Security

A group of parents- distinguished academics all- who teach at a prominent South Delhi College affiliated with Delhi University- called a few days ago to raise the question of security at the School.

As all of us know, the overall security at the school is not very strict. Perhaps it needs to be. Here are their specific concerns which I have summarized. Please add your comments and let us have a proper discussion on this before I bring it up with the Principal.

1. Multiple entrances. The School has several entrances- from Sarvodaya, the Ashram entrance, the Main Gate. These need to be closed during school hours. We do not recommend placing guards at these points, as they are usually not equipped to tackle serious threats.
2. Parent IDs: Should parents or guardians be provided with ID which can be presented at the entrance?
3. Store relocations: It may be necessary to shift Matri store to a more accessible point. One suggestion is to have an additional gate beyond Matri store, as the Meera Nursery might not be functional in the next academic year, so access to the UCO bank will also not be an issue.

Please let us know how you feel about this. In this new climate, a little precaution may be wise.

Third in the Top Day Schools list

I thought that more parents would be interested in the comment of Ash on the last post, about MIS being No. 3 in the Education World Survey of the Top Day Schools of India. The entire article can be read here.

Topping the list is The Shri Ram School, Delhi "as the most respected school in the north, with an aggregate score of 1,082 across the 12 parameters of institutional evaluation. This aggregate is higher than of day schools topping the southern, eastern and western lists, making The Shri Ram School (estb. 1988) the country’s best regarded day school as well."

The rest of the listing: Delhi’s Sanskriti (ranked 2nd in the north), Mother’s International (3rd), Springdales (4th) and Vasant Valley and Sardar Patel (5th) schools. Another surprise entrant in to the Top 10 northern region ranking is the Sacred Heart Public School (6th), Modern School (7th) and DPS, Vasant Kunj, Delhi (9th).

Meeting of the Management Board

Many of you will know that the School Management Board met yesterday afternoon. As the parent's representative on the board, I was there to bring up many of the points we have discussed in person or via email.

The new Principal, Mrs Rajalakshmi, has taken over. She has been at MIS for the past 21 years, teaches Chemistry in the senior school, and has worked intimately with the School administration for a long time. I believe she is very open and receptive to your suggestions and ideas.

Some of the things discussed were

1. Buses. This is going to be a problem in the future as the DTC reduces the number of buses it provides, but private transporters are not the answer. Given the rules imposed by the Delhi Government, it is likely that the school will cater to a smaller geographical area, perhaps only those children who can walk to school.
2. Cleanliness. Mosquitos. etc. This is something that has to be done continuously. All classrooms have the mosquito repellent vaporisers. Any other suggestions? Please let me know and I will pass it on.
3. Teacher resignations. There have been 2 in the past few months. The Biotechnology teacher has left owing to the very low enrolment- there were 4 students this year and none the next year... Another teacher resigned for personal reasons.
4. Sports. This is something where your active input and suggestions are needed. Football is emphasised since it is inexpensive and inclusive.
5. 6th Pay Commission. The directive of the Government is awaited. As of now, the additional burden on the School is Rs 1.5 crore or more, and the question of how to raise funds is very high on the minds of the management. The Ashram and School are quite separate, so there is very little buffer that the school has. Fees will surely go up, probably by 50%.

The government committee is meeting now and a report is expected on the 17th, i.e. next week.

Watch this space...

The Habitat Children’s Book Forum

I found out about this activity that may be of interest to a wider group. Lets see if the School can send a group of kids across to such activities from time to time...

The Habitat Children’s Book Forum was launched in October 2003 at India Habitat Centre by well- known children’s writers Deepa Agarwal and Paro Anand, with the aim of nurturing the reading habit among children by showing them that books can be fun. Another objective was to promote the work of Indian authors and provide children with a platform to express their views about books. Response from children, parents, schools and authors and publishers has been enthusiastic and the Forum has acquired many regular members.

Over the last five years, a large number of books have been discussed and activities like meet the author, story telling, drawing storybook characters, writing stories and poems and book related quizzes conducted. Apart from the classics of Tagore, Hans Andersen, R.K. Narayan, Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay and Kalki, the writings of popular writers like J.K. Rowling, Roald Dahl and Enid Blyton, the work of contemporary Indian authors Ranjit Lal, Subhadra Sen Gupta, Anupa Lal, Vinita Singh, Dilip Salwi, Paro Anand, Nilima Sinha, Devika Rangachari and Deepa Agarwal has featured in these programmes.

Whenever possible, a book counter is set up as well, in order to address the problem of non-availability of books by Indian authors in most book shops.

The Book Forum usually meets on every second Saturday of the month at India Habitat Centre and is open to all children free of charge.

Contact Deepa Agarwal at 9811109123

A new Principal!

I heard this morning that MIS has a new Principal- Ms Rajalakshmi who teaches Chemistry in the Senior school. I know this is very welcome news to all us parents, that there is a Principal.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, the Management Committee meets on Friday.

Children's Day

The Managing Committee meeting is scheduled for the 14th of November. I thought it a good sign that it is also Children's Day.

I would greatly appreciate it if you would put in all the points you would like to see represented at this meeting. Those that are already on my radar are:

1. Cleanliness of the school. Mosquitos and other bugs.
   
2. Sports. More of them, better coaches, more flexibility.
   
3. Buses. Whats to be done?
   
4. Teachers. Why are we losing some of the better teachers?
   
5. The edge. Is MIS losing its pride of place among Delhi schools?

Do let me know if there are others, and also if you feel that a particular aspect should be highlighted. Add this in to your comments on this post. Thanks!

Board meeting

As you all know, the School board meets around this time, the coming Annual Day being a marker of sorts...

For those of you who have been concerned on many issues, this post is just to inform that the meeting will take place in the coming week, and once it is on, there will be some information on this blog.