But need to understand that instead of testing, apprasial is better, as teachers and parents know what is potentiality of the student and his capabilities…… They can compare it with his performance, just like how in corporate world…….. Today in all sectors, we want smart performers, not performers………

I have computers to calculate for me, so i need smart people to operate it and do the task in the most smartest way……… I don’t need that guy to learn multiple tables of 12 or 14 byheart or because of byheart learning, he got good marks in exams

I would not really agree with you about testing. Only with testing will the teachers/parents know how far the child has reached and if the child is ready for the next step.

The problem with testing in India is that – it is made to look as something horrible – and if you dont pass the test you are good for nothing.

What do you do when a child tries to walk the first time and falls down? You curse the floor for making the child fall and encourage him to try again. Studies and Testing also should be like that.

I think test’s have taken a demons shape in our minds because of our over expecting – over egoistic parents & society who want to show off that my child is better than yours.

I was speaking to my cousin sister yesterday. She had got 80% marks in her 10th std. But She was really sad – cause instead of congratulating her, her parents were comparing her to the neighbors daughter who got 95%…

That is where the mistake lies – we compare, we degrade their self esteem…we destroy them…

There should not be any tests…Who are we to test a kid?. remember Albert Einstein failed in many exams…the exams judged him unfit..which he was not

For the first 12 years – The entire academic cirriculam would be projects and collecting and updating information from knowledge bases like wikipedia.

Writing journals ,reading and discovering books………….. no test no valuation etc

12 years is a very long time and any sane person would have developed a whole better lot of knowledge by that time

The problem is people dont trust..unless we put a test? how do we know if people learn?how do we choose someone for a job…?

Well God was not a fool…human beings have a natural instinct to learn and if a child can learn to walk in 2 months…i am sure he can master a lot in 12 years in a academic nvironment

I or anyone have learned something ..because i have came accross a lot of books visuals sounds etc about many things and NOT! because i wrote 1000+ exams

Just make a FREE world for a person to think!. – that must be the sole purpose of education

Computers should not be thought as a science till the kid reaches 11th std where the students start specializing for their stream. Computers should be used as a learning aid and a communication tool in the primary school.

Regarding the social culture of keeping the girls separate from the boys in Kerala – that is the worst I have seen in Kerala. You talk to your opposite Sex – then the whole school talks about you having an affair with him/her. I have never been able to figure this formula out…

But end of the day – your social skills get affected big time. I am in no way advocating the other extreme here. There must be opportunity for the kids to develop a healthy pear relationship with their opposite sex.

I was watching this movie the day before yesterday ” Take the Lead”. It is a movie about how Dancing is used as a tool to bring together students and making them responsible by making them respect each other and every one. I think dancing should be made compulsory for the primary kids – not only will it keep them healthy – it will sharpen their minds also…

I am also of the opinion that no formal maths or science should be taught until 8 years of age. Like you said, exploration and language skills should be given importance. Writing can be avoided and drawing can be included.

Till that age, no judgements should be made and the child should never be compared with others. Games and group activities should be focus.

Class tests should be conducted to identify the child’s weaknesses and not to prepare a rank list.

Relationships with the opposite sex is a major problem, especially in Kerala. We have a lot of perverts cos we dont know whats the appropriate behaviour is. Many are not comfortable dealing with members of the other sex. If we must learn to respect the opposite sex, then its a must that we interact and socialise with them.

It would be so suprising to know, in Chinmaya, both Girls and Boys do have swimming class times in common, though its complusory for girls to wear covered swimsuits………. There is very little segregation between boys and girls there…… It really make them so bold………

I even suggest, our current uniforms styles should change……. Most of girls, feel extra-secured when they wear fully covered churidars……… Whereas those girls, who wear wrap-arounds or suit-skirts or knee-down skirts feel some sense of insecurity…… to cover up the insecurity, they make a good rapport with boys, as they feel its a security matter……… This is too one of the principle at Chinmaya, where girls till 12th have to wear knee length Wraps-rounds or skirts…….. I felt, often this sense of insecurity, pull them down to make good friendship with some boys, as a security…….