Unfortunate, but many schools flouting norm in the name of discipline

It is unfortunate that I read this morning in the newspapers of a young child fall prey to some undisciplined, unruly, uncultured and inhuman hands at a local education shop (school) and untimely cut short life. At the outset, everyone should pray for the departed soul to rest in peace and courage bestowed to the affected family.

While such incidences of child abuse are not new, these definitely raise many questions on the standards of education, schools and those teaching or managing them. It also hurts one to read of such incidences especially involving children out of empathy.

The very question that may come to the mind of every right thinking person is, who has given them the permission or the authority being barbaric with children? Parents leave their children in boarding/day schools bearing fancy names and tall claims in the hope of mere good education and not leave them for torture. The ones who resort to such acts with innocent and small children are none other than devils in human form. Unfortunate but true!

In a bid to portray their education shops many establishments throughout the country are flouting all rules, regulations and overlooking human side to put children to hard tasks in the name of “Discipline”. These hard tasks often go questioned by everyone being branded as “inculcating discipline” but often these come down heavily on a physically weak child who is not strong enough to take on the tedious tasks and pressure imposed beyond a degree.

When ragging in colleges is illegal and punishable, why such acts of child abuse go scot-free?

We all have read so many incidences happening all round the country where children fall prey to rigorous drills or punishments imposed by schools and/or incapable frustrated teachers/school authorities. God forbid but these masters imposing such unruly discipline should get the taste of their medicine with their near and dear ones face the same fate. It will be then they would realize the pain of such acts.

In the present education system, there is a dire need today to inculcate a sense of discipline more among the elders more than the children. The people directly related to education are first made to understand the correct meaning of discipline before they imbibe it in children. It is essential for educationists to understand child psychology and not try to thrust their silly rule in the name of education, discipline or self-pride as a tough task master/mistress.

Needless to say there be norms set for all schools, at least for up to class 12, on standards of physical drills imposed on children. Physical Training Instructors be made personally liable along with the school authorities/management for any mis-happening with a child due to their negligence or over ambition. It is only then can such incidences be curbed if not fully finished.

The government on the other hand should come down heavily on such incidences and take education shops and concerned people related to such misbehavior and abuse with children to task and instead teach the culprits the hard way to discipline the legal way.

It would be very just, if erring education establishments be black-listed and their license be confiscated by the education department so long the law does not settle case. Also, education shops that resort to low education standards be awarded “Black Star” which be mandatory for the school to publicly display on their school prospectus, websites and most importantly at the school gate and in the principal office. Each black star labeled with the cause of its award to a school. This will caution the innocent parents and over ambitious parents who fancy sending their children to boarding/day schools bearing fancy names and tall claims enquire the antecedents of a school and the reason behind the black star, thus become aware of the facts and take right decision.

Parents on the other hand should also be realistic and stop rate race behavior when it comes to education of their children. Often they get charmed seeing big infrastructure, fancy names of schools and fool themselves willingly. Till parents are aware, there is no stopping of them getting fooled and such incidences of abuse ending.

Besides many important tasks at hand this morning the aforesaid issue compelled me to write this piece as my concern towards my country, town and children's future. It is time the localities also raise their voice against such barbarism and inhuman acts and specially those that relate to schools and education to teach a lesson to the offenders as the Doon Valley has been famous for its quality education over the years. This image of the Doon cannot be tarnished by few black sheep who have slyly slithered in the education field to make a fortune by fooling innocent parents. Such people and establishments need be weeded out least a noble profession like education will go to dogs and reputation of the Doon as an education hub go down the drain.