Baljinder Kaur

Different organizations working from India and abroad are very concerned on growing abuses of innocent children in schools under the name of education and examinations. We condemn it and ask parents, teachers, and the school administration to review their behavior toward children.

On May 19, 2004, Gurpreet Kaur of Batala after being accused by a teacher of copying in the exam was made to sit outside in the heat for hours, and not even the principal helped her. When she reached home, she was bleeding from her mouth and nose and she died in the arms of her parents. Her father is visibly upset and Gurpreet’s siblings are filled with bitterness. We don’t know how her mother reacted. Surely it must be worse than other family members.

There are thousands of cases when children commit suicide, or are mentally unhealthy and physically handicapped. More such cases are being brought to our knowledge everyday from all over India. Usually there are some local protests against the treatment meted out to children, but the protests die out without any permanent resolution.

Knowing the psychology of young children, today, the school syllabus is a burden most children cannot accommodate. What is the use of teaching them details about the English rule, Mughal rule, political science etc.? Look at the weight of school bags young children carry on their shoulders. Somethings could be left for higher classes.

With the efforts of all concerned people, child abuse prevention networks, wise parents, student associations, and religious organizations, Stop Child Abuse Network of India and Parents Association of India is initiating the School Education Reform Movement to save our children from future torture and to bring about positive reforms in the present education system. This movement will soon be carried to other parts of the country under different names like Sikhia Sudhar Andolan or Shiksha Shodh Andolan. We are going to record all the deaths, and the mental and physical abuse of children in a booklet and then initiate a dialog with the relevant state and federal institutions.

Representative of different organization got together and decided to make every effort to uproot this illness from our society. We urge parents and teachers to take the following precautions:

1. Never insult a child in school or at home. It will affect their self-respect.

2. Don’t compare one child with another. Every person is unique and special in their own way. Science has proven that every person has unique DNA that defines our physical attributes. By comparing children we may foster inferiority complex in the psychology of that child. It affects their development and outlook to life. Hitler was abused and rejected by schools and society; he wanted to be a painter. His parents scolding him to a point that he started disliking himself. People who respect themselves have no inferiority complex.

3. Parents: Don’t pass your ambitions to your children. Too much interference in the life of a child is not good. Never force the child to become this or that. Never waste your child’s today in the hope of tomorrow.

4. It is high time we evaluate our education system. Failure is not the end of the road. Both Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein could not get adjusted in school. A creative person never limits thinking to classroom curriculum. Rather, he or she is an independent thinker. If a child is forced to achieve then he or she can never become creative. The Indian education system encourages children to cram for exams driving them more out of fear of not getting better grades. Teachers are also working under immense pressure to show results. Life of a child has been turned into a concentration camp both at school and at home where they do nothing other than homework and additional tutoring. Our system also encourages the feeling of superiority among those who excel and the sense of inferiority and humiliation for those who failed.

5. We believe that up to the age of sixteen children should not be subjected to formal examinations by any institution. Strictly speaking there should be no exams until the 5th class. From 6th to the 10th class examination should be replaced with a grading system that accounts for: (i) class attendance; (ii) creative homework assignments every week which may include arts and the sciences; and (iii) less emphasis on a comprehensive examination at the end of the school year.

The final grade should take into account a student’s performance throughout the year in all activities. Parents must be kept informed about their child’s performance every month. If a child’s performance slips to a lower grade then remedial action should be suggested.

India has a strong tradition of education and our children deserve the best. We are now witnessing the creation of cheap educated labor to fit an employer’s needs.

Let us remember year 2004 as ‘Excuse us, Children’ year commemorating it to those who have endured mental torture in the classroom, and those unfortunate students who died young when they could not endure the abuse anymore. Children with a creative mind and extraordinary hobbies should be supported and encouraged to pursue their passion. School syllabus should not be allowed to kill their passion. Children in India are forced to read books under fear and this creates in them a deep-rooted hatred for books. Perhaps this is one of the reasons most Indians don’t read books after their formal education is over.

Schools should have a loving and creative environment. Only loving, smiling, and caring teachers should be hired. Aggressive, unhappy, and unreasonably demanding teachers should be given back end duties in office etc. Schools should strive to create an environment where the relationship between a student and the teacher is less formal like in USA and other nations. It has been observed that children look forward to going to school in these countries.

6. School syllabus up to the 10th standard should be revised immediately without any delay. Only basic mathematics (making sure it does not get heavy and also keeping in mind that mathematics does not interest all students), some languages, reading/writing, and painting should be part of the syllabus. History, political science, and geography are not the subjects for young children. These can be offered in higher classes for those who are interested. New hardcover books should be prepared for children. Book should be made interesting and interactive. Other media, like TV, can also be utilized. Well equipped libraries is a must.

7. All schools should have basic facilities like a play ground, a library and all the necessary material to support the creativity of the child.

8. Prayers in schools should not include patriotic songs. Such an approach has created wars. A prayer should be an appreciation of our divine gifts and a school can write its own prayer. No child should be forced to say the prayer. It has been observed that children are made to stand in the heat, without exception, every day. Why not say the prayers in silence in a classroom? A school should bear a festive look and students should be encouraged to participate in extra-curricular activities.

9. It should not be mandated for teachers to show results. This leads to the frustration in the teacher which further results in the abuse of children.

10. Student-teacher relationship is a loving one. A teacher has to take care of a student's interests and disinterest and respect their individuality. Let us help the children pick subjects that interest them. A school is a celebration of life, a celebration of childhood, and a celebration of growth.

11. At home the child should be treated with respect. It is unfortunate that parents have started acting like high-handed teachers. Psychology studies suggest that children show more interest in doing things that they are forbidden from doing. Discuss issues with them with openness and help build their understanding. A family can sit together and meditate. Mediation has nothing to do with religion. It is an inner science. Don’t forget to let your child participate in a meditation camp if it happens around you.

12. No parent, no country, and no religion should try to use children as their commodity. In a better world children will be brought up together without any feeling of mistrust and hate.

13. Nobody can exploit the financial dependency of children on him or her. Don’t feel yourself as donors. We have observed some parents make children feel this way. This burdens them all their life. We have created such a society that money flows from male member to other family members. Projecting ego and pride can also adversely impact your child.

14. Education Reforms committee with the help of all other organization will make sure that proper law enforcements are in place throughout India to discourage parents and teachers from damaging the psychology of a child. If you have information about any parent who is overburdening their children with expectations, report it to the concerned authority and if no help is received bring it to the notice of Stop Child Abuse Network or Education Reform Movement Action Committee.

15. Single sex schools should be discouraged. Children in such schools miss the balance that nature provides for human growth. All boys and girls should attend classrooms and play and study together. Our intentions to keep them apart has created a lot of problems including gender abuse.

16. So that we never forget our innocent children who became victims, of our education system, please send us the name, address, details and if possible a photo of the victim, including the names of schools and teacher/principal involved. You can email us as well. We are recording these cases in the book Education or Torture on Innocents.

17. We strive to have special cells created in the police department and provide a hotline to respond to child abuse.

18. Unexpected closures of schools because of death of somebody or other reasons must be discouraged. Education has nothing to do with politics. Schools must remain open from Monday through Friday. For weekends, positive recreational activities should be provided as an alternative to television.

19. Our goal is to help and nurture happy, loving, caring, and creative men and women. The education reform we are suggesting aims at accomplishing it. We encourage people to show their support by sending us their views and opinions through emails or writing to us. We need support of every Indian irrespective of their state of residence or nature of job. If we fail to help our children now, the future generations will not forgive us. Children are voiceless, and helpless and have been denied the right to voice their opinions for too long. They are totally dependent on us. If you are a representative of some organization then make sure to show us your support by standing with us. You can also make available a copy of this referendum to your local schools, places of worship, and and other local organizations.

School Education Reform Movement Action Committee
Email:serm_committee@yahoo.com
House No 3068 First Floor
Sector 71 Mohali,Punjab-India

Or

1508 S Loggers Pond Pl #11
Boise,ID 83706 US

Supporting Organization

Stop Child Abuse Network of India
Parents Association of India (www.indiaperents.com )
All World New Generation Stream, USA and India (www.awngs.com)
Kerala Students Union
Delhi University Students Union
Students Union Loyola College, Chennai
Amnesty International, NewYork (www.amnesty.org)
Internation Student Association, Ohio, USA
San Jose State University - India Student Association
Arizona State University - Indian Students Association
Sikh Media Watch, USA (www.sikhmediawatch.org)
Baylor University - Indian Subcontinent Student Association
State University of New York, Buffalo - Indian Student Associations


Copyright ©2004 Baljinder Kaur. About the author