What makes a school?
This question seems relevant now because the conventional concept of the school is losing currency.
I picture to myself the conventional one – the kind of school I myself attended. An imposing building wrapped as it were in a cocoon of trees; large, hall-like classrooms; vast, open spaces for children to play on; a liberal curriculum that doesn't quite blind you with science but promotes imaginative and creative skills and has a role for parents; a surfeit of extra-curricular activities; and, of course, that stock character, the schoolmarm -- prim and proper and the rest of the stock-in-trade – who never fails to raise a laugh but who is quite competent -- and humane!
I see a new and totally different kind of school emerging. It is a school that views space purely in terms of money. And so, you have cramped classrooms, cramped corridors, and cramped playgrounds -- or no playgrounds at all. (The ritualized annual events, conducted not so much for their intrinsic value as for publicity, can take place in a borrowed playground or a hired auditorium. Indeed, they often do!)
What about the curriculum? Since the ethos of the school has changed, the emphasis is on success in the narrowest sense of the term: a hundred per cent success in the exam with high scores; and a relentless drive towards the 'promised land' of the IIT or medical colleges through a tortuous route. Interestingly – and inevitably – this system has produced a breed of neo-teachers who are adept at cramming and wringing results unmindful of its effect of cramping the child's style.
This newfangled school's promise of success appears to be immensely pleasing to parents. No less pleasing is another factor. By keeping children for more hours than required in a conventional school and, consequently, by taking over some of the duties which have traditionally been the parents', the neo-schools have, happily enough, for parents, absolved them of several responsibilities of theirs.
It is not my intention to discuss the larger psychological and sociological issues here. I represent the conventional system which is facing a grave crisis now. Fall in or perish -- this seems to be the grim message of the market forces. I don't think the conventional system can afford to ignore it.
The old order will change -- sooner, not later, at that. There are tell-tale signs already,
I totally agree with you on this Mam.
ReplyDeleteI remember my neighbours complaining about their Kid's classroom that did not have a single window.Now forget the playground, library, laboratory...some children have no clue about those. But the parents never realise that it is not the right place for their kids, they often go by the publicity about the wacky pre-IIT/Medicine entrance coaching thing and unbelievable scores. Too ambitious..that's like forcing their kids to run a marathon before enjoying their baby buggy life.
The craziest fact is that my niece's kinder garden school fee was same as my graduate course fee at University level.