‘In an anxiety to ensure a bright future for our children,we are ruining their present’

It is vital to get to the root of the problems. The main reason I feel,to a great extent,is that each one of us,vis-à-vis the student,the teacher and the parent,is under stress.

The parents,more often than not,want their children to live their dreams for them and fulfil their unfulfilled ambitions. In a rat race of sorts,they are trying to make superhumans out of their innocent offsprings.

In an anxiety to ensure a bright and secure future of their wards,they are actually ruining their children’s precious present.

The educators,on the other hand,are undoubtedly facing escalating pressures from a society that looks up to schools to solve all problems of the generation next.

A teacher is bombarded with demands on her time,energy and emotions class after class,day after day,by the students and overanxious parents on one hand and the school management on the other.

The sad result is a burnout that most teachers are facing. It is also eroding the idealist view of even the most enthusiastic teacher,turning her into a disheartened cynic.

And what does the poor child go through? Typically and traditionally speaking,our children have to behave,obey,respect,read,listen,speak,comprehend,memorise,write,spell,calculate,conceptualise apart from making friends,participating in sports,be creative,dance well,be confident and be popular too! And if they can’t do all this,they are labeled slow learners or incompetent. Isn’t it asking a bit too much from a child? To add to these is peer pressure.

The new generation is no doubt living in the most exciting times of human history with the fast evolving technologies and the ever expanding horizons but aren’t we exerting too much pressure on them?

We have asserting individuals from the age of say 5-6 years,demanding greater freedom to make decisions as they explore newly-acquired privileges and define their independence. These children need guidance the most but they also resist it the most.

The need of the hour is for every one to de-stress and contribute towards making education more meaningful and fruitful.

We need a paradigm shift of attitude through acceptance,accommodation and awareness. Acceptance and receptiveness on the part of parents and accommodation and awareness on the part of the teacher by being inclusive. Being inclusive means,celebrating the differences,because every child,every individual is different and when we accept these differences and include them in our education system,our approach will be truly holistic.

This will help us not label children as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ and rather support them and enhance their performance and build on their strengths.