Recently when I
paid a visit to my mentor and teacher from my school time, I felt just as I
always felt meeting her - happy. We discussed about various things from our
daily lives. At one point I strongly felt, this is something everyone around
should pause and think for a while. So, I've made an attempt to put my thoughts
into words.
Not long ago, when we were
taught at school, teachers always emphasized we underline important points. They
never gave us notes to mug-up (as we called during childhood). Instead, we were
told to read the entire lesson and frame our own questions and answers. This
not only helped us to be prepared for questions from any corner of the lesson
but also induced a habit of self-learning, reading books and being inquisitive.
Present day - the same
teachers no more follow this method. Instead students are given notes, answers
to questions in specific. Students no longer wish to read the entire
lesson/chapter on their own since they know they can score just by reading the
Q&A a hundred times. They aren’t worried what the lesson has to teach as
long as they are aware of the important questions that can fetch maximum marks.
Students are content with this approach. Even the teachers are forced to follow
this approach by schools and parents.
Now, one may feel these are
2 different methods of teaching during 2 different times. What big deal is it?
However, I personally would like to question, is the present day approach going
to do justice to the future generations? Are students gaining knowledge or
merely scoring marks to satisfy parents and the society? Is the purpose of
education just to score and compete in this mad race of life to stay ahead of
others? Are marks the true measure of knowledge one possesses? Also teachers
today are strictly instructed not to punish the students. But isn't it good to
have some healthy fear in every student? Does fear not make us do things better
and correct?
Either you are a parent
today or would be one tomorrow, pause and think for a moment. Do you want your
kids to win in school or in life? If you want them to win in life, teach them
the importance of being knowledgeable, wise, honest and mentally strong instead
of teaching and preaching the importance of marks and ranks.
PS: Let the future generations be learners, not just rank earners.
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