Marks vs Worthiness.
Child centered learning, Multiple intelligence, Activity based learning, Learning to learn, Action research, graphic organizers, Circle time,Brain based learning, TQM in teaching learning process, Pedagogy of Behaviorism, Cognitivism and Humanist , Contextual learning, theme based Projects, interest based curriculum,Master mind, theater fests, art work shops, etc etc… …endless are the list of words that I have learnt to parrot to be in the lime light of the career I am in for the past 20 years! Well, all these have their place in theory. According to me the underlying principle in all these ( as I understand) is to up hold human dignity. Respecting the child for what it is. Correct me, please, if I have misunderstood!
What do they all mean in real terms and real time?
Listen to this …..
The scene was rather unique. It was a sprawling school campus in a small town. Manicured lawns, tastefully planted shrubs with bright flowers, exotic foliage, wide open spaces ….. A play was on… atop the custom made setting. The theme “ The story of Education” .The main character was the “ the school “. It personified all that is( ILLS!) in today’s education field…. the insensitive teacher, the authoritative Education department, the obsolete pedagogy, the meaningless curriculum, the resented exams , the irrational objectives etc etc, The play critiqued the present education system . There was a scene where in the school poured the syllabus into the children’s belly which they only had to vomit!! ( without missing an, a .a comma, or a + or X) . But some couldn’t . They were declared unsuccessful. The play went on to show these students rebelling and challenging the school with their skills learnt out of school! Their voice became louder and clearer. They decried the content of the curriculum, the single evaluation measure and demanded an education that was more inclusive . ( read…. The skills that children have ) . The play ended with the school succumbing to the pressure . There was rejoice and merriment in the children’s camp.
The audience gave a standing ovation to the children’s excellent performance and to the director for a very well conceived play. Glorious compliments were showered on the child who played the role of “the school”. The child had become a ‘ star”.
The next week the results of the term exam was announced! The star was declared fail! Little did the child know that his fall as ‘ the school” in the play was a precursor to his own failure as measured in real time by real terms!
Now tell me who failed??
The skill, the child had was not worthy of any marks!!
Aren’t children the hapless victims of a system that boasts of the state of the art learning processes to impart archaic three R’s perpetuating discrimination?
Where does human ( child’s )dignity figure here?
I am a teacher in this system. What could have I done? I regret being a teacher!
It’s a pity that the so called best brained (as decided by their marks) educators , corporate giants continue to support the system. It is very obvious as to why they do it!!
p.s. Kindly note… the recent decision of the State Government to appoint art , music , drama teachers in government schools can no doubt create employment but no empowerment unless our system recognizes their domains worthy of learning ! Because, as of today marks measures worthiness.
