Kinder Garten Woes
The parents of three and a half year old tiny tots are the most confused lots we can come across these days. Their obvious worry is not about the health or any personal issue but it’s about their school admission. Most parents often compete with each other in a race to get applications for admissions from among the most reputed schools. They throng school offices in a never-ending queue braving the weather conditions. But the struggle does not end there. After duly filling up the forms they have to gather their courage to find out if their tiny one’s name has been short-listed. For all the parents who find their child’s name on the list, there are no bounds for their happiness. They are proud parents. And for those who have to return disappointed have no words for consolation. Some are angered; some are confused as to why their child’s name was not on the list. They seek answers for these unanswerable questions. Some spouses blame within themselves regretting they should have applied for this earlier.
But the proud parents of the short-listed children cannot be celebrating their victory so soon. They have their real battle ahead of them. The most dreaded “INTERVIEW” day has arrived. The parents probably would not have worried so much even for their job interviews. The moment of truth strikes them and they are called in to the interviewer’s room. The child is asked his/her’s name. The child is asked to recite ABCD, numerals, poems, identify colours, parts of body and so on and on. Most children will be nervous being at a new place and moreover noticing their parent’s anxiety. To add to the tension, is the request to recite so many things at a time. Most of the time the child forgets and might require parents help to complete a task. But this worries the parent for the interviewer might take for it that the child does not know the answers and this may reduce the chances for admission. Parents try to save the situation by saying to the interviewer, “oh he knows everything, it’s just that he is a little nervous”. The interviewer still does not seem to resent and asks further questions in English. Most of the children only knowing to converse in their mother tongue will not be able to understand the questions and stand astounded. The interviewer notes all these and the reports are sent to the principal’s room for further scrutiny.
After the grueling interview its time for the next round at the principal’s room. The first thing the principal asks mockingly is that your child does not understand English, that’s quite a shame. Then enquires about whether the parents are ready to pay the fees and the donation money to get the admission card. If parents say that they are not ready with the money immediately, the principal gives a sarcastic look and tells them that this is really surprising, you must have known that the admission cards will be offered only on payment of fees immediately after interview. The parents plead and get a day’s time to pay the fee and donation amount. It comes with a warning from the principal “if by tomorrow you are not here with the money, your admission is not guaranteed! ”.
The parents come out of the Principal’s room triumphantly, with a satisfaction that the tiny tot has finally got placed in a good school. They dream about their child’s bright future.
Is such toil required for just an admission into nursery class? The recent Supreme Court’s order to ward off with interview for nursery admission in Delhi Schools is definitely laudable. School authorities are unhappy about it though. Their complain is that they cannot filter students based on merit. This is an unconvincing excuse. A student who has not even have had the chance to take his/her’s first step to school is been grouped on the basis of merit. Another common reason to reject admissions is that children don’t understand English. Children would naturally speak mother-tongue in the their early years as it’s easily learnt since most members at home speak the same language. Is it fair to speak only in English at their early age just to get admission at a good school? This is a reality today, with most parents obsessed with the fact that only children who speak English are considered to be smart. There is no truth in it. English can be learnt very easily and quickly once the child starts going to school regularly. Almost all of us in this generation have done like that, with no major qualms in grasping the language. Why is this fact been ignored and why is English forced upon these tiny tots?
These interviews definitely create an increased anxiety upon parents, who are forced to reflect this on their little ones. Should we burden them now itself? As they grow up their burden only increases, should we start so early? This is a point that everyone should ponder. Good school education is a foundation for a bright life ahead for any child. But unjustified toil to get into a good school, skyrocketing fees and donation is definitely something that should be kept a check on.
But the proud parents of the short-listed children cannot be celebrating their victory so soon. They have their real battle ahead of them. The most dreaded “INTERVIEW” day has arrived. The parents probably would not have worried so much even for their job interviews. The moment of truth strikes them and they are called in to the interviewer’s room. The child is asked his/her’s name. The child is asked to recite ABCD, numerals, poems, identify colours, parts of body and so on and on. Most children will be nervous being at a new place and moreover noticing their parent’s anxiety. To add to the tension, is the request to recite so many things at a time. Most of the time the child forgets and might require parents help to complete a task. But this worries the parent for the interviewer might take for it that the child does not know the answers and this may reduce the chances for admission. Parents try to save the situation by saying to the interviewer, “oh he knows everything, it’s just that he is a little nervous”. The interviewer still does not seem to resent and asks further questions in English. Most of the children only knowing to converse in their mother tongue will not be able to understand the questions and stand astounded. The interviewer notes all these and the reports are sent to the principal’s room for further scrutiny.
After the grueling interview its time for the next round at the principal’s room. The first thing the principal asks mockingly is that your child does not understand English, that’s quite a shame. Then enquires about whether the parents are ready to pay the fees and the donation money to get the admission card. If parents say that they are not ready with the money immediately, the principal gives a sarcastic look and tells them that this is really surprising, you must have known that the admission cards will be offered only on payment of fees immediately after interview. The parents plead and get a day’s time to pay the fee and donation amount. It comes with a warning from the principal “if by tomorrow you are not here with the money, your admission is not guaranteed! ”.
The parents come out of the Principal’s room triumphantly, with a satisfaction that the tiny tot has finally got placed in a good school. They dream about their child’s bright future.
Is such toil required for just an admission into nursery class? The recent Supreme Court’s order to ward off with interview for nursery admission in Delhi Schools is definitely laudable. School authorities are unhappy about it though. Their complain is that they cannot filter students based on merit. This is an unconvincing excuse. A student who has not even have had the chance to take his/her’s first step to school is been grouped on the basis of merit. Another common reason to reject admissions is that children don’t understand English. Children would naturally speak mother-tongue in the their early years as it’s easily learnt since most members at home speak the same language. Is it fair to speak only in English at their early age just to get admission at a good school? This is a reality today, with most parents obsessed with the fact that only children who speak English are considered to be smart. There is no truth in it. English can be learnt very easily and quickly once the child starts going to school regularly. Almost all of us in this generation have done like that, with no major qualms in grasping the language. Why is this fact been ignored and why is English forced upon these tiny tots?
These interviews definitely create an increased anxiety upon parents, who are forced to reflect this on their little ones. Should we burden them now itself? As they grow up their burden only increases, should we start so early? This is a point that everyone should ponder. Good school education is a foundation for a bright life ahead for any child. But unjustified toil to get into a good school, skyrocketing fees and donation is definitely something that should be kept a check on.
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