And of course, children of today will rise above all the plans the adults of today have for them. That’s my hope. And wish.
Sample this.
An advertisement calling in for students ( in the age group of 5-6 years). Apparently, they are starting a ‘new batches’ ! To teach kids read and spell words using phonetics.
And of course, parents have to be worried if their kid cant spell ‘Dictionary’ at the age of 5. Or 6 for that matter. Of course. And spelling that right, will make a ‘a winner in life’.
And of course,there are exams that measure. And measures that examine. Tuition centers that coach. And coaching classes that tutor. TV programs on stars and the world. And the world full of stars of other kinds.
I think, We are indeed on the right path. Of course. Lets hear it. For all of us. Educators. Policy makers. Kids. Parents. And everybody else in this chain. Yay.
As we hurtle fast towards success in a super connected world. With Orkut facebook, digital technology, faster education, blogs, spell checks (btw), Educational programming and the like….
..am i the only one, wondering if our education system makes us meander towards a wired future . With short circuited souls ?
( This is Part – II of a three part series on the Kids World of today )
As we hurtle fast towards success in a super connected world.– What a pitiful picture this conjures up, Kavi! But true, too. Why can’t children just be themselves and grow at their own pace?
BTW, this latest post is not showing up in my google reader- I just came here while blog-hopping…
See, its not as if my parents didnt want me to know the spelling of dictionary at 5 ( I didnt ), but they gave equal priority to, say, learning suryanamaskars. And when , later on in school, one got 7/10 in dictation, they also made their displeasure clear, inspiring us to improve. Todays parents, for whatever reasons, monetary, status-related or otherwise, HAVE NO TIME for their kids.
These Phoenticwallahs are just entrepreneurs sighting an opportunity. But really, whats the use of learning spelling , for 5 year old kids today, who are often found fiddling and typing on the keyboards of their parents cellphones, before they get their own at 8? And devowelize all their words…?
Like you say, its a wired life…
Well, Ugich has beat me to what I wanted to say, and I think she did a better job than I could’ve.
There are a lot of adults out there living their lives through their children — pressing them to learn faster, earlier; to go to dance classes for hours; compete in sports; take music classes; all things that eat away at their free time, at the opportunity to sit quietly and think on their own.
The pendulum swings, as always. At least in the U.S., we’ve swung in the last fifty years from little to no guidance to highly structured child-as-the-center-of-the-universe ideology.
Pearl
It’s little over to these ages, but also has to acknowledge the development and indeed there demand to go beyond exists. Today how may children have a mind to give? And they are also brought up with ego, but sometime it’s for better and worse too. I wonder at children’s knowledge and there mature behavior at such little age, which sometime felt me its too much, and may be I haven’t been like that at that age could be a reason to feel, but I also worry about the time and age they’re going to experience like ever in there lifetime could be missed in pressure of parents and society.
Good blog! I love the pictures and really enjoyed the wedding post.
The drive to make “super children” is the same in the US, but without the discipline I see in your country (and Japan, China, etc). Of course, children are much more sophisticated at an earlier age. But in my mind, it robs the childhood, the innocence.
There is plenty of time to find out the world is not so kind.
it’s said the sins of the father are visited upon the son. Add to that the failings of the father are inherited by the son…
Leave children alone is my dictum. They will learn and unlearn.
What else can we expect in a country where children go to playschool at 1 and 1/2 and pack their days with tuitions and extra-curricular activities, and even their holidays with regimented summer camps?
I loved the previous post as well, and it is almost ironic that parents are instrunmental in encouraging many metaphorical WALLS to block their children from the freedom and joys of childhood.
What else can we expect in a country where children go to playschool at 1 and 1/2 and pack their days with tuitions and extra-curricular activities, and even their holidays with regimented summer camps?
I loved the previous post as well, and it is almost ironic that parents are instrunmental in encouraging many metaphorical WALLS to block their children from the freedom and joys of childhood.
Manju : Thanks for the comment. And yes, i only wish children had the time & place to grow up !
I wonder why it doesnt show up on the google reader !
Ugich Konitari : And yes..especially when you count in the fact that there is spell check and such else !! 🙂
And thats the point. Precicely the point. With least time to spend and much money to expend, phonetics catches attention. But ofcourse !
Pearl : Ah ! Its interesting to note that the US has also similar situations. It indeed is interesting !!
I thought it was very different..!
Jeevan : There has to be an understanding that education does not lead upto the alleyway of success. Many times education comes alone ! And with nothing else but ego ! 🙁
Lou : I cant say it better. Ofcourse, it robs children of their childhood. And whatever remains in it for them in life ! And thats my angst ! Big time angst !
Braja : That is so much weighing on the shoulders. Isnt it ? Inheriting the failings of my father…is something. Indeed.
Nsiyer : Sir, i cant say it better than you. Concise and effective dictums
Sucharita : Thats the centre point of the whole post. That we sacrificing childhood dreams and innocence at the altar of development !
Sigh !
The race to be has created an entire new race….a mechanical future where the word “passion” doesnt exist or is curbed so hard, by the time u land up in ur job unsatisfied at the end of the day, *passion* holds no meaning!!
some things never change…such as over ambitious parents who want their kids to top the class while they themselves never ranked in the first 10!! AS long as there are those types around, these ads will continue!
Seriously though, I thought in India all kids knew how to read by that age!!