My last week’s column dealt with the need for developing analytical thinking and how schools in the West particularly the United Kingdom encourage children to analyze situations, speak their minds freely and to never hesitate from coming up with new ideas.
The other day, one of my son’s Mathematics’ teacher called me up to praise the outstanding progress of my son in her subject. She said that his progress could be gauged through his active participation in the class and his performance in different exercises during the class.
Earlier he had difficulties with the subject and I was informed that he needed more efforts to overcome those problems and to perform on a par with children his age.
Being a person hailing from a culture where education is considered at competitive ritual between children and where students are ranked on the basis of their performance, I had become very worried with the very thought that my son would lad behind others. I discussed the problem with the teacher to ask them as to what should be done to make my son improve. I was told that the only thing required is encouragement and the school would take measures so that he could achieve his targets.
I was assured that children were not made aware of each other’s progress and that each child was being dealt with in a special way to preserve his/her dignity.
I would like to point out one important thing that my son is not enrolled at some private elite institution. He is studying at a public school. I could not help imagining what if my son had a problem in Mathematics at any school back home. First of all, I would have been contacted and being informed that unfortunately my son was having a problem with the subject, and he was far behind his peers and comparisons would have been made. After that, I would have been asked to teach him at home or arrange for a private tutor.
They might not have been direct in their approach but would have only hinted at the possibility of arranging a tutor for my son.
In the Kingdom, I would have been forced to spend a fortune on private tuitions for my son. Despite all those efforts, the school would not have stopped sending notices complaining about my son’s homework and poor performance etc.
It is sad that some schools try to push their responsibilities on parents. I, as a mother, am responsible for the decent upbringing of my child. I teach them values and I assure that I send them to schools psychologically healthy, and then the school ought to teach them. Home and schools complement each other, so if I am to teach my children math and literature, then what’s the need for sending them to schools? We can have home schooling instead. Schools need to understand that it’s their job to teach all children with their different needs, parents could only help a bit.
Most parents these days work full time, and a significant number of children are living with single parents, why schools are making it so hard on us to enjoy our parenthood? So instead of reading a story to my children, I need to chase them to do their homework, or otherwise I will be sent a note informing me that I am not good enough to be a parent.
I know that my words sound a bit pessimistic, but I really dread the fact that starting from the next academic year, we will lose the luxury of going to school without a heavy bag.
