A mother made a telephonic call to a great educationist of Chicago requesting her to offer her some guidelines regarding the education to be given to her child.
The educationist in question asked how old her son was. On being enquired the mother said that her son was five years old to which the educationist replied that she was late by five years nine months.
If we analyse the content of the conversation between the mother and the educationist it clearly transpires that the real education of a child begins in the womb itself and it is only in this context it is said that learning is a womb to tomb process.
Till early 20th century children were never taken to school before the age of seven. Even Mahatma Gandhi had prescribed seven years of age for the admission of children in school. Why go so far? Even Kothari Commission had recommended seven years as ideal age for admission of children in school. According to medical sciences also an early start of reading and writing may affect the eyesight.
But quite contrary to this, with the introduction of preparatory classes, Montessori, Kindergarten and other preparatory schools, there is a mad rush for admission of small kids right from 2 to 5 years of age. Parents instead of rearing, maintaining and retaining their children in their houses for the growth of limbs, they take the help of these schools and virtually deprive them of the pleasures of their childhood. They do not allow the childhood to ripen in their children. It is as good as asking a seed to sprout as soon as it is sown. Children are virtually put in cages where they fret and fritter to get out of them. Such kind of impositions on children virtually hinder their physical as well as mental growth. Initially their physical growth is stunted. Stress, strain and tension ridden children are not in a position to grow mentally. True lack of physical growth impedes mental growth.
Children in the age group of 2 to 5 are virtually reduced to coolies meant for carrying school bags. A recent research shows that in the age group 2 to 10 a child is required to carry a truck load of books and notebooks. If we go for the analysis of the whole scenario of education in our country, we are compelled to assume that parents as on date in the name of cut throat competition prevailing in the society are taken on putting extra ordinary pressure on their children.
Not only parents, even our educational system is such that students are forced to believe in stuffing their brains with the dry bones of knowledge. Consequent upon which insight, understanding and wisdom, the three constituents of real knowledge are missing. It is no longer concept oriented education. Everything centers round content only. Acquisition of rank by cramming has become the sole objective of learning. This reversal of attitude towards education is virtually eating into the happy and healthy growth of children. If we look into the whole thing systematically we will find that it is imperative on our part to see that such parents who believe in sending their wards to preparatory schools should be educated first. They must be made aware of the following.
As per recommendations of the New Education Policy, no child should be sent to school before the age of six. For physical and emotional growth children are required to bask in the love and affection of mother, father and other family members. Parents unnecessarily compel their children to bear the burden of studies by threats and torture without caring for the children’s age ability and aptitude , consequent upon which children are becoming schizophrenic. Heavy burden of books on tiny tots is a curse and cause of stress and tension for them.
They should take special care of their children for their proper upbringing at least up to the age of six. They should never go for comparison because it creates a sense of discouragement and loss of confidence in them, resulting in still poorer performance in the days to come. Parents should know that talents differ. No two children are alike.
They should know that the distance between parents and children is the root cause of disaster and destruction. It’s the first and foremost duty of parents that they keep their children as close as possible, meaning thereby that the parents should devote their maximum time with their children.
They should avoid picking up quarrels in the presence of their children. A happy home is that where wife and husband lead a happy and peaceful life. Only such homes can provide real growth for the children.
Parents wishing their children to grow in full will have to believe in accepting their children as they are, appreciating them for some of their good points and approving of their actions as and when required. High expectations from children by parents are proving to be detrimental.
They should refrain from cursing and condemning. In other words they should sometime go for encouraging and loving them for their lapses. Such sympathetic and generous approach generates a kind of confidence in the children.
Parents should not be unnecessarily apprehensive of something which has not taken place. Children Learn fast by doing themselves. Parents should play a constructive role in shaping of the future of the children by awarding freedom as and when required. Children in no case should be loaded with Dos and Don’t.
Parents should not go for admission of their children in schools which are far off from their houses. Small kids are unnecessarily required to commute for hours together, resulting in physical fatigue and mental strain. Schools housed in palatial and air-conditioned buildings with all outward glamour, with ultra modern physical facilities do not necessarily contribute to the growth of children to a desired extent. In some of the cases, they have negative effects. Children keep on acquiring behaviors which are beyond their age, ability and attitude. Such schools were actually meant for the big-wigs of the society but now even parents with average income take a sense of pride and pleasure in securing seats for their children in such expensive schools.
It is high time that we tag our brains and find out a way which can solve all educational ills, being patronized in the name of competition. Parents, wishing their children to be useful citizens of the country, will have to get rid of Parentitis failing which there will be great chaos, confusion, turmoil, corruption and lawlessness all around. In short in order to infuse in children the art of thinking critically and creatively schools have to be made enjoyable places.