Many of you will have seen the article in yesterday's Hindustan Times with headings like FAILED STUDENTS ASKED TO LEAVE and PARENTS CLAIM MOTHERS INTERNATIONAL DOESNT WANT TO PROMOTE WEAK STUDENTS. I think its necessary for us all to take notice of this and have an open discussion.
One parent has written a comment on the blog, which I reproduce in part: I have never seen so much of nonsense written in an article. MIS will never ruin the life of a child for the sake of looking good in some petty exams. ... Our children are the best, not only in their behavior but also in sports debating music and any other activity you can think of. And all this is not out of some spirit of competition but out of a true spirit of learning.
The school is perfectly right in detaining children who are not ready to go to the next class.or offering them subjects that they would do well in after the required talk with the parents but to accuse the school of expelling the students just because the failed some stupid maths test-----nonsense---lies and mischief mongering.
Let me strongly state that this article has just played around with words to show the school in a bad light.
The rest of the comments can be read where they appear, namely on the post below, but the issues that we all need to address are
0. What has actually happened?
1. Has the article been fair to the children/parents/School?
2. What do we expect from the School management?
As far as the events are concerned, here, as I understand it, is what happened:
About 25 students of Class XI have not secured 40% marks in a number of subjects that they had opted for. These students were called, along with their parents, and given a set of options: (a) withdraw from the School, (b) stay back in Class XI, or (c) change streams since they were not coping well with the subjects they had chosen after the Class X Boards.
Some parents have pointed out that the CBSE guidelines put 33% as the pass percentage, while 40% is what the MIS follows, and most of the students would have been deemed to pass with this lower criterion.
Since the HT Reporter is interested in a story, I am not sure that all the facts of the case have been presented, and perhaps the affected parent could have exercised caution.
There are some important issues that have to be confronted. Tuitions. Teaching. Counseling. Board performance.
Anyhow, these are complicated matters, and it would be good to have your feedback.
One parent has written a comment on the blog, which I reproduce in part: I have never seen so much of nonsense written in an article. MIS will never ruin the life of a child for the sake of looking good in some petty exams. ... Our children are the best, not only in their behavior but also in sports debating music and any other activity you can think of. And all this is not out of some spirit of competition but out of a true spirit of learning.
The school is perfectly right in detaining children who are not ready to go to the next class.or offering them subjects that they would do well in after the required talk with the parents but to accuse the school of expelling the students just because the failed some stupid maths test-----nonsense---lies and mischief mongering.
Let me strongly state that this article has just played around with words to show the school in a bad light.
The rest of the comments can be read where they appear, namely on the post below, but the issues that we all need to address are
0. What has actually happened?
1. Has the article been fair to the children/parents/School?
2. What do we expect from the School management?
As far as the events are concerned, here, as I understand it, is what happened:
About 25 students of Class XI have not secured 40% marks in a number of subjects that they had opted for. These students were called, along with their parents, and given a set of options: (a) withdraw from the School, (b) stay back in Class XI, or (c) change streams since they were not coping well with the subjects they had chosen after the Class X Boards.
Some parents have pointed out that the CBSE guidelines put 33% as the pass percentage, while 40% is what the MIS follows, and most of the students would have been deemed to pass with this lower criterion.
Since the HT Reporter is interested in a story, I am not sure that all the facts of the case have been presented, and perhaps the affected parent could have exercised caution.
There are some important issues that have to be confronted. Tuitions. Teaching. Counseling. Board performance.
- Tuitions and Teaching: Many parents tell me that the teaching has been 'slipping' and that teachers don't pay as much attention in the senior classes because most childrent are taking "tuitions". Clearly, responsibility cuts both ways, and parents also need to worry about things during the year, and not just when promotion to the next class is an issue. I know most of us do, but still...
- Counseling: The School has an impeccable record in this regard. None of the children who were called up were called up for the first time. I know of teachers who even visit the homes of children to counsel them and parents. And there is only so much that can be done...
- Board Performance: Where, in your opinion, does the reputation of the School lie? While the MIS has never given too much importance to the overall performance (like some schools we know of, that take in toppers from other schools in Class XI) is it OK to us as a body if the School were to not care at all. Namely, by setting a 40% bar, does that help students by raising the standards, or is it something that is not fair.
Anyhow, these are complicated matters, and it would be good to have your feedback.
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10 comments:
Firstly ----Thanks----you are doing a good job in trying to start a debate.I hope that some parents ---for the sake of their children---can come up with some positve steps to help the school walk the right path.
Now regarding the options-----first option B-----
a child should definitely be asked to stay back in a class if s\he has fallen too far back--- that means failing in more than 2-3 subjects without any major reason for it to have happened.
This is going to be a major blow for a child but it should do good ultimately.
I think utmost care should be taken when changing the subjects of a child midstream - this should definitely not be done without a proper conversation and discussion with the child and the parents. It can leave a very sour taste if it is forcefully done and anyway these seats existed when the child was allotted these seats. If it is done only for the sake of the school result looking good and not for the welfare of the child - don't even dream of doing it!
And now to the option A- just forget it - period! You just cannot ask the child to leave the school just because he is not a nerd - what about children who are gifted in other things beside studies? - do we throw them out and what about the children who have learning deficencies? - should we not treat them as human beings? And what about a child who has some physical handicaps? - should they be confined to dustbins? Where does it start and where does it end?
Getting good marks is a non-issue in the school - it is a school which is in the top three and that is enough!
You cannot begin to imagine what this incident has done to the psyche of parents and children - whatever little joy was left in their young lives, you have destroyed it by putting in this huge fear of failure into their minds.
After this do you think that the children will have the confidence of playing and taking part in extra - curricular activities? And this is how the management hopes to build a great school? If this is what is happening it is an absolute shame!!!! And by the way have you asked the teacher whose 25 students failed to quit? Is she not responsible for this disaster? After all most of these children were the pick out of the thousands who applied - something is definitely wrong!
The School's principal has been very, very rude to the parents on that day, and the G.O. of CBSE clearly says that the cut-off is 33%. The Principal along with the maths, chemistry & physics teachers should be made accountable for the poor performance of the students, and for the entire fiasco. This school has clearly violated the G.O. On numerous court judgements the cut-off was clearly specified as 33%. The supreme court in one of its judgements in the case of a Xth student clearly mentioned that the school has to own moral responsibility for the poor performance of its students. Why are we paying so much fees to this School- to get harassed? The parents must sue this School as the Principal had been telling lies after lies on this issue and made many a parent sleepless for many days. I, as a parent challenge the School for a open debate on this issue- in front of TV cameras. If they accept the challenge then I will disclose my identity.
- A parent.
Based on an unofficial report,
the number of students failed as per 40% criteria, in atleast one subject is pretty high and may even be upto 70-80% of the total in class XI. The School should be ashamed of this!
One Parent.
"Our children are the best, not only in their behavior but also in sports debating music and any other activity you can think of"
----------OK, agreed. But "our Principal is the worst, not only in her behavior but also in management skills, and even she is hesterical" Cann't the school look for a better alternative. Why is the administration shying away in calling the parents for an open discussion and convince them on this 33% & 40% criteria. And the administration should apolozige to the harassed parents. Then, things will cool down. Otherwise, the parents have to go to High court to expose the School's misdeeds which will ruin the School permenantely.
Even the school's assembly prayer- according to the students of MIS is founded on "outdated philosophy" & unscientific. Mediatation with bengali music is a lot harassing to non-bengali students and no student seemed to be enjoying it. According to THE MOTHER- "silence is golden" Why disturb the meditation with music. Even meditation has no scintific basis. For a painter, his painting is his meditation. The School should change its policies. Out dated experiments, outdated PCs and outdated philosophies will not take it anywhere. I do not recommend this school for serious scientific thinkers & serious students.
I went over to the school in the morning and had a long word with the principal and with a very senior teacher.
The gist is as follows:
1--No child will be expelled from the school just because he has not done well in studies.
2--She has very clearly stated that it was her intention to try and give a chance to as many students as possible to appear in a re-test and clear these exams.
3--She with a heavy heart will have to hold back children who have done very very badly in the exams.
I thought she was being totally fair.
We all know that this issue has been handled in a way which does not make any of us proud.I think there has been an over reaction from all parties concerned and we have to calm things down and start a conversation. I can well imagine the reaction of parents who feel that their children have been wronged. That this does not give us the liberty to act in a manner in which some of us have acted. This has obviously made the teachers and the principal react in a manner and say words which everybody realises were coming out as a reaction and not as what they really intended to do and mean. I think it is in the best interests of our school to close this sordid chapter in the best possible manner and as responsible parents and teachers who have the reputation of the school in mind.
The principal also said that she has just been confirmed in December 2008 and realises that there are a lot of issues in the school which need sorting out. She is trying her level best to understand and take control of the current situation and has every intention of starting to make a difference and changes starting from the month of April. She has every right to expect the full support of the management, the parents and the teachers to bring this school back to its former glory.
I on a personal basis know the school a bit more than other parents and have faced numerous issues which I do not agree with. I am still looking for ways and means of trying to get some points across to the management. Her assurance that a proper conversation will soon begin with the parents is heartening and I wish her all the best. After all a principal of a school plays a major role in the development of our children.
Thanks Vivek. One does need to realize that we are really all on the same side, and need to get things better rather than worse.
IT is ridiculous of one person on the blog to criticize the music being played. it is not anyone's property, off course it should convey something to the students in an understandable way. PL DO NOT SAY THAT MEDITATION HAS NO SCIENTIFIC BASIS. you are probably ill-informed and the fact is that INDIAN MEDITATION HAS GOT VERY STRONG AND ACCEPTABLE SCIENTIFIC BASIS AND IS RECOGNIZED THE WORLD OVER AND THE ONE PRACTICED IN MIS is also a wonderful kind. YOU DO IT AND THEN ONLY WILL COME TO KNOW ABOUT IT-VS
This whole "fiasco" is nothing but a pathetic attempt by the parents of the students concerned in the issue to move the spotlight from their parenting shortcomings by showing the school in bad light... an effort to no avail.
4 cycle tests, 4 assignments, 2 examinations of consistent bad performance by their wards, 3-4 parent teacher meetings and the parents awaken only at the very end? The core question remains, why have the parents turned a blind eye to their wards' performance till the very end?
Instead of taking a small hurdle in their stride and working for the future of their ward, they have tried to turn the blame onto the teachers, who but get only 6 hours of a day to teach the student... What seriousness the student shows to his academics the rest of the day, is not in their hands, and I am pretty sure it shows up in the result of the concerned students.
Some parents have very slyly twisted the words of 'The Mother' to promote their own ends. If the so 'concerned' parent has problems with Bengali songs, then perhaps he should fight the govt. of India first, for isn't our national anthem in Bengali itself? And the meditation music does not have any lyrics in it, so there is no way to call it Bengali or Non-Bengali music. All it has is the guidance provided by a voice in English towards the meditator. Please don't promote regional separatism in the divine art of music, for we Indians are patrons of all forms of art - Bengali or not Bengali.
The people who are so concerned about the school following the G.O. in matters of the pass percentage should read it to get answers for their other accusations. For example, the so called 'outdated' experiments follow the guidelines of the CBSE syllabus provided for every class in every academic year. The computer systems in the MIS also fulfill the requirements of the CBSE guidelines provided for both computers and informatics...
I must mention to the 'harassed' parent that 'SILENCE is GOLDEN' at all times, not only during meditation.
It may calm their egos, but in retrospect, don't the parents who strive to save their face in public by creating 'fiascos' such as these realize that a court case or a live television debate does not help the 'cause' of their wards, nor that of the other students studying in the school?
These dramas are only bringing politics into the educational system which will break the backbone of the very Indian future we all dream of, and the world we hope our children will get to live in.
An educationist and a very very concerned citizen
siva rama krishna
I do not know what kind of educationist you are - but a parent whose children are studying in MIS - you definitely are not. If you were you would have had some level of communication with your children and you would have known what exactly is the state of the school today.
I do not like the tone with which you are trying to browbeat harrassed parents and I definitely will not get into an argument and wash more dirty linen in the open.
I seriously believe that you are one of the class XI teachers who is trying hard to justify their results by blaming others.
i have just a few words left...the school is what it is JUST because of its children...the faculty is PATHETIC...and children enjoy just due to the freedom(illegal though) they earn themselves in school....as far as meditation goes...why not conduct a poll and ask students...whether they like it or not...i see the poll being a whitewash
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