When Blues Spark Red

A 17 year-old boy from Haryana committed suicide a couple of days back. What makes this terrifying is that he is the latest victim of the ‘blue whale challenge’, an online suicide game started in Russia 4 years ago. It is indeed worrying that what there have already been more than a handful cases that have emerged from India alone since it was first reported in July.

What makes it dangerous is that, it seems to have caught on to the insecurities and trappings of a young mind to send it on to a self-destructive path, worldwide. In Russia, a teenage pleaded guilty to driving at least 16 teenage girls to suicide by psychologically manipulating them. He showed no remorse whatsoever and believed that his victims were a ‘biological waste’ and he was helping in cleansing society!

The challenge seeks young and vulnerable minds through social media and targets them over a period of over 1-2 months. It demands players complete 50 tasks in 50 days. It starts with easy tasks such as waking up at odd hours, watching horror movies, drawing a whale on a paper and then carving it with a blade on the skin, cutting one’s lips. Every task is to be filmed for proof. It makes it difficult for the child to leave the game halfway by threatening to harm the relatives or using any other information obtained about the victim. The final task is to take their own lives. The term Blue whale comes from beached whales which is linked to suicide. Reportedly the game has taken over 100 lives worldwide.

Impressionable minds especially between 13-17 years are most susceptible. The game targets lonely children and children with social anxiety disorders, sociophobia or any depressive tendencies. They  often fail to see difference between reality and illusion and take these risks. While it is impossible to keep children away from internet and mobiles these days, it is very possible to know what they are up to and hence there are a number of steps that can be taken -

1.       Monitor children’s activity carefully on social media platforms. The kind of information children get online is vast. Parents should take baby steps while letting children use online media. This should be developmentally appropriate. They must keep their own devices password protected so kids don’t access any inappropriate content unknowingly. Monitor child’s social media behaviour. Is he spending more time online or on the mobile?  Is it impacting day to day functioning of the child. Internet usage of more than 4-5 hours is considered excessive.

2.       Parents should check on the children and their tendency to self harm. Depressed people might not seem depressed but may seem awkward or abnormally cheerful. The game cuts the victim further through the tasks. Is he more withdrawn or remarkably quiet? One of the tasks is to cut oneself off from everyone or Don’t talk to anyone whole day. Or wake up rather early at 4.30 am to wear them and break them. Maintaining Strong communication channels are extremely important, both at home and school.

3.       Perhaps the biggest challenge is that kids understand technology more than most adults in the country. But, even then there are couple of good softwares that help in keeping track of every activity of the child. Even at the wifi/router level, parents get an IT person to enable firewall and block certain words like ble whale, suicide, and other keywords. Here it is important to know the keywords cause there are several. It will do good for schools and parents to come together and help stay abreast of such trends as lives get more virtualised.

Each child device should be secure with comprehensive security product. One must monitor child online habits and give phased access to online media. It is impossible to ignore the pervasiveness of the technology and instead encourage them to use it to advantage. Probably, we need to fight adverse effects of technology with the benefits of technology: Fight the Evil with the Good.

The Devil is in the Details

The Devil is in the Details

The gruesome murder of the seven-year-old boy, Pradyuman in a reputed Gurgaon school has shocked the nation. My thoughts immediately went to the parents – the ones who entrusted their little one with the school. It’s their biggest loss, an unimaginable one. What words of comfort can anyone provide them? All they aspired was to send their child to a good, reputed English school. Child safety in schools, alarmingly, has turned out to be a contentious issue.

‘If our schools aren’t safe for children then where can we expect them to be safe?’, echoed thousands of citizens of the country. Rightly so. As a principal and as a parent first, I shudder to think of the plight of the parents and family members of the child. Even his friends, studying with him in school and neighbourhood. Children were traumatised and refused to go to school and parents too were too shaken. Sending children to school doesn’t just seem like another routine task. In fact, the psychological consequences were such that even in other cities parents grew anxious.

We know that misfortune, accidents can happen anytime, sometimes even when we take the best possible measures to do so. But, we need to do that. Put in best efforts and resources to ensure that the safety of children aren’t compromised.  In the particular instance, the management and school authorities blatantly overlooked several loopholes. It was a disaster waiting to happen. And yet, all of us have a lesson from this.

a.       The parents need to undertake thorough research about the school, even if it seems flashy or decorative from the outside. Small instances can convey a lot when it comes to the ethics and integrity of the management of the school. This is very important. Often, it is only after an unfortunate incident has transpired that people get together. Parents need to be actively engaged and involved in the student’s activities and understand his/her daily routine or any incident that stood out in particular. Keep the channels of communication open. Teach students to be more aware, and report the smallest instances that didn’t seem right to them. And when they do talk, LISTEN.

b.       For school and support staff, no place can be perfect but working for a management that clearly is not performing its duties thoroughly or ethically, is possibly the worst environment to work in. The devil is in the details. Often, it is an unhealthy culture that is all pervasive and it is the top – down approach. There is nothing as precious as reputation and inevitably anyone’s career could depend on it! Often, most things are dependent on the resources provided to you and this is where the credibility of the management comes into play. However, if one was doing one’s job conscientiously and properly, it would be impossible to ignore some big warning signs. In such cases one becomes equally complicit.

c.       The role of the school management is undoubtedly the most critical. For, it is here, where the control really lies. The culture, ethos, ethics everything flows from this place to across the organisation. Granted that accidents happen even after taking the best of precautions. However, one cannot discount the fact the responsibility that comes with running an institution. It is a difficult thing to come out and accept that someone screwed up but what needs to be done, needs to be done. It takes courage and grit to still follow the right path when you know that you can get away with possibly anything in this country with a few calls to a few ‘right’ people. With the use of technology now security can be beefed extraordinarily to report even a single instance of breach, so it makes sense to invest in such technologies.

d.       Lastly, the state governments and government should look at setting up stringent laws in place for setting up of institutions be it preschools, schools, colleges. A myriad of ‘international’ schools have sprouted in the country and parents often don’t know the value for what they are paying – often through their teeth. Most of the institutions are funded by politicians unfortunately and rules are flouted regularly.

In all probability such cases would keep getting reported. However, what is important is our reaction to tackle it and proactiveness to avoid it. Media can be a great amplifier to garner support of public and to make people aware. But it should sensitively portray an accurate picture without sensationalising the case – someone has lost their child! We also need to ask ourselves that apart from really watching the gory details of the murder how is it that we can help to avoid such in the future. Let us all be vigilant and be present in each moment. Be aware.

From Good to Great

Happy Independence Day, everyone!

Today, we are 70 years old as a free, collective, vibrant nation. It is a wonder really that we not only survived a history of slavery that left us depleted – economically, politically, socially - but now we are finally claiming our spot under the sun and charting our future.  Alive, Throbbing, Dynamic, the world acknowledges us now not only for our history and culture but also the achievements and strides our nation continues to make. The most remarkable is of course the breed of students and youngsters that are increasingly spreading their wings globally and shining in their endeavours.

As an educationist, there couldn’t be any other fact that pleases me of course – to see our students and children achieving so much. But, it isn’t a secret that we have much more to achieve. Giant leaps that need to be taken in fields of education, healthcare, sports, sanitation, environment, socio-economic policies that prevent the majority of our children, our youth, our countrymen and women from living an empowered life. Imagine the leaps we could make if all of us could throb at the same level. If we are all to collectively grow, we all need to beat at a uniform frequency. This is where we need to brace ourselves for change, to grow as a better nation.

And how do we go about that? We need to look at three important things as a nation to be better at - health, hygiene and environment - apart from education, of course. These three aspects are something that each citizen needs to get involved with. And this should begin young since changes in these spheres requires an attitudinal shift which require to get instilled at a very young age. We have observed that right from preschool, children can be sensitised to the importance of their environment.

A few weeks back, students from Billabong High International School, Santacruz made us proud by taking our school to the first position in the West Zone in the NDTV Behtar India Campaign. The first stage of the campaign was Behtar Swasthya or health, the second stage was Behtar Swacchta and the third stage pertained to Behtar Vatavaran. Among the eighty students that participated, our students through their active participation and innovative solutions of using technology to tackle plastic waste and speaking up for the environment etc., led us up the points table. They were rewarded with a video shoot in the school organised by NDTV. While four BHIS students went to Delhi to participate in the stage 1 conclusion program, one student also shared the stage with the brand ambassador, Sushant Singh.   Incidentally in the past few weeks, we were also ranked fourth in the entire state of Maharashtra under the category of ‘Top 20 International Schools’ by the Education Today survey.

When asked what constitutes great education, I often say that it is educating not just the child’s mind but freeing up his/her spirit, building the character, developing a healthy self-esteem. No man is an island. We are interconnected to each other and the wellness of one affects the wellness of society. We need to keep improving. To grow from Good to Great.

A Tale of the Finnish Education Miracle

I came across an interesting article last week. The article mentioned how Finland, despite not following many of the globally standardised education norms, still was among the top performing countries in the PISA. PISA, conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), evaluates the critical thinking of 15-year old students across the world in maths, science and reading.

This mammoth three yearly exercise’s idea originated in the 1990s acknowledging that governments across the world were being compared basis the spend on education rather than the achievements or learning outcomes.  Over time, PISA evolved as among the most important global exams. Recently, the tide has turned over to Asian, South-East Asian schools topping the charts with Europe and other developed economies including the US dropping consistently. This is where the consistent performance of Finland and its unique education system,  termed an ‘education miracle’ comes as a pleasant surprise.

The system is known to provide more emphasis on Quality and less on Competition and Control. Factor this – Finland doesn’t conduct standardised tests. It provides a comprehensive flexible education that ensures equity and inclusion in education through its publicly-funded school system.  This, without selecting, tracking or streaming students during their basic education until grade 9! Most children go to the nearby public school where kids from all walks of life learn together.  

Another key differentiator is the learning methodology. Teachers, customise their teaching approach as per each learner requirement. Teachers are also supported by other specialists like psychologists, special education teachers and management. Teaching is also considered as a highly valuable profession. Only 10 per cent of applications get through for the elementary teacher education program – a five-year master’s degree program. Remarkably, there aren’t school inspections conducted. So, while there are national quality standards, there are no evaluation tests pitting one school against the other. But, the reliance is on ‘intelligent accountability’, based on periodic self-evaluation of schools/education providers.

Though Finland is renowned for its comprehensive education system, it is even more remarkable that there are consistent efforts being put in to revisit the model and check the students’ preparedness in the future. It is proposed to introduce fresh initiatives to aid further in the globalisation of education – encouraging innovations, teacher professional development, ‘globalisation’ of education, increasing student physical activity etc.

The most remarkable take-away is the intent of the entire community to provide quality education – the school authorities, parents, students, government – all are actively engaged towards a vision which makes it so potent. This model is therefore, an important case study to the world, especially India. The keyword as mentioned is intelligent accountability.

To Spin or Not to Spin?!

There is an inherent advantage when you deal with children and young adults – you are probably among the first to know of the latest ‘trend’ doing the round and your experiences will ensure you have enough ‘am sure you haven’t heard this one’ stories at those dinner party tables! There is also an apparent disadvantage when you deal with ‘bacchas’ – you are probably the first who needs to ‘tackle’ and/or put up with these trends!

Now, add to this the fact that one is an educationist, a school principal at that and you will see why I utter a silent prayer in my head before stepping out for the day! Oh yes, then there are also the worried parents who always approach you for knowing if ‘it is okay’ for kids to indulge in whatever has seemed to caught their attention. They cite contradictory studies listing reasons for and against and then ask you to be the judge while the little one, wide eyed, stares at you, eyes almost pleading for approval.

Take the latest fad that has the world spinning in tizzy for example – the fidget spinner.  If you are a parent to a child of 6 years or above, it is highly probable you would have come across one! For the uninitiated, fidget spinner is a ‘toy’ (purportedly used as a medical aid to help relieve nervous energy or psychological stress though no scientific evidence has been found so far linking any benefits). It is usually a multi-lobed flat structure with a bearing in the centre designed to spin along its axis at high speed with hardly any effort. Many schools in the U.S. had to ban the toy since the children had grown addicted to spinning them!

Confiscated spinners at school

Although it marked a much later entry into our schools in India, nevertheless, it has been some fad and continues to be so! Only recently with recent social media updates associating the toy with treatment for stress, anxiety or neurological disorders and problems in children, have made the parents suddenly take notice since it implied that it is a medical tool and hence shouldn’t be used without discretion. While there has yet to be any substantial study done yet to establish these claims, there are also other reports of how and why the spinner may actually help in some relaxation.

Spinners are banned in our school simply because we don’t like to encourage distraction among students, considering their attention is almost always fleeting! As an educator, I feel it is a tough call when deciding to take a strong stance about any trend but, to be on the safe side, anything that can seem to interfere with a student’s commitment or disrupt in any way the smooth functioning of a class or simply be a nuisance to the immediate environment, is not acceptable in our school. Of course it isn’t to say it is the only way to go about it. A lot depends upon the temperament of the child and if the trend isn’t all-consuming my advice would be to let children be. The battle is when and how do you draw a line which can easily be breached and that too when it is not within ones’ control. As far as the spinners go, while there is no medical or scientific proof yet linking any benefit or any side effects from playing with it, it looks like it will be a while before the bacchas move on from this spinning frenzy!

Project Parent!

A parent had once joked how the beginning of the school academic year was like preparing for running another marathon! The routine work of having a child up and ready while helping him/her cope with changes in terms of new circle of friends perhaps or introduction of new subjects, supervising homework, election of extracurricular activities, accompanying children to those activities.. The list is seemingly endless. What undoubtedly though, gets many a parents’ goat are the myriad school projects that begin as soon as the commencement of the academic session.

Science projects for developing a volcano perhaps or preparing children for an internal competition, and the most dreaded ones of dressing the child up for role play (as a cow, planet, astronaut, fire engine..). Typically every standard until the early primary grades from preschool onward have these dressing up role plays. And while it is an opportunity for some very creatively inclined parents to dress their children up the majority most working couples or those not endowed with much creative prowess nor the will tend to make a swift dart to costume rental shops. Not long ago, one parent had remarked, funnily enough, that she has a costume rental professional on speed dial!

As funny these narratives may seem, I am not entirely without empathy and I certainly don’t believing in quelling opinions for that matter. In fact, I believe schools should encourage it. Have a healthy channel developed between the parents and the school. It may be far easier to sit in an isolated cabin so the voices that reach you are the faintest ones or the most familiar ones that didn’t need to drown. However, if one acknowledges the role of the parents and its importance in helping in achieving learning and behavioural outcomes in a child, the importance of involving parents while making them realise their role and the significance of it cannot be emphasized enough.

Any school programme is heavily dependent on the parents of course for success of its curriculum based objectives.  So what the parent may see as making or sourcing a cow costume is actually about getting a child understand the difference of a cow vis a vis a goat or a buffalo. Also, at least in the current day curriculum being followed by respectable schools, the curriculum isn’t taught in isolation. Research has indicated the tremendous impact parental involvement has proven in terms of learning outcomes and its success.

Getting a costume ready and helping the child revise the lines or give them to him/her gets beyond just making a costume. Here, you help connecting with your child with a part that she does without you (going to school – especially in the initial years), thereby acknowledging her milestones and achievements which act as a morale booster for the child. S/he feels accountable for the number of hours she puts into school or any other activity. This role should progress as a healthy one with a minimal amount of dependence on the child to get the project done but not in any way to dream bigger or look for answers that evade them. But not by providing with the solutions.

Years later, when they are ready to leave the beautiful nest you had created not only should they soar but also know that at times some flights need to be taken independently and some as a flock, and that their journey is important!  

When Teaching can’t get more Challenging ….. (and Rewarding)

“Those who educate children are more to be honoured than those who produce them” — Aristotle

Teachers are among the most significant formative influencers outside the family circle. Research after research has suggested that good and effective teachers remain the most important influence on pupil achievement.  This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. If anyone were to reminisce their school days and perhaps look back at any important achievement – scholastic or otherwise – am sure they would find the hand of a brilliant teacher/mentor who understood their weaknesses and polished their strengths. Where would we be without our teachers?

                        

Isn’t it therefore ironical that in the current times, finding a good teacher is one of the biggest challenges schools and colleges in the country are undergoing? There are myriad reasons of course,  from the lack of incentives that don’t make it more ‘lucrative’ career option to the reckless number of substandard education institutes coming up including teacher training teacher institutes producing unskilled teachers while also lapping up substandard pool of professionals.

Only weeks ago, the Centre banned creation of new B.Ed colleges due to concerns over dropping standards in such teacher training institutes. 2017 is to be considered a ‘zero year’ where no new institutes will be established but time will be spent on reviewing and auditing existing institutes to improve quality. While asking for quality affidavits only, the Centre has received 7,000 applications while 4000 Bed colleges were issued with show-cause notices. This drastic step might give an indication as to the severity of the problem faced. Then, again, with 8-9 lakh teacher training seats and 13,000 teacher training institutes it is highly unlikely that demand will outstrip supply!  

In our country, teaching has always been considered as a sacred job.  Teaching is not only a skill but an art. Which is what makes teaching ‘teaching,’ difficult. However, aptitude and intent of candidates backed with good curriculum, ample practical assignments and holistic assessment are key for a successful programme. This is more important for ECCE-teaching programmes wherein candidates are not only required to know the theoretical aspects but also the emotional psyche of the student at an age when s/he can’t even speak or not express what they feel in words. Gathering cues and being generally empathetic, juggling myriad work and projects along with giving individualised attention to each child all the while handling and quelling parents’ fears, is not everyone’s cup of tea.

Nothing inspires me more than watching my teachers at work and having the chance to groom them. Quality Teacher training institutes imparting ECCE are the need of the hour for an unregulated sector (ECCE). Providing quality preschool education remains a lifelong aim and hence it was natural for me to take a step further and establish a KITDR (Kangaroo Kids Institute for Teacher Development and Research) in Shastri Nagar, Lokhandwala. This Diploma allows the student teachers to transfer skills from other qualifications and up-skill in the area of early childhood teacher education by applying child development practices to practice, assess child growth and development, using best practices in teaching and learning and hands-on live classroom sessions to develop as professionals. 

It goes without saying that preschools need to move away from  the culture of being 'just Preschool' by being responsible for brain development and outcomes in the 0-8 years of a child's life. Only if management in schools understand this and enforce stringent measures and training mandatory in schools will we raise the bar and like all developed countries be able to leverage the position of a preschool teacher - making an impact in the Kindergarten industry, gradually adding value to the entire education industry.. 

Sailing Through Tides High and Low!

Being a Naval Captain’s wife, I have had more than my fair share of traversing through choppy tides and enjoying the calmness of the sea. Life, as we all come to experience, is much like this. A couple of weeks ago, an old friend called to congratulate me for the launching of our second Kangaroo Kids preschool franchisee, at Lokhandwala. We go back quite a number of years and we have always shared our trials and tribulations over cups of coffee. I was pleased to know that she was doing pretty well for herself too. As we filled each other details of other lovely developments, we reminisced about the times, coincidentally, years ago, when we were both somewhat at a standstill in terms of our respective careers.

The only thing that was constant was a strong underlying sense of purpose – to create spaces that foster meaningful education. Starting off something entirely on one’s own needs tremendous courage also since self-doubt plagues you at many junctures. Most of the times, you are your best counsel. There aren’t any shortcuts and no readymade answers. But, I have come to experience that when your mind is still, answers come through. The thing is to believe in oneself and get up after each fall and prepare for that marathon, again. Even when it is about taking one single step at a time, do so, and believe that things will fall in place.

Optimism is contagious and is critical if you are fostering a team, aiming to reach a common goal – without, you know… shortcuts. It is especially difficult when one is consumed by doubts which are also very normal. The second third time when you are faced with challenges is when you know that you must focus and what you can perhaps eliminate. Apart from knowing your challenges one needs to work around them. Making people believe in your vision and journey also is not hard but it route is longer, so it is important to not lose your passion. It is a life-long journey of taking like-minded people along with you and creating a repository of shared values and sharing your life and work. Inculcating an empowering environment infused with fun, humour - that is how great organisations are made. Schools are no different. In fact, it matters even more to create a culture of respect, value and a passionate commitment to serve your stakeholder/customer. In education of course, our biggest stakeholder is our children.

Notwithstanding our biggest achievement of being adjudged as among the top three preschools in the city by the reputed C-Fore Education World Survey 2016, in just under four years of operations, when a parent walks up to you and says that this schools has a soul which is why children thrive here… That feeling is unparalleled. We live by celebrating the smallest achievements of our children. So, when a two year old begins eating his own chapatti, vegetables and fruits on his own, lays his own mat, says his prayers and clears his table that brings a joy like no other.

Celebrate smallest joys with élan!  It will change your life. In fact, even with my friend, as we discussed our experiences about the one thing which helped us, it was this – an unwavering sense of gratitude. We weren’t really surprised at all to find out that it was that had helped us stay afloat when tides were turned against us, so to speak. I have had plenty of people and friends share their experience of staying positive and grateful for the smallest of blessings and it has worked wonders. It did so for me too when the tides got rough and lo and behold, it did turn!  

“Give thanks for a little and you will find a lot.” — The Hausa of Nigeria

Raising Kids the Minimalistic Way

Remember the days when as children we would wait for our turn to be treated to at the toy store by our parents? Or eagerly await that book or dress we had expressed a wish to have as ours? That waiting period used to be so wrought with anxiety and joy. We wouldn’t really know if that toy or dress would make itself to us the next day or would take a few weeks or even a month – depending on our parents’ mood or perhaps our behaviour or the occasion. Well.. Cut to the present and children as young as four browse through apps and place orders about their favourite toys as parents watch on, grinning sheepishly perhaps also adoring their technological skills.

But, aren’t we missing a point? That waiting period is gone. Children even know the exact date their parcel is getting delivered! It need not be earned. It is more of a sense of entitlement. There are cupboards filled with clothes and toys – some not used ever – but nevertheless stuffed in; what if perhaps the child just decided to use it? We are so consumed in terms of keeping our children occupied by giving them everything they want, they are hardly bored. And when they do get bored, it becomes a nightmare for the parent! Actually, we cannot be blaming anyone for this. Children learn a lot from us. And if there is any truth it is that we are only been driven to want more and more and hence procure more and more. However, do we NEED it? Children now only know instant gratification since these are the time of instant gratification. Patience is dwindling as our options keep increasing.

This is where an increasing number of people are resorting to a minimalistic way of living. Minimalism is gradually being adopted by more and more people as a way of life. And I have begun seeing a major impact on my life too by following some basic tenets. For the uninitiated, minimalism, at its core, is placing focus on the things we value more rather than just want and removing everything that keeps us away from it. Any pursuit is entirely driven from a keen intent rather than a passing whim. So, while most of us may relate to it in terms of perhaps decluttering wardrobe, using perhaps one or two handbags instead of owning five-six different ones or having just one sweatshirt, etc. the idea is to be aware of the intent behind every action and then act accordingly. The key is to live simply, not boringly.

This is a time when we must introduce to our children the minimalistic way of living one day at a time. It is guaranteed to not only bring the family closer but also an important stepping stone to live more contently. Here are a few ways you can inculcate minimalism with children –

1.      Reserve special treats for special occasions – A birthday, an achievement, a milestone.. Reserve these days for gifting your child what s/he desires. This way, the child will not only cherish the possession due to the wait, it will enable him/her understand how to distinguish between what he truly desires and what is perhaps a passing whim.

2.      Experience matters  -  Switch off  the TV, the gadgets and gather experiences. It is simple - value experiences, activities over accumulation of toys or gadgets. Get together for family challenges or to celebrate a tradition.

3.      Declutter – Can you spot clothes that your child hasn’t worn for months on end and you know he probably never will? Or how about that toy he never took to? Declutter by giving it away to people who need it!

4.      Generosity – Keep a giving away day say once a fortnight where the family can accumulate stuff that they no longer need and visit an orphanage or a rehabilitation home nearby. Give and help your child see the joy in giving.

5.      Living simply – Living minimalistic doesn’t mean boring. On the contrary, it means living more purposefully, being aware of the intent. The simplest joys of life lies in doing the things you love by being present. So, be more present.

We aren’t what we have and neither are we defined by our possessions. Now is the time, perhaps more than ever before that minimalism is essential for our kids. So that in the future, they are in control of what consumes them rather than consuming things that control them!

When 1 + 1 = 11

Want to gauge the power of a book? Gift it to someone for whom it is a luxury and marvel at the wondrous excitement that bubbles forth. Especially a child. We recently conducted a book drive at Billabong High International School, Santacruz on the lines of the theme of our concert - ‘Power of One’. Our students thought it would be a wonderful idea to donate books - across genres - to children who don’t have access to such a basic necessity. Inspired and celebrating the spirit of the child hero Brandon Keefe, who in 1991 had initiated a book donation drive and made it into a nationwide movement in the U.S.

The book drive in our school with the interact club brought a million smiles on the faces of 600 students and 40 teachers of Chinchale Ashramshala (3,000 books donated) a municipal village school in Dahanu, Vile Parle West Municipal School (200 books donated)and Eklavya Balwadi run by Sona Sarovar Trust.  Through our PTA members, and active student campaigning, we were able to collect  3,200 books in English/Hindi fiction, textbooks, dictionaries, color books for 5-14 years and stationery which was given to Eklavya Balwadi. Perhaps, one of the most striking moments is when the principal of the Vile Parle school, Roasrio Sir  thanked our students efforts and mentioned that the school will now have a library. It was so moving that tears welled up the eyes of our children too.  The Ashramalaya library was inaugurated last week and we are told that the children can’t seem to stop beaming about it. (any other feedback shared by principal).

As most know, municipal schools in our country are riddled with day-to-day challenges in terms of lack of teachers,  teacher absenteeism, lack of special educators, poor infrastructure etc. Can one imagine though how it would be to go to a school without books? Sadly, this is one of the starkest realities in municipal and public schools in India. In February, a media report highlighted how until the end of the last academic session, students in a Delhi Municipal school had not got any books. It was only after a petition was moved by a student of an East Delhi Municipal Corporation school in the high court that the civic authorities woke up to the grim reality.

If such apathy continues where students need to sprawl around school corridors to be accommodated and not even be provided with stationery and books, how then do we plan to improve child literacy across the country? Can the importance of books in imparting knowledge be emphasized any more in a country that they say is on threshold of becoming an economic superpower? How can anyone really buy that growth story when there are children who crave to lay their hands on a book, and worse still, not even know how to read one.

What if each private school adopted a municipal or public school nearby and donated certain essentials/resources to it? Why blame the government alone? I am proud to share that the idea of conducting a book-donation drive was recommended by our students! Surely we as educators can come together and commit to do our best to promote and establish 100%child literacy in the country. The Power of One is a marvelous thing. A single germane idea or inspired thought can influence hundreds and thousands. Towards the end of an academic year, we were humbled by the thoughtfulness of our students and the little sparks of brilliance waiting to be tapped and set free upon discovery. There is great power in One and in its Collaboration!

‘Board’ to the Point of Tears..

Ask any parent to recount the most nerve-wrecking experience of their lives.  Apart from undergoing the agony of  securing an admission for their child into a good school, arriving at a decision to choose the school board, should top the charts. Not until long ago, choices were fairly straight forward; most of the parents would just enroll their children in a nearby school, which would most often be a state-board and a fraction of people opting for CBSE (mostly in north India) and fewer still would opt for CISCE. 

Slowly, as disposable incomes rose, private schooling started gaining popularity, and with it rose the popularity of CISCE, CBSE and also international school boards - IGCSE, IB. As schools began segregating methodologies as early on as Grade 1, the pressure to opt for the ‘best’ board for the child became perhaps the most important decision a parent had to take. Mind you - trying to gauge the potential of a five-year old or predicting his/her aptitude for what he would be ten years hence should definitely come with superhuman powers. 

While the paranoia is understandable given the competitiveness that exists now and the plethora of options has ironically only compounded to the confusion, it is imperative parents realize that ultimately, choice of a board doesn’t matter much, not at Grade 1 at least, when a child is still to be encouraged to actively explore and discover his surroundings at his pace. Much has been written about the various pros and cons of every board, so I will not delve into it in this post. However, here are my thoughts that I share with parents who seek my opinion on the matter - 

1. Focus on holistic development of child. It would be best to not harbor hopes of making your preschooler a doctor or a surgeon or an engineer. The world is opening up in far more ways we can imagine. Do not try to cloud your child’s potential with your limited perspective and understanding of a field. Needless to say that learning should be holistic to be complete. Apart from academics, sports, performing arts should be given good if not equal weightage and hence there should be a variety of options until grade 4 where a child starts getting inclined to specific interests. That doesn’t mean however that one enrolls their children in hundred different classes to tap their potential. But a child must be empowered to make a choice after a certain age.   

2. Boards aren’t set in stone! Guess what? You could always change from one board to another comfortably up to say Grade 7. Post that, with a little bit of extra coaching and guidance a child should do well to adapt to the curriculum. What needs to be encouraged is the process of learning that s/he is used to. For e.g., if a child has mostly relied on rote learning, then yes, shifting to an international curriculum could definitely bring a fair share of hiccups, since it delves more on discovery, questioning and assessment. However, if the process of learning has focused on the learner then it shouldn’t be a problem. Also, one must focus on choices that are going to be sustainable and consistent and that have a proven track record in being so - and by that it doesn't mean which board produces maximum number of toppers. It means opting for a fair, balanced and consistent framework. Far too many changes at a policy level only stresses the child and leads to the confusion. It is unfortunate that our education system is still grappling with rigid frameworks and sloppy processes leading to ad-hoc changes and complete mismanagement. 

3. In the long run, the board doesn’t matter as much as tapping the child’s aptitude and also the way the curriculum is disseminated in the school for deriving success. Every board comes with its pros and cons and in a way is crafted as per various learning styles. It may get impossible to predict which board will suit your child’s aptitude. But it is a no-brainer that in this 21st century world, one must opt for a board that emphasizes on critical thinking, continuous learning, innovative assignments and self learning and discovery. This is important since in the future, the present skills and knowledge are going to be extremely redundant. The world over, holistic development and teaching of life skills is gaining predominance. Having said that, a board alone can’t manufacture geniuses or achievers. 

Choosing a board doesn’t guarantee your child will turn into a rocket scientist or an artist. History is replete of plenty of achievers attending modest public schools in obscure villages of the country, some even not having had access to good formal education and some even dropping out of prestigious institutions going on to be acknowledged as top achievers. So, relax. Breathe. And opt for what you think is the best option you can give you child. You could always change the board later on, as and when the child starts developing clear interests and aptitude. If there is a magic keyword, it is this - Love - Love for learning; if a child has developed a lifelong love for learning, that is more than half the battle won.

Cyberbullying - Curbing its tentacles

Late January this year, the Telstra Foundation announced it had provided a $400,000 social innovation grant to a youth-led movement against bullying known as Project Rockit. The project engages Australian school students between 7-9 years in learning and understanding the issues of bullying, cyber safety and leadership. Personally, I see this as an extremely encouraging development given the regular number of cyberbullying cases sprouting in schools/institutes globally. A McAfee survey in 2014 concluded that the number of school children in London being bullied on the internet has doubled in the past year, with more than one in three victims.

India is no exception. Some weeks back when I was rushed into a closed door meeting to tackle one such instance. A couple of students had made a fake Instagram account of a classmate and sent across messages to other classmates and a student from another school. The students involved and their parents were spoken to. The police officer of the area police station, investigated the matter and addressed the students and the parents in the presence of the principal, making them aware of the detrimental impact of such an involvement.

The advent of technology has not only shifted children out of playgrounds to their living rooms with their gadgets but with it, bullying too has shifted from playgrounds to the virtual world!  In fact, the ‘viral’ nature of cyberbullying makes it so much more convenient and simple to send humiliating texts, pictures, videos while still remaining anonymous. Cyberbullying occurs when children lose sight of the consequences. They fail to think that sending messages which they see as “just messing” or “joking” is actually a form of bullying, and don’t understand how it can hurt and emotionally uproot a person.

Internet anonymity empowers the perpetrators to believe they will not be known and traced as they see the internet as not a real world. As with traditional bullying, pressure from friends can be a trigger for cyberbullying too or a mere act to appear cool or have some fun at the expense of another. In more serious cases, it entails receiving threats that can seriously dent the self-esteem and emotional health of a child.

This brings us to an important question. How prepared are we as custodians of our children to tackle this? Clearly, any step needs to be tailored in congruence with an empathetic and sensitive approach for both the bully and the victim. Remember, children may not want to let you know that they are victims of bullying due to embarrassment or fearing intrusion on their personal space. Teachers and parents both must keep a vigil over any sudden behavioural change or attitudinal shifts.

At our school we are creating awareness among students about

- Their rights and responsibilities online.

- Making sure they are aware that the internet is not a ‘private’ place.

- Advocating the positive use of technology.

- Promoting good netiquette and personal safety issues.

- Inculcating a “telling” atmosphere – so that their peers will report cyberbullying, publicise different ways of reporting cyberbullying to give confidence to bystanders.

- Anti-bullying policies will be set which will be constantly updated and amended to deal with cyberbullying as it evolves.

Some of the ways parents can help tackling cyberbullying are -

1.    Choosing battles wisely: It’s best to not engage with unpleasantness or vile behaviour; it is what bullies target for. However, limits definitely need to be set for taking stern action against the perpetrator.

2.    Privacy settings – Block the bully or any unknown numbers from contacting on child’s phone. Consider logging off altogether if the app or messenger only seems to distract your child, for a couple of months.

3.    Report fake profiles/information – Report any occurrences of fake profiles and indecent pages to the website as well as the cybersecurity cell.  

4.    Trust your child – It won’t be easy for them to come out and admit something to you, so don’t judge them.

5.    Listen – This is the most undervalued skills but one that can give an idea about the state of the mind of the child either bullying or getting bullied.

 Our students are being encouraged to make friends and promote a positive and supportive atmosphere in the school which will ensure that cyberbullying or any form of bullying does not thrive.  Forbidding technology is definitely not the solution but to guide the students from making choices responsibly. What worked for us undoubtedly is the bringing together of the parent, the management and the law on the same platform to address the children together. This should be a combined body working as a unit to empower the students to make each of their voices heard. 

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A Mixed Bag - Budget 2017 for Education

Budget 2017 seems to have been a mixed bag of sorts with higher education, unsurprisingly, been given maximum impetus. School education once again seems to have been given the raw end of the deal with hardly any developments or thrusts.  The budget while crafted on the premise of good intentions  clearly seems ambiguous in terms of tackling key implementation challenges. A few observations -

1. National Testing Agency to conduct all exams higher education - To begin with positives, The National Testing Agency should definitely help in terms of reducing burden on students preparing for multitude of entrance tests. It should also enable CBSE and AICTE to focus on its core areas of improving academic milieu.
2. More autonomy to quality education institution - Autonomy to be given to ‘quality’ institutions should definitely up the quality of education and has been the need of the hour but the criteria to discern quality education through accreditation/rankings would hold the key. It will also need to be guarded closely since institutions could take advantage and commercialise courses.
3. System to measure learning outcomes in schools - There seems to be much ambiguity in terms of the implementation of it. Conducting learning assessment programs require huge resource when you consider the 2.5 crore students studying across 14 lakh schools. Whereas school assessment program has been allocated a meagre Rs. 67 lacs against Rs. 5 crore the previous year.
4. Leverage ICT with launch of Swayam which has free courses - virtual attendance taught by best faculty - Swayam which got a soft launch last year is a good initiative but will face issues due to lack of infrastructure and technology. Alos, like other massive open online courses (MOOCs), will face challenges like low completion rates. So, emphasis should be given to strengthen public education system and building up strong teacher training.
5. Setting up of AIIMS and steps to increase post graduate seats for medical seats -  The setting up of the two AIIMS as a move to get more qualified doctors is welcome though again the key challenge is to also get trained faculty as well as integrating it with a strong public healthcare infrastructure system.
6. Innovation Fund - Creation of the innovation fund is definitely needed and could help in bringing about enhanced learning outcomes in backward blocks. However, like the national testing agency, the budget doesn’t give any clue in terms of the allocation for this fund as is with the incorporation of National Testing Agency.
7. Increased allocation to IITs/IIMs - While thrust seems to have been given to IIMs and IITs and higher education in general, in terms of increased allocations, this in itself will not take care of dearth of expert faculty and also quality of students getting enrolled in such institutes. This is where the school education system needs to be strengthened from pre-primary to higher secondary! Unfortunately, school education has been left wanting of critical reforms required. No impetus placed on Teacher training programmes which is critical for the implementation of improving learning outcomes.
8. Increase of Rs. 1000 crore and Rs. 300 crore allocation to SSA and mid day meal - The midday meal scheme got a mere Rs. 300 crore increase, not enough for the millions of malnourished children in schools and to improve the quality of food being served in schools. A meagre increase of Rs. 1000 crores in Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan won’t be very helpful in ironing out the multitudes of problems the program has run into. Two deadlines have been missed due to inadequate resources. The universalisation of education from pre-primary to secondary education still seems like a distant dream to come true and in this 21st century for us to not have completed this basic milestone is not only unfortunate but shameful.

Overall, we have a long way to go in terms of improving our education system which is the backbone of any nation. We require bold moves and structural approach to really work on crucial issues troubling both school and higher education to bridge a phenomenally huge gap in the dissemination of education, inclusion, infrastructure and technology, curriculum. Remember, we will have a working population of over 860 million by 2020!  A mere 3.8% allocation of GDP to education against a 6% allocation proposed by the education commission back in 1964-66 shows the abyss we will be staring at, if we don’t make education our top priority.

Accomplishing Resolutions - Retrace, Rinse, Recycle but don’t Retreat!

Ah! the palpability of brand new beginnings. Being handed a fresh new slate and with it an array of infinite possibilities is tantalizing. Perhaps that’s the reason why the new year is considered the perfect time to make resolutions, commit ourselves to the goals that have been eluding us. Getting more disciplined spending ourselves while also letting ourselves loose to pursue our joys more uninhibitedly. And yet, how many of us actually manage to pull through the year and stick to those resolutions? Resolutions are meant to be broken for most of us!

That’s the reason I don’t believe in making resolutions for the new year. I had stopped doing so when observing my greatest teachers - my students, as young as five years! Ever observed a five-year old engrossed in play? Or a ten year old lost in thought while trying to absorb the details of the lecture that just concluded?  Or a fourteen year old come up to you and argue about what she didn’t think was right about an issue?

Children don’t need resolutions; they don’t even understand them. Each day is a fresh slate to be their unbridled self. Yes, what is important is channelising their energy in a disciplined manner. Parents often ask me how to discipline their kids - make them read more, exercise more, eat healthy, study more focusedly, value and respect relationships. I tell them what I tell my teachers, and that which gets a little difficult to digest: Children learn best by example.

A case in point is the Aamir-starrer Dangal, a real-life story of how a wrestler grooms and trains his daughters to combat their perceived weaknesses and turn it into strengths. His children initially resist the changes forced upon them as expected but themselves embrace the rigid schedule and training once the intent and commitment of the parent shines through. So, let that light shine through. It isn’t easy to contain it. It is bound to radiate and infiltrate across you. Children are the first to pick up and emulate behaviour of the ones they look upto. From toddlers to teens it is always parents and teachers before it becomes peers. So, the initial years are crucial in entrenching their character, which is formed by habits.

And we wouldn’t need resolutions if every day we would just resolve to be true to ourselves and commit to treat ourselves with highest regard and love. The habits will just then flow through and so will the will power. So, in effect that is all that needs to be demonstrated to children as well. In fact it is us who need to learn from them - to get in touch with  the inner child. Just doing that needs to be done. Still wondering how to make that resolution and stick to them on a daily basis? Here’s what I have borrowed from a 5-year old -

1. Embrace the moment - Be present in the moment. Accomplishments will be a source of joy not a task.
2. Be selfish - Fill yourself with so much love it flows through. Will and intent will follow.
3. Honesty - To thine ownself be true. Understand why something is working or not. Take baby steps.
4. Fall and Rise - You are likely to fall. Dust yourself, stand up again sporting an impish smile
5. Repeat - Something didn’t work? Retrace/Rinse/Recycle but don’t Retreat!

Finally, the ultimate responsibility is toward oneself!  The best teachers, best school or supportive family will not amount to much if the will to learn and challenge oneself constantly is absent!