The following is about a phenomenon that has been seen in schools in Kerala for some time now. The folk art form of Gang War or Thallumala has become a matter of pride for every school child. There are few schools where this is not staged. In many places, the public took to the streets and confronted the children. Most teachers now come to school with a lot of anxiety and fear. They complete the teaching very attentively. They are in psychological conflict because of the frustration of not being able to correct children when they make mistakes and the fear of getting into trouble if they interfere in any way.
I came to class as usual. The class often starts after telling the children some small news. I wanted to know their biggest preferences that day. Soon, BTS came from different parts of the class. started hearing that. I remember hearing somewhere that it was a Korean music troupe. For a trick I asked: What is BTS?
Sir, it’s a musical troupe—one. Sir, it’s a dance troupe—someone else. Sir, it is a cool music and dance troupe, said a third. The third person was a girl. I asked all the details of the troupe. Perhaps more clearly and enthusiastically than the subject taught the previous day, the boy recited the names of all seven of them in one breath. The seven names Jin, Jimin, V, Suga, Jung Kook, RM, and J-Hope are memorized by most of the children in the class. Not only that, many people’s birthdays are also memorized by them. My next question was to the child who gave the third answer: Which is the panchayat of Mol? The boy looked angry as he did not get an answer.
This is not an isolated incident. The changes in our children’s preferences over the past two years have been enormous. It is the necessity of the time that we must embrace it. But the fact is that many parents and teachers have not come to terms with this reality. LKG Children from higher secondary to higher secondary were most affected by the change when they moved from on-line class to off-line class. They excelled in new technology. There were major changes in their attitude towards parents, teachers and society. Things are going to a state where there is no obedience, love, respect and closeness to teachers and parents. This change is evident even in young children. That is where we need to open our eyes. It is a little difficult for him. A teacher in Alappuzha commented that it is the children who tell many doubts about the new technology. For this single reason, they have lost respect for their teachers.
Grievances of teachers
First let’s hear what a teacher from a school in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram has to say. “It was enough to retire as soon as possible, sir… I’m tired of teaching. I used to enjoy being a student. But now?”
This is not just a teacher’s opinion. This is the case with most teachers. If you try to question or correct a mistake of the children, you will get stuck in the case. After covid, children have no obedience. Not only at school but also at home.
“One day, when I entered the class, I could see the girl sitting on the table. Even when she saw me, she did not have any fear or expression. She got out of it after I scolded her. If I give her homework, she won’t do it. They have no qualms about running, jumping and sleeping while the class is taking place. No matter how much I say to restrain the children, the children will not listen.” Said by a teacher of an upper primary school in Pathanamthitta. “If you give them good advice, they won’t be interested in it. Motivational classes and the like are useless to them. They are not interested in advice.” The teacher said sorry.
One day while taking class, someone whistled. When asked who it was, no one moved. The teacher said that the class will not continue without telling who it is. In the end, everyone had to be beaten. The teacher, who is convinced about the protection of rights, also said to write to the headmaster if he has a complaint. Four or five children wrote a complaint. The teacher read it all. In one of them it was written that he beat us by saying that you all use ganja. Later, the interventions of student organizations. The teacher is now in a state of total panic.
How terrible is the helplessness of a teacher in a higher secondary school in Kottayam!
It is because of these reasons that teachers are now staying away from everything. A situation where the teacher is guilty of questioning the bringing of a mobile phone to the class. That is what a school teacher in Attingal said. When the boy’s parent was brought to the boy’s parent, the parent said: “He has given me to call him when his tuition is over… Sir, don’t interfere.”
After that the teacher does not interfere in any of these matters. A teacher from Haripada in Alappuzha also has the same experience. The teacher told the child who came to class with torn jeans, half seriously and half jokingly, that if he wears this kind of dress again, I will tear the rest of it as well. But it must be said that the whole life of the teacher suddenly turned upside down. The parent makes terrible threats and bad luck over the phone at night. Since the next day, the teacher has been roaming around the police station, the Child Rights Commission and the Child Welfare Committee. The teacher is now mentally and physically broken.
Another teacher has to tell the story of a child who did not answer when asked a question in class and had to receive a big punishment for giving a small punishment with a cane. On the day of the incident, he got a call from the police station. The girl went straight to the police station without her family knowing. Later the parents came and saved the teacher.
The following is about a phenomenon that has been seen in schools in Kerala for some time now. The folk art form of Gang War or Thallumala has become a matter of pride for every school child. There are few schools where this is not staged. In many places, the public took to the streets and confronted the children.
Most teachers now come to school with a lot of anxiety and fear. They complete their teaching with great care every day. They are in psychological conflict because of the frustration of not being able to discipline their children when they do wrong like their own children and the fear of getting into trouble if they interfere in any way. In any case, the teachers are now in a situation where they can’t put it down after being bitter, and they can’t spit it out after being sweet.
Parental concerns
Children are every parent’s hope and dream. But every day there are experiences that blur all that. Whatever we tried to avoid from our children, we saw the sight of imposing it on children during the last covid. There was no need to give smartphone to children during covid. For them, education through TV was enough. For the rest of the time, it was enough for them to see their own country and its traditions. That was what was needed. If that was the case, there wouldn’t be so much trouble.
A parent in Kollam said: They don’t even know the meaning of the word obedience. If they blinked, they would have put away their mobile phone. “Learning at home is conditional. He puts forward the condition that he should give me his mobile phone after studying for half an hour. Mobile addiction has really affected him. One day he destroyed many devices at home because of this. Still most days there are fights and problems. I tried to straighten him out and now I am totally disappointed.” A housewife in Malappuram said very painfully. “She is not serious about her studies. She has no interest in washing her own clothes or washing her dishes. She is on the screen all the time. She is very angry no matter what we ask. It is not enough to not study, it is enough to not have bad character.” Such was the plight of the mother of a higher secondary student.
To the teachers
Just as you take care of our children, take care of other children’s daily activities. Remember, every child in front of us is the architect of tomorrow.
Understand each child’s life situation and attitude.
Always hold them with love
Spend at least five minutes every day with the children as one of them and discuss green life realities and extracurriculars.
Encourage the child’s small achievements and good deeds.
Be willing to treat all children equally.
Visit each child’s home at least once a year. This will increase the momentum of the warm relationship with the child.
Convince children caught in crime in the presence of their parent.
Salary should not be our only goal. Children always remember a good teacher.
To the parents
Inculcate a close and organized lifestyle at a very young age.
Assign them responsibilities according to their age. Raise awareness of crises and difficulties in life.
Don’t hesitate to ask about their details every day. Set aside some time for that.
Appreciate the good things they do and their achievements. It is best if it is done in front of others. Don’t insult in front of others even if you don’t appreciate it.
Visit the school at least once a month and inquire about their children’s learning. Many people are apathetic about this. Only when teachers, parents and children work together can the real benefits of education be reaped.
Most of the children after class 5 have a social media account. Parents check their children’s accounts like FB, Messenger, YouTube, Telegram, WhatsApp, Twitter frequently (you should also be aware that they are checking your account too)
Know your child’s friends.
Check their study room and bag from time to time.
Make them feel like they have parents at all times.
Parents and teachers are role models for children. So let us first be an example to them.
L. Sugathan
