REMEMBERING THE TEACHER AND STUDENT

STUDENTS WELFARE ASSOCIATIONS OF PARENTS [SWAP], CBE

Is to conduct

CANDLE LIGHT VIGIL ON 3.3.12 AT GANDHIPURAM

In Memory of two souls who lost their lives to remind us of one truth!

                                                               

Teacher Uma Maheswari                                                 Student Anooj

          The murder of Teacher Smt. Uma Maheswari in the class room at Chennai, by a student and the suicide of Master Anooj in the school campus at Udumalpet, alleging torture by his Master, have shocked us all.  Incidents of violence in the school premises are on the rise.  Various reasons have been given for this sorry state of affairs.    Schools which otherwise claim the success of children, put the blame on ‘bad Parenting’ when something like this takes place.  Otherwise, the over worked teachers could easily be targeted.  One truth underlined by both the above tragedies is that non-availability of proper interaction between the Parents and Teachers in the Schools in the form of proper, democratic, PTA, is taking its toll on both the Teachers and the Students. Eventually the society pays the price.  Parents will any way suffer.

In memory of the slain teacher and the student who succumbed,

and to highlight the growing disturbances in School campuses, we are to conduct a

Candle light vigil

on 3.3.2012 (Saturday) at 6 p.m

before Hotel Tamil Nadu, Gandhipuram.

KINDLY ATTEND WITH FAMILY 

[Every one attending the programme are requested to bring along a candle stick and a match box and also a small cardboard cut to be inserted into the candlestick so that the melting wax will not harm the hand.]

School Managements memorandum to District Collector and Commissioner of Police, Coimbatore

It is seen from press reports (Times of India dated 15.2.2012 and Dina Thanthi dated 16.2.2012) that the Federation of Private School Managements have submitted a memorandum to the District Collector and Commissioner of Police on 14.2.2012, i.e., the very next day of our memorandum.

Firstly, it is a good sign that our memorandum has hit at a right spot.  Otherwise there would not be such a quick and strong reaction – reports say that 100 school managements have signed it.  Look at it – within a day so many schools have joined and submitted a memorandum.  By this they have exposed the strength which has been dictating the course of fee fixation.  And we all know the money power at their command – it is after all our own money!

Secondly, their vituperation tells it all.  They say that ‘anti social elements’ are leading this movement.  The press carried photographs of the parents who had gone to give memorandum.  If these parents who have been sending children and giving fees to these institutions are said to be anti social, then these institutions perhaps are the perpetrators of this ‘anti-socialism’.

Thirdly, they accuse some parents of going from school to school and ask parents not to pay fees.  We feel like laughing at this statement.  Which parent will abstain from paying the fees of his ward just because someone else asked them not to do so? More so if this 'someone else' is from some other school?  Then the serious portion of this – first of all why did these managements fail to discuss their fees issue with their own students’ parents and settle it within their campus?  If the issue comes to the streets, any right thinking citizen is at liberty to support the cause.  When the managements can form a federation, how is it that they find fault with the Parents of different schools coming together?

Fourth is a very serious charge.  That the parent representatives have caused some difficulties to students and ‘some girl students have reported such instances to them’ - On this ground they want police protection.  Not only have these people been using our children as human shields against us, but now they want them to become our accusers and prosecutors too. 

In this episode, what is most worrying is not the low levels to which they have stooped - but the shuddering thought that if they can afford to make such naughty and false allegations in broad day light in public domain, what all they will dare to do inside the closed premises of their institutions, with small and innocent children at their mercy?

Physicians! heal yourselves.

We are surprised over the recent statement on behalf of the Private School teachers community that Corporal Punishment should be re-introduced.  This has been claimed as a measure of self defence by the teachers in the light of the stabbing incident of last week.  The reason for the demand they say is that due to withdrawal of corporal punishment, children have lost respect to the teachers and therefore are daring to indulge in such activities.

Let us be fair to these representatives of teachers  and think that in this moment of grief, their good sense had withdrawn from them.

Let us hope that they understand that corporal punishment only teaches violence to children and justifies it.

Let us hope that the teaching community will realise that what the students respect is only love and knowledge.

Let us hope that the teaching community will admit that even after ban on corporal punishments, still there are cases in schools where the teachers do not adher to the ban and terrorise the students. Every case does not get reported or complained against only due to fear on the part of the student and parent that it should not worsen.

Most importantly, let us hope that they understand the statement of Kural that a tongue lash is harsher than a burn injury since the tongue lash will not heal while the burn may.  Particularly adolescent children get affected by even a look or word - this is more so in the case of girl children.  

Proper interaction between parents and Teachers, proper handling of children psychologically without hurting them but at the same time making them realise that any comments or advices are only for their well being, re-introduction of moral value education, proper facilities for physical training and games atleast two hours in a week to enable them to ventilate mind and rejuvenate body, etc would be some solutions to bring down a violent atmosphere in the school campuses.  Not increasing it by teacher sponsored violence.

Every school should have an annual refresher course for the teaching staff to enable them to handle the children of the coming generations in a rational, sympathetic and decent way.

These are not in any way to substitute the necessity for the Parents to have a close, loving and watchful attitude towards their children.

While praying for the slain teacher, let us hope that we all learn from this tragedy also.

Memorandum submitted to the CM

13.02.2012

MEMORANDUM SUBMITTED

TO DR. J. JAYALALITHA

THE HON’BLE CHIEF MINISTER OF TAMIL NADU

(Submitted through the District Collector, Coimbatore)

Respected and Hon’ble Madam,

       We seek your kind and urgent intervention in the matter of refusal/resistance of Private schools to adhere to Government laws in respect of school fees, syllabus and campus requirements.

        Parents Associations of a number of schools have made representations to your good self as well as to various other authorities in the State seeking redressal over the above issues.  Some of the latest memorandums/representations are enclosed for ready reference.

      The core issues in these memorandums are sought to be submitted before the Government through this memorandum for positive directions to the concerned.

Fee related issues:

      It was fondly hoped that after enactment of the Private School Fees determination Act by the Legislative Assembly in 2009, there would be a respite in respect of heavy fees demanded by the Private Schools. 

       However, the proceedings before the committee leading to and subsequent to the exit of Justice Govindarajan, have been shrouded in mystery. The announcement of Justice Ravirajapandian before the media that he had recommended a hike of 15 to 30% in his decision in appeal while actually recommending upto 300% hike in respect of a select few schools and his demitting office on the very day of tabling his report, have created doubts regarding the yardstick used by the Committee in the appellate proceedings.

    The appeals of the parents and their complaints regarding excess fees collection by the schools are also pending before the committee.

                  In this situation, several schools have started pressurizing the parents to part with fees in excess of the one recommended by the Committee for the said schools.  Some of the methods are as follows:

(i)               without proper receipt in the name of school as reported by Alvernia matriculation School Parents (or)

(ii)              In the name of excess Book fees or Registration fees not approved by law as reported by the parents of SBOA, Coimbatore (or)

(iii)            In the name of Smart Class or some other activities without the consent of the Parents Associations, as reported by the Parents of Chinmaya Vidhyalayas of R.S.Puram and Vadavalli, Gopal Naidu School, Chandra School, Lisuex School, etc.

To force the parents to pay the excess fees, children are discriminated against in various methods.  Some schools are threatening children that they will not be permitted to get the hall tickets for Public Exams if the fees as demanded by the schools are not paid.

          These tactics of the school managements are vitiating the campus atmosphere in the schools.  Children who are of a fragile age group and the teachers who are at the mercy of the school managements and are therefore forced to carry out the orders of the management to intimidate students, suffer mental torture.

Further, in spite of the Order of the Hon’ble High Court of Madras, most of the schools in the city which had collected higher fees to that of the determined fees during 2010-11 are yet to refund the same or adjust the same in the current year’s fees.  This issue, as well as the School’s failure to adher to a written agreement signed in the presence of District/Police/Education department officials have been elaborated in the memorandum by SBOA Parents.

Academic issues:

Many schools are conducting their own syllabus, in spite of the introduction of the Uniform Syllabus, by either having their own books or by forcing upon the children to adopt additional books to the ones prescribed.  This adds to the pressure of learning on the children.  Instances have been reported where even the question papers of certain schools had contained blatant politics, thus evidencing complete lack of control over the private schools by Government authorities.

Infrastructural issues:

          Most of the schools are wanting in infrastructural requirements, in spite of stipulations in the Recognition letter issued to each.  Classes upto 3^rd standard are not maintained in the ground floor.  There is inadequacy of toilet facilities.  Drinking water provisions are not made available to the required extent.  Play ground facilities are found wanting.

          The physical and psychological health of students are dependent upon these basic requirements and the Government has been consistently issuing instructions on the said issue.  It was heartening to note that even in the last Conference of the Chief Minister for District Collectors and Commissioners of Police, the Hon’ble Chief Minister had instructed the administration to ensure the safety and health of students all over the state.

     But far from this, even the campus atmosphere in many of the private schools is deteriorating due to non-availability of free access into the premises for Government officials and parents and due to non availability of democratic PTA.  In most of the cases there is not even a ‘management appointed’ PTA.

The communication gap between the parents and teachers has been proving to be detrimental to the health of the children.  Repeated emphasis of fulfillment of this basic requirement is stone walled with stiff resistance on grounds that democratic methods will not serve the institution well.   When universal adult franchise has been able to administer even a large and complex country like ours, schools cannot shy away from allowing a platform for the teachers and parents to collectively give their opinions and to understand issues in a proper perspective.

The schools run by Trusts and enjoying benefits from the Government should not be stone walling participation by Parents and Teachers in the running of the institution.

Since the children are the very essence of life for the parents, when they are being threatened and subjected to ill-treatment at Schools, and there is no avenue in the school to get the grievance redressed, the Parents have no other alternative but to seek the intervention of the Government.

Hence, we humbly plead that to put an end to the above said pressing problems, the following measures may kindly be ordered immediately:

i)                 That all schools be instructed to collect only the fees prescribed by the Fee Determination Committee and wherever disputes have been registered by Parents, to await the decision of the Committee;

ii)               That the Committee to decide on the appeals and complaints on a priority basis and after hearing both parties issue orders at the earliest;

iii)              That the Fees Determination Committee release the yardstick adopted in deciding appeals wherever the fees was enhanced beyond 30% from that of the recommendation at the first/initial stage;

iv)              Since the Matriculation Board is seen to be far ill-equipped to preside over so many private schools (in Coimbatore district alone there are more than 350 private schools) the Board for matriculation be disbanded and administration of these schools brought under a replenished Board meant for all  schools in the state;

v)                That Recognition of Rules of Schools be subjected to mandatory formation of PTAs in each school in a democratic manner in the presence of Education Department authorities;

vi)              All the Government authorities concerned may be instructed to look into on an emergency basis, infrastructure-deficiencies of schools and non-adherence to Government laws/instructions and regarding the safety and hygiene of children in the campuses and also to verify the accounts and records of each school to ensure that they have not collected fees in excess of the stipulation by the Committee; and

vii)            That either the District Collectors should order an open RDO enquiry on grounds of extortion and child abuse against the Correspondent of every school where demand for excess fees is reported (or) alternatively to have a special cell in Police headquarters under the direct charge of the Commissioner of Police for the above said cases, as in the case of land grabbing cases because, these cases involving children is equally, if not more, notorious.

Further, as legislative measures, the following suggestions are also humbly placed before the Government for its consideration in the interest of long term benefit of the student community of the state:

·        In the long run, in the light of the Constitutional Fundamental Right to free and compulsory education to all children from the age of 6 to 14, it is expected that all private schools will have to be taken over by the State.  However, as of now, those schools which refuse to adher to Government laws and regulations could at least be  considered to be taken over by the state.

·        Introduction of ‘English Medium’ of instructions in Government schools and starting of LKG and UKG in Government schools to make switching over possible from private to Government schools.

·        Adoption of three-language formula in all schools to enable national integration from the point of schooling

When the issue of hefty fee hike had caught fire at Coimbatore in the summer of 2009, the Government authorities, though were lacking in provisions of law to intervene, appeared at least to be sympathetic towards the plight of the parents.  But now, after a law has been enacted (with the active support of all parties in the Legislative Assembly) and upheld by the highest Court of the land, when the situation has re-emerged, it is strange that Government officials at various levels feign helplessness to intervene.

On the other hand, it is reported that most of the managements who are demanding higher fees than determined, are reported to be stating that no protests can affect them because ‘they have managed those who matter’.  If this rot is left unchecked and unchallenged at the root, the society is bound to suffer.  Good citizens cannot be expected to emerge out of a corrupt system.

We therefore humbly pray to your good self, to kindly intervene in the matter and issue urgent necessary instructions to the concerned.

Yours truly,

         (R.Manimohan)                                                 (V. Deivendran)

          Chairman, SWAP                                             Convenor, SWAP

 Encl: Memorandums of Parents Associations of schools in Coimbatore.

A GREAT TRAGEDY

The reported murder of a teacher by a class IX student at a private school in Chennai today is a great shock and tragedy.

It is a tragedy for both families at once – that of the slain teacher as well as that of the student.  Both are victims – of a system.

Such instances are not new in the web.  In our own lore (purana), there is a reported instance of a student thinking of killing his master.  But on realizing how deeply his master really loved him, the student kills himself by getting into a pit, filled with husk up to his neck and setting fire to it – the slowest death - the penalty he learnt from his own master as ‘the punishment prescribed for a pupil who thinks of killing his guru’.

Whether the student of today’s tragedy has heard of this story or not, his life could be as miserable as that of the boy in the ‘purana’.  That is why it is a tragedy for the victim as well as the assassin and both their families.

Whether a student reacts violently or succumbs into a psychological abyss, due to a variety of pressures related to schooling or otherwise, it is the parents who ultimately suffer – for the child is their life and future for whose sake they stake every thing.

It is the teaching community which is at the cutting edge.  To manage even one teenager is very difficult.  Then to handle several ones, of different hues, of both sexes, consisting of introverts, extroverts and many more varieties, is an immensely daunting job.  And if in this difficult task the atmosphere is not amiable, it could become volatile. 

But unfortunately, the interaction between the different stake holders has been increasingly reduced. The fragile relationship between the student – teacher – parent has been violently shattered by education at the hands of an increasingly mad mechanical and mercantile machinery.

The very elementary requirement of having a democratic PTA has been negated by the educational institutions.  They feel that the parents are there only to pay and take command from the school management.  When the position of the parents are themselves undermined, the position of a student could very well be imagined.  Similarly when the position of a parent who is paying the fees required for running of an institution is not secure and sacred, the position of a salary earning staff could well be fathomed.  In such a scenario atmosphere gets vitiated invariably.  And let us remember, every crime is provoked by the atmosphere.  Only the victim became more susceptible to the provocation.

This episode once again underlines the urgent necessity for the state to step in and take over all educational institutions at least up to the 12^th standard and also have proper control over all institutions handling the volatile youth.

Let us pray that such tragedies do not recur.

The Heat is increasing

Various schools are adopting different methods to force the parents of children studying in their schools to pay the fees - not as determined by the Committee as per statute, but as the Schools themselves determine in an arbitrary manner.  These fees over and above the committee's recommendation is collected with receipt or without receipt.  It is collected in different names. They invent all sorts of things out of syllabus.  Of course, invariably these are done arbitrarily.  No sanction or approval of any Parent body.  To get this arbitrarily fixed extra fees from the parents, they employ all sorts of methods.

One method common is involving the teaching staff.  Through these teachers only they can persuade, intimidate, cajole, coax, coerce and force the parents into paying.  For that again, to reach out to the parents, they have to invariably use the Children.  It is these children who are put to strain in these methods of intimidation.  Mental and physical abuse of the right of the children is growing in the school campuses.  And the administration perpetually seeks concrete evidence for these reported abuses.

Parent bodies have been appealing to various authorities.  Now, it has been decided that all the Parent Associations in Coimbatore will try to meet the District Collector, Coimbatore on the Grievance Redressal day on 13.2.12 (Monday) and petition the Government for its urgent intervention.  Details of the memorandum will be published here after it is handed over.

New Beginings

More and more new Associations are being formed by Parents of various Schools in Coimbatore.

Each school is adopting its own method to deviate from the Government determined fees.

If such blatant violations are permitted, the very process of determining fees by the Government as per an Act of the Legislature will be  rendered useless.

Therefore this Association is taking up all efforts to organise all the parents in the City to get the issue resolved by bringing the matter to the notice of the Chief Minister.

Please await a call at short notice and also inform all Parents in the city.