This blog has been long pending. Wannabewriter’s previous post prompted me to go ahead and finish it. My daughter is 5 and currently in PP1. In the good ol’ days, known as Kindergarten. Somehow, the schools of today think that if they were to name the class a little differently, it makes all the difference. What is wrong with Kindergarten, Prep and then class 1.…? Anyways, so now I have another year to go till I put my daughter in a formal school. And so the hunt for a good school continues…
I am checking with parents who have already made their choice of schools as to what made it stand apart from the rest. I have ended up with a lot of mixed opinions. There are schools with exams and tons of homework. So much so that the kid is just flitting from school work to homework and no time to play. Result: Kids are angry and stressed. Parents are bugged with all the constant reminding and nagging about homework.
Then there are schools that have no homework and no exams. You’d think that everybody involved was happy with this kind? You are highly mistaken. Parents are bugged (yes, again) that there is no homework because kids are having too much free time and they are glued to the TV or refuse to get home from play at a decent time. And since there is no exam, there is no real seriousness and they get all worked up when they get to a stage where they do have exams.
Then there are schools that resort to all kinds of crap to make sure that parents are involved. They frequently get parents to participate in the festivals (we have at least 50 a year!) that are celebrated at schools. Now working parents are not able to make it to all of these. Result: Sad kid whose heart has sunk when he saw all the other kids’ parents and not his. The school cannot or does not want to see that these exercises are pointless.
Not to miss are the projects that are frequently assigned to the kids. I suspect that it is a gauge to ascertain the resourcefulness of the parents after a hard days’ work. Just imagine nursery kids being asked to find cuttings of different flowers based on colours etc. I am sure no nursery kid can even say Chrysanthemum. If there is any lesson learnt out of it, I want to know about it. Now stationery shops sell ready made projects. Can you believe this?
When we were studying ( I believe it was the last century), we were taught in school. All we had to do was revise at home. Now teachers think that this whole new breed of over-enthusiastic parents will do all the hard work. I think parents should approach the school in hordes and just let them know what is expected of the school considering the ridiculously high amount of fees that have to be paid. When I asked a friend why she did not approach the school when she had a small issue, she said that she feared that her kid would be singled out. And God forbid, if your kid does not already know what she is going to be taught at school. Then I believe that there are teachers who constantly taunt the kids about their inabilities.
So, to keep up with the times, parents are forced to resort to tuitions etc. I even know a KG kid who goes to tuition. Of course, it is not uncommon knowledge that teachers are purposely not teaching in school properly so as to convince parents that tuition will help.
Now Wannabewriter needs to tell me which is the school that her mother runs and if it has a branch in Hyderabad. :-D. All I want is a school that teaches all the kids need to know syllabus-wise in school. They should devote equal attention to physical activity. They should instill values. They should respect each child as an individual and not compare. They should help children to find their potential. They should work hand in hand with parents to ensure that each child ends up a well-rounded individual. I also think they should go the exam-way! Because, for any reason, if we have to change locations etc, it would be really stressful for the kids to cope. There must have been an odd-case here and there, when we were studying ,of kids committing suicide because of exams stress or bad results, as compared to today.
As I famously say: Very soon, they will have courses in schools on "How to be a child when you are actually a child!" Schools are really phasing out childhood!
I salute my school, The Indian High School, Dubai, for all that they have done for me.
I am checking with parents who have already made their choice of schools as to what made it stand apart from the rest. I have ended up with a lot of mixed opinions. There are schools with exams and tons of homework. So much so that the kid is just flitting from school work to homework and no time to play. Result: Kids are angry and stressed. Parents are bugged with all the constant reminding and nagging about homework.
Then there are schools that have no homework and no exams. You’d think that everybody involved was happy with this kind? You are highly mistaken. Parents are bugged (yes, again) that there is no homework because kids are having too much free time and they are glued to the TV or refuse to get home from play at a decent time. And since there is no exam, there is no real seriousness and they get all worked up when they get to a stage where they do have exams.
Then there are schools that resort to all kinds of crap to make sure that parents are involved. They frequently get parents to participate in the festivals (we have at least 50 a year!) that are celebrated at schools. Now working parents are not able to make it to all of these. Result: Sad kid whose heart has sunk when he saw all the other kids’ parents and not his. The school cannot or does not want to see that these exercises are pointless.
Not to miss are the projects that are frequently assigned to the kids. I suspect that it is a gauge to ascertain the resourcefulness of the parents after a hard days’ work. Just imagine nursery kids being asked to find cuttings of different flowers based on colours etc. I am sure no nursery kid can even say Chrysanthemum. If there is any lesson learnt out of it, I want to know about it. Now stationery shops sell ready made projects. Can you believe this?
When we were studying ( I believe it was the last century), we were taught in school. All we had to do was revise at home. Now teachers think that this whole new breed of over-enthusiastic parents will do all the hard work. I think parents should approach the school in hordes and just let them know what is expected of the school considering the ridiculously high amount of fees that have to be paid. When I asked a friend why she did not approach the school when she had a small issue, she said that she feared that her kid would be singled out. And God forbid, if your kid does not already know what she is going to be taught at school. Then I believe that there are teachers who constantly taunt the kids about their inabilities.
So, to keep up with the times, parents are forced to resort to tuitions etc. I even know a KG kid who goes to tuition. Of course, it is not uncommon knowledge that teachers are purposely not teaching in school properly so as to convince parents that tuition will help.
Now Wannabewriter needs to tell me which is the school that her mother runs and if it has a branch in Hyderabad. :-D. All I want is a school that teaches all the kids need to know syllabus-wise in school. They should devote equal attention to physical activity. They should instill values. They should respect each child as an individual and not compare. They should help children to find their potential. They should work hand in hand with parents to ensure that each child ends up a well-rounded individual. I also think they should go the exam-way! Because, for any reason, if we have to change locations etc, it would be really stressful for the kids to cope. There must have been an odd-case here and there, when we were studying ,of kids committing suicide because of exams stress or bad results, as compared to today.
As I famously say: Very soon, they will have courses in schools on "How to be a child when you are actually a child!" Schools are really phasing out childhood!
I salute my school, The Indian High School, Dubai, for all that they have done for me.
6 comments:
"Not to miss are the projects that are frequently assigned to the kids. I suspect that it is a gauge to ascertain the resourcefulness of the parents after a hard days’ work."
LOL u bet.......but I have to admit my kids had the best projects & their books are taken to show other parents.
Sighhhh.....andha kaaalam poechiii....when I had a printer, scanner & Internet at my disposal for 8 hrs everyday & not much work to do.
;-D.....I did all this goodal work in office if it didnt click to u.
U knw I always intimidated at the way u think so much about these things............all I remember abt admissions was tht.....as usual we were lazy & sat on ur backsides till the end & then admitted them in a rush
Ah! Here is that post! :) Unfortunately, my mother's school is in Cochin and it has no branch in Hyderabad! :(
Your situation is tough of finding the right school! Hope you find a good one soon.
Agree with almost all of what you have said here..I wonder what happened to schools like my own...again where we had studies, extra curricular activities, co curricular ones, games, sports...and still we had lot of time at home to pursue our interests.
Reflections: You think I think a lot abt these things? You should see some of the other people I know. I feel ashamed even standing next to them.
Wannabe: You bet. They make nothing like they used to. I miss the good ol simple days.
Here it's still called Kindergarten. Mine will go to K this year.
KG kid going for tuitions? Gosh! times sure have changed :) I feel like a Dinosaur.
I think every parent wants the best for their child. But circumstances force them to choose schools - as I've chosen a school which allows to shift to any part of India and my kids are easily transferred to that branch. I wanted this option as my husband's job is transferable.
Even though I am very happy about the academics part, the physical activity part is almost nil in this school.
And also, the viewpoint of parents vary a lot. While some parents are happy and satisfied with a particular school, there will be so many who are not satisfied with the school. They have their own list of disappointing moments with the school.
So, I suggest that after collecting all the school's details, you personally visit each and every school, enquire about everything thats on your mind and then decide. Start now, one year isn't too long to wait. All the very best to you to find a school of your requirements.
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