Mandatory test - or face the doom!!

If you have guessed that the topic pertains to Covid 19 (20,21..?) test - you're up to date with current happenings and therefore you're practical. Or in case, if you have had a thought of school test flashing on your mind - thank god, you're sensible. Yes, I would like to write about the most important decision-making process going on now regarding how to conduct monthly or mid-term tests.

One of my friends asked why I always try to attack/ point out/ critic/ finicky/ disparaging (you can choose your word) of educational methods and hyper-critic of school tests and exams. I counter-argued whether he liked tests, he had to accept 'no' as the answer.

What is the reason for me to repeat this criticism: Is it because I have a child and that child has to undergo tests and exams?

No. It is because (I have to emphasize here), we, the adults have more power than those little children. Our decisions can be thrust on those little souls. They can't fight back, they can't resist, they can't even express their pain in a way that we can understand. They are weak, fragile, and whatever we decide, they must abide, follow, change themselves to take our decisions as the only objective of their lives!!

What can be more inhumane than this? What rights do we have to destroy their childhood? I speak for the weak. Yes, sometimes (or always) I may sound idiotic. But please spend some time to think about this.

Coming to the topic, I inferred from the news that schools are planning to conduct a monthly test or mid-term test in whatever way possible because the high command wants them to do so. Classes are conducted online. How will the tests be conducted? More importantly, are the tests required at this point in time? 

Ok. Let them conduct. It is an open secret that answers will be from parents and not children. So the test will be evaluating parent's ability to pass 2nd or 3rd standard. And if your child fails, remember, that it is you who failed.

In your mind will raise a question: Isn't education important for my child? Of course, education (or a better word, learning) is very important for our children but at what cost?

We have already successfully removed an important childhood privilege: Playgrounds. Children should run around, scream, fall, raise up, play any game, be a team member, learn winning/losing is part of life. Alas, they can never do that. They don't have that option at all. Playgrounds have vanished just in front of our eyes. We were incapable of doing anything. No one raised a question. We were chasing for money that would be needed for the future (medical expenses?). Let's keep this in our mind: Our children are not going to forgive us because we betrayed them. They may not be aware now but as they grow they will come to know what a barbaric blunder the parents did.

Am I over exaggerating? You can check. Notice below 15years old children and try to see how many of them are obese. Do this experiment in different places. You will be surprised. We are growing, maybe, the largest population of obese next generation and most number of diabetic patients. I think we must conduct a test or exam for adults to open their eyes.

But of course, later we can instruct them to walk, like old people. I can say to my child, ''Ýes, I played what Dhoni is playing now, but in your future, you can go walking like your grandpa. Don't forget to thank me (us) for changing grounds into walking tracks. Oh yeah, we were special and sorry not you!!

So my first point is, in this pandemic time children are pushed into cave-like homes. They don't get any physical activity. Their bone and muscle structure badly needs exercise. And they are deprived of it. Don't try to overburden them by tests or exams, at least up to the 8th standard. 

Secondly, the psychological impact: Even the adults who were very happy to work from home are slowly getting that gripping sensation of not having a 5 minutes coffee break time with colleagues. I mean, this is post-graduated (educated), humans, stamped with a perfect human seal, but now they're the same who want to go out of their compound wall, breathe fresh air, say hi to a neighbor, take a walk up to the end of the street. Why is he not happy staying inside the home? Strange!! 

Not exactly. From the times of caves to current villas (very near to Chennai) humans lived as groups. We haven't changed. And it looks impossible for us to change our primal characteristics.

Now, let's go back to our children. Is it possible for you to see/feel from their perspective of staying indoor 24 hours? They don't see their friends, they don't go out, they don't play and they are imprisoned for the reason that they can't fully understand. Keep in mind, their childhood is currently filled with fear and anxiety. It is inexplicable. Your tests and exams are to benefit their future. But how can they feel the future now? Do you feel it?

Therefore I think we should forget tests now for our children and work more towards improving their physical and emotional strength. 

Can I provide solutions? My ideas can be radical, stupid, or laughable. But my mind certainly feels that my suggestions, whether beneficial or not, they will not harm the children.

1. Remove exam thoughts in children's minds, up to a certain age, until this pandemic is over or medicine is found. 

2. Use the same online classes to delight children. After classes, spend a little extra time to tell stories, show some clippings of animals, sports or even funny videos. A mere 10 minutes should suffice. Children will be happy. 

Make them happy. This is not only a tough time for adults, but this is also a painful moment for children. They will obviously be scared than you or me. The deaths, counts, etc will impact them. Their minds are like sponges. It absorbs whatever happens around them. And it may cause damage, and we may never notice it at all. 

Don't worry about learning. A physically and mentally healthy child will quickly learn. Let's not underestimate the capability of children. 

Therefore it is up to us to decide whether to raise the next generation of humans or just a set of mammals.

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Thanks,

R.Bharathram

10/08/2020