Gautam, my younger son, is in Pre-kg. He is a little younger than most kids in his class as he is born in September. I remember that when Siddharth started preschool, in PreKg all they did was play games, play on the slides, learn some easy rhymes, and do some cursory learning of alphabet. They did no writing, whatsoever. This was in 2005. In LKG, they began teaching him how to hold a pencil and slowly graduated to standing lines, sleeping lines, letters of the alphabet, and some elementary numbers. In UKG, they did cursive writing and three-letter words and simple sentences.
Cut to 2009, Gautam already has so many writing books. Within one month of beginning school, he is onto Siddharth’s LKG syllabus. He has to write all the letters of the alphabet and has already completed numbers till 10. Luckily, his teacher understands that being younger he is not able to hold the pencil correctly as yet leave alone write. But, he is very receptive to what is being taught and is eager to learn (something which he does not demonstrate at home:)). We help him hold the pencil to scribble. He does enjoy coloring and loves learning shlokas too. Apparently, next year they will begin cursive writing! It is preposterous, and I am going to take it up with the Principal too.
My point is, do the kids have any less pressures of studies in the later years that at the age of 3 years too their enjoyment is taken away. Why should the school not evaluate and choose its curriculum in a scientific way? Should they be bending to the pressure of some hyperactive parents who are in a rush to make robots out of their children? Shouldn’t they be using their experience to formulate a course plan suited to the abilities of the child at that age, which makes a child more receptive to learning instead of fearing it? I remember the kindergarten of my days, when we had loads of storytelling, rhymes, coloring, drawing, playing in the sand and so many fun activities. The actual studying sessions were interspersed in between.
I am dismayed at how kids are losing out on the fun in their childhood. Gautam even gets homework! The HRD ministry needs to have a serious relook at the curriculum being taught in our schools. Just by initiating grading system or making the 10th exams optional for CBSE does not do any “real” reduction of pressure on the students. We really do need a comprehension-based, slow approach in teaching instead of cramming too many topics which escape a child’s comprehension. I hope more parents come out and raise their voices for these issues.
I agree with u. Our CBSE/State syllabus are so ‘heavy’ that it doesn’t leave time for anything else and is it really useful? I doubt. Compared to other countries our education is very ‘theory’ and when the actual application time comes, a person does not know how to apply what he has learnt.
Totally agree with u. 🙂 Playing hours should be more than studying hours in schools. In kindergarten, only playing no studying.
After reading this post I recalled my childhood days when I used to play in sand. Those were the best days of my life.
Sad..
@Bhagyashree One of the biggest flaws of our system is rote learning. To some extent, it is getting rectified these day. The emphasis has be on “understanding” the concept instead on “mugging” them.
@Chandrika I think in kindergarten, at least, this is very doable.
@DivSu Indeed!
I think it is a demand for teaching “accountability” and “measurement” – teachers are challenged to justify what makes a good teacher in clear and easy to understand criteria they have been hammered with those type of questions and the basic responce is “there is no way” –
With NO clear cut criteria provided (being in california where teachers are fairly well paid) summers off, high job security, decent benefits compared to the average – they are getting force fed criteria by states that provide the money is my guess.
Teachers had the chance to self govern they did not offer enough the economy gets challenged and they get exposed and presured. People do not feel sorry for people that get summers off if they get pressured.
Of course what I said is not the truth it is just my viewpoint please take it only as that and NOTHING more.
Best regards,
Tom Bailey
@Tom Your view is insightful. Unfortunately in India, teachers are not really that well paid especially at school levels. That is at the crux of the problem, and sometimes we have to make do with less trained, not so skilled folks. That said, my son’s pre-kg teacher is really very good with young kids, and she has been very helpful and amazing with Gautam too.I have a problem with the way schools are deciding curricula in an ad hoc manner.