PTM, 2 May

This is for all the parents who, for one reason or the other, could not come to the general body PTM that was held today in the new Hall of Grace at M.I. S. A very large number [over 1150] were there, given the importance of the point under discussion: the fee-hike.

Briefly, what happened was as follows. After introductions, I summarized the main points and voiced a number of the concerns that you have communicated to me over the past week, and invited other parents to bring up other points that had not been discussed. A lot of parents raised very pertinent issues and articulated their concerns to the School management. Overall, I would say that most parents were in agreement with the need for an increase in the fees, but they also wanted the school to be responsive on other matters. I will discuss this below.

• One very positive outcome of this meeting was the setting up of a smaller group of about a dozen parents who will meet at the school on Tuesday, 5 May, to look at the school budget and accounts, and suggest any ways of an overall "tightening of the belt" so as to meet the monthly expenses.
• There is a move to make a smaller group of a recommendatory nature, with representation from teachers and students in addition to parents to discuss other problems: quality of teachers and teaching, facilities, sports, and so on.
  
• Many parents expressed satisfaction at having a general body meeting of this kind, and wanted this repeated in order to look into other issues that are of concern to us. Again, there is a request out on this front, and I think there will be some move to have such a meeting soon.
  

Legalities aside, it was good for all of us to meet and share our feelings about how the MIS is run and what more can be done- by parents, as well as by teachers and school management- to make the school bring out the best in our children. The specifics are too long to go in here, but as they say: Watch this space.

Mr Basu, Manager of the MIS tells me that about 95% of those who came to the meeting gave their concurrence to the fee increase, but, importantly, that there were about 50 parents who were NOT in agreement.

The minutes of Tuesday's meeting of the smaller group that will look at the accounts will be posted on the net, and hopefully things should be clearer then.

Meanwhile, here is a link to an interesting article that has just appeared in New York Magazine, called How not to talk to your kids. Something in it for all of us.... Enjoy!