important achievement is that population growth chart has gone down. The percentage population  growth has  decreased from 23.8 to 21.5 which is a positive sign. If the government takes it more seriously the population growth can be controlled in a more effective manner. The literacy rate  has also gone up in both the cases i.e. male as well as female. But one surprising element in the census is regarding the sex ratio variation. The best ratio has been reported from Kerela and the worst is in case of Haryana as far as far as the states are concerned. The literacy percentage is also the highest in Kerela and the lowest has been reported from Bihar.So it appears from this that  if literacy rate