PARENTS vs SCHOOLS – Who is asking for more?

“Wo meri neend, mera chain mujhe lauta do!!”

This song defines my state of mind right now! It is time for lil M’s formal school admission and believe me, It. Is. Such. A. Task. All I Eat- Pray- Sleep is school forms! 🙂

So after shortlisting about 5-6 schools between conventional and non-conventional way of teaching, all I am doing since last week is filling up forms. It feels as if I am giving an entrance exam. I mean, I don’t understand the concept of schools asking so many questions like values and goals for the child, giving hypothetical situations and seeking possibilities. For God’s sake, my child is applying to nursery class and not for a job interview. Some schools consider only the parents’ educational background for selection. My question here is that if some parents for whatsoever reason are not highly educated and want the best education for their child, where should they go? This is so unfair on the school’s part.

I believe that for admission, just a normal interaction with the child should suffice but these days, the parents are also grilled with 2-3 rounds of group discussions and interviews. Whom does the school want to educate, the child or the parents? I am aware of the fact that there are so many children and such limited seats resulting in tough competition, but the schools should understand the parents’ plight and shorten the procedure. I know that no matter how much I crib, every parent will have to undergo the same process because we would not want to compromise on our child’s education and will abide by every rule. But isn’t it too much that the schools are asking for?

So many schools ask so many questions and one of them which I didn’t really know what to answer was: “What do you hope your child learns in our school?” At first, thoughts of letters, numbers, colours, and such came to mind. But what did I really want? I thought about reading. I would be pleased if she came out of kindergarten reading, but I don’t think it would alarm me if she didn’t learn that skill for another year. I couldn’t find a way to really express in a short space what I hoped that she learns in a school.

Maybe she can learn something that I haven’t yet thought of. I hope that the teacher is flexible enough to give my daughter exposure to some things that she wouldn’t otherwise get at home. I bet she (or he) brings a unique background and experience into the classroom along with every other student there. I hope the teacher finds ways to allow each of them to share these unique experiences with each other.

I hope that my girl learns about conflict and compromise in school. I want her to have the freedom to make mistakes and learn from them.
I hope that my daughter learns that sometimes you must do what you’re told. I hope that she learns the difference between being made to do something you don’t like and being made to do something wrong. I want her to learn how to appropriately express her opinion about both. I want her to learn when to stand out from the crowd and when to fit in.

I hope that her teacher shows me evidence of expression, of competence, of compassion, and of curiosity. I want to see her creations, her positive influence on the climate of the classroom.

Above all else, when I send my child into any school, when I give up my control over her safety, security, and nurture for seven hours a day, when I entrust that which I love above everything in this world, this is what I hope she learns: “You are loved and cared for and appreciated for who you are and who you may become!”

So, tell me, what do you want your child to learn from a school?
And is it too much that I am asking for? 😉

I am Nitika Sipani, an interior designer by profession, full-time job as of now is that of a mother of a 2-year-old daughter (Myra) whom I dearly call ‘Little Miss M’! Of all the jobs till date, this one is the most challenging and every day is a new learning experience!! I enjoy writing and have developed it as a hobby, would like to become a freelance writer someday! You can connect with me on my blog: Juss lik dat.