The government in my state recently announced the opening up of schools from class 6th onwards. I didn’t know what to feel. There was relief in my mind on one hand and yet on another, there was consternation because the COVID cases are still coming and because of the predicted Third Wave. With the kids living in house 24/7 and requiring constant attention, I think it was chipping away slowly not only at parents’ nerves but also kids’ social skills. Many households with both parents working were in a quandary as the offices more or less had opened but the children had to be left behind with their laptops or mobiles for online classes. So the kids have to be left behind glued to their electronic devices hoping that they are studying. Many a time, from my various intelligence sources ( primarily my little daughter, Missy), I would come to know that Junior would attend to his online classes in his full cricket attire, pitching his skills against imaginary Bumrahs, Shane Bonds and Mitchell Starks, blasting them away and winning the day for his team all the while teacher was sincerely explaining Integers. At other times he would be raining Free Fire on other players/ villains on another window while the teacher explained the nuances of poetry. What used to happen after we came to know these, I leave upon your imagination. We too used to run to games parlors to play Contra, Mario, etc is another matter altogether ( https://amzn.to/3oJDQU5 https://amzn.to/2Z6g1x2). This is totally unacceptable. Add to it there’s a growing pressure to enroll kids into some online tutorials so that they are almost guaranteed a place in IITs or AIIMS ( that is if you start from 5th or 6th, otherwise you”ll miss the boat as I am constantly being reminded by one or another caller on behalf of online tutorial package providers). I am afraid of my son’s future as he outrightly rejected my proposal to enroll him in one such course and thus sitting 2-3 hours more in front of a screen.
However coming back to our topic, I was worried that how would the kids react to the news regarding the opening of the schools. To my surprise, it was totally opposite to what I had anticipated. Yay! Junior jumped with joy allaying some of my fears. See as I said in my previous blog (https://mundanemiddleclass.in/2021/11/15/a-montana-2018/ ) to the effect that shackling freedom in chains makes us more aware of things we can’t do, he forgot about virtual reality life and was happy he was going to meet all his friends. He did wheedle us to buy his favorite Avenger’s bag (https://amzn.to/3x4A4Zb https://amzn.to/3HuQQWa https://amzn.to/3x10Txi ) and new shoes (https://amzn.to/30ziPDb ), something about the motivation for getting up early.
As for Missy who is in kindergarten (UKG to be exact), she is furious with the government for not opening up her school. She hates missing out on buying her favorite Frozen labeled bags ( https://amzn.to/3xbqhRi https://amzn.to/3HFs5qj ) and new dresses. I think she”ll be missing her brother who helped her change the TV channels, downloaded mobile games for her, gave her piggyback rides, and occasionally read to her from her starter reading sets ( https://amzn.to/30yJXlL https://amzn.to/3cJQOMd ). I suspect that much of this was done because of mischievous blackmailing and being partners in crime and all that. There is no doubt in my mind that there is no limit to learning from online resources. But human interactions are a very important part of our overall growth and the value of personal interactions and teaching can’t be underscored enough. Most of us working-class people are cautiously optimistic at opening up schools and some do show their emotions of joy as shared by a recent story from The Indian Express ( https://indianexpress.com/article/trending/viral-videos-trending/delhi-family-hires-band-to-celebrate-school-reopening-video-viral-7621329/ ). I too am thinking of hiring a Dholi ( a traditional Indian drummer in Punjab and some adjoining states) when my daughter goes to school happily, gets to meet her old chums from Nursery, makes some new ones, and meets and greets and learns from her sweet teachers in person and her real schooling begins.
PS: My son told me, only about 50-60% of his classmates are coming to school, the rest are continuing online. My hats off to the teachers and the staff who are managing this logistic nightmare.
Post PS: Since The Indian Express news I mentioned got out, it so happens Delhi schools were shut down again, this time due to pollution! No matter what those at the helm or other intelligentsia say or lay blame upon, I believe it’s the responsibility of every citizen of this country and everyone is to be blamed, some for their actions and some for their torpor.
drkck
Boys’ Shoes School Bags’ Page AmazonDisclaimer: The author is just expressing his own experiences and views and does not wish to be derogatory to any person or organization and apologizes if any sentiments are hurt by the post.
Affiliate Links: The post contains Affiliate Links from various sites. The purchase made through the links may earn the website/ author money. If you proceed to buy through the links you should do your own due diligence regarding the products and the sellers.
mundanemiddleclass.in 