Money, money, money

Third in the series

As parents, the common and really boring question we face nowadays is this: "What are you intending to do with money saved by choosing government school when both of you earn sufficient enough?" 😀

Doesn't a family have other lovely things to do in addition to educational expenses of children? 😕 Of course, we do! such as spending on our passion, travel, fun, entertainment and share!😎

To this many respond: "OMG, you guys underestimate the need for quality education and seek attention by doing something that is dangerous to your child."😈

Well, thanks! 👍

The schools around, be it matriculation, CBSE, ICSE or any of that kind, charge somewhere between Rs. 25000/- to Rs. 1,00,000/- for a kindergarten child. Some play schools charge Rs.10,000/- per month for a child of even less than 2 years of age. I may be unaware of many such atrocities as I prefer not to know them! 😅

                                          Pic Source: https://i.imgur.com/UUZ8jTz.jpg

In such circumstances, when we are sure that our child gets good education for free of cost, why would we look for places that charge us unnecessarily huge!!! Oh, sorry, not for free of cost as we are taxpayers who promptly pay our education cess! 🙋 And the travel expense to commute to the school is largely cut as neighbourhood schooling is another key 😉

On the other side, there is always scope to be a proud working partner of our child's school!! 😇 For example, the school our child is in was in need of a revamp with a little fund left of their own. As affordable parents (as commented by many) we were able to share the cost to an extent possible. Again there are questions of this sort: "Why do you guys get involved in these activities? Beware, the school will try to misuse your nature and you will end up spending your hard earned income for something that has to be naturally served by the government themselves." 😱 See, most of them will not let you do what you wish to! Hypocrisy!! 😏 Ignore such negativity 😍

Another visible/invisible effect is that you are spending for other (underprivileged) children as well by contributing to the school on the whole.💗 It certainly gives a sense of satisfaction as it is a way of paying back to the society that has given all that we are today!! ✌ In other words, instead of spending large portion of one's income on one child, one can spend the same amount on many children (one school). 👭👬

Smart and sustainable investment, isn't it?💚

to be continued...

Cheers 😊

Teachers and government schools!!!

SECOND IN THE SERIES

Where do we find better teachers, government schools or private ones?

Not a minute of wavering, the whole bunch of better to best teachers are in government schools :-) 

Why is it so? Ask private school teachers about their ambition or future plans. Their answer would be this: "to get into government service."

In such a case, is it not true that teachers who work in government schools go through government conducted examinations, fulfill eligibility conditions and thus pass through the test to get into service?

In other words, those who work in private schools are yet to clear the examination and are waiting for an opportunity to get the gates opened. (There are exceptions such as those working in some international schools in some metropolitan. I restrict to majority as my family belongs to it!)

There can also be an argument that passing a test cannot determine a teacher's ability to influence a child in all positive ways. Agreed! But then why do they (even best of best passionate teachers/academicians who can bring a change wherever they are) work so hard to crack exams and get there???!!! The possible answers could be better income and job security; and for some to genuinely work for weaker sections (whose choice is government run schools). 

Yeessss!!!! There it ends.. Teachers in government schools possess sufficient knowledge on the subject with good income and job security unlike private school teachers. The former lot are better off than their private counterparts!!!! 

So the final question! Who can deliver more and better? To us, it is crystal clear, GOVERNMENT SCHOOL TEACHERS! There are certainly many gaps to be filled in their delivery pattern. As parents, we strongly feel that those gaps can be filled by parents the most, by getting associated with them, raising questions, doubts and demanding quality. These would naturally come to us if our children are enrolled in government schools and it would eventually become our right to exercise. Yes, it is our right as they are paid by us, our taxes!! They are more accountable to us, to the society, than the private school teachers.

There are some who already give their life to their work. Rest, let us get them shine at their BEST!! Its our duty too :-) 

                                          PC: google images
...to be continued 

Oh sorry, not us!

Experience 1:

            A jouful summer holiday for school children. A fine evening on a weekend. The park had kids from around. We, daughter, husband and I, were regular to the park. As usual, fun time playing.

            A group of women, clad in saree, holding papers, pen and pad, belonging to similar age group was approaching us. We expected them to be some survey investigators working for government (like census and stuff). They approached us, the only parents in the park. We were handed over a pamphlet and were enquired for the age of our daughter. We assumed that the group was from government medical department and said ‘two’ while glancing at the pamphlet.

            It was an advertisement for a local matriculation school and they were teachers working there. The task given to them was to catch hold of customers for the following fresh academic year.

Experience 2:

            Another evening after office hours. Returned home. Just parked vehicle. Two darlings (one in class IV and the other in class I) from neighbourhood came running to us with a drawing book. It was something usual as children would always give us surprises with their colouring activities. Naturally expected that.

            But they had nothing to show to us; instead had something to ask. The girl said “our teacher has given us an admission slip and wanted us to find if there are kids in the neighbourhood and bring them to our school on Vijayadasami as the day is meant for new admissions. Aunty will you admit paapaa (child) in our school?” This is from a popular CBSE, public school in our district that has branches.

Our take on this!

            In both instances, our replies were clear and straight. But it haunts heavily to find school management stoop so low and use the most important stakeholders, children and teachers (sometimes parents too) to pull kids to their schools. It is common to find schools advertise via various media. But this, when given a deep thought, is disgusting! To me it implies the following and many more:

•    Private schools are so hungry to increase revenue and compete with other schools in terms of students’ strength 

•   Private schools adopt every possible way to pull children (oorla ithuku paer pulla pudikrathu)

•     The role of teachers in private is so diluted in private to an extent where they need to go door to door in search of prospective students (we should not get carried away with the same thing being done by government school teachers in villages and towns. That is for an entirely different purpose.)

•   Children from private schools are also taught to showcase their school and bring in their neighbours resulting in a battle between children on whose school is superior

•      Private schools ultimately forget the fact that their charm and values must effortlessly attract parents

    Thankfully, fortunately, luckily (:-P), we are very clear about what we look for. Therefore, there is NOTHING that persuades us to get attracted to private institutions. Otherwise we would end up being just another family getting trapped once for ever.

Parents, Beware! 

                                             Pic courtesy: Google Images