I read this article in the Open Page of "The Hindu" dated 25.07.10.. It was really good. It was written by Pallavi Praveen. I just thought I should share it with you guys... Do read it!
Can't they teach them lessons on how to deal with life's problems?
Last weekend, after completing my household chores, I sat in front of the tv hoping to rest my aching feet when all of a sudden there was a power failure and I was engulfed in darkness. To beat the sweltering heat, I groped my way to the verandah only to realise that all the neighbouring houses were brightly lit. Uncertain as to what to do next, I decided to have a look at the fuse box. Armed with a torch I proceeded as planned.
I looked baffled at the brown fuse board almost as if it were an object from outer space. Completely clueless as to what to do, I was left with no option but to go in search of an electrician and indeed finding one on a Sunday is a Herculean task indeed. Luckily I did find one willing to come to my rescue. Within minutes he figured out the problem and did the repair work. He explained that the fuse wire had burnt which he had replaced. After thanking him and, of course, paying him twice as much — remember it was a Sunday — I returned to my seat in front of the idiot box, but a thought kept gnawing me. I wondered why they did not teach me something as simple yet essential as repairing a fuse back in school.
Why was I burdened with sine theta, cosine theta, lengthy equations and multitudes of theorems? Apart from scoring the desired marks in the examinations I have never found the information of any help in my day-to-day living. Before all the mathematics teachers start waging a war against me, let me clarify that I don't harbour a personal grudge against Mr. Pythagoras. But I do sincerely wish that learning is modified in schools with an emphasis on more practically useful syllabus that makes one more competent to tackle day-to-day problems.
Teach Trigonometry if it is a must, but why not stress more on banking, various saving options, and investment schemes. It would be more fruitful to teach how tax returns are filed and EMIs are calculated. Why not teach what to do and what not at the site of a traffic accident, how to give basic life support in a medical emergency? And I don't mean the bookish, mugged-up answer to this, I am talking about the simple practical skills and training that can be imparted and mastered in order to be actually implemented when a crisis strikes.
Why not teach and make kids practise healthy lifestyles, daily exercises and relaxation techniques. I think this knowledge is far more necessary than cramming botanical and zoological names of the entire plant and animal kingdom. Imparting knowledge which has practical relevance is more meaningful in simplifying life. Indeed, someone particularly interested in a certain subject could always pursue it in great details but why should complicated heaps of irrelevant information tax all the young minds? Let them learn the simple practical lessons which will equip them to tackle the real world efficiently. Let the knowledge that's imparted make their lives easier and learning be an enriching experience in the true sense.
