Thread by @docbhooshan

#Survivingschool
#India

No matter who you talk to, schools and education system will be criticised by everyone. Even the uneducated.

There is no alternative to "system" for average person and their children.

Here i make an attempt to suggest some steps to help your child not be scorched by blow torch called indian education system.

Please read on ONLY if you are not looking for another way to get your kid into IITs and Govt Medical Colleges.

Following points are your weaknesses as a parent -
1. Anxiety about children's future (belief that world is terrible)
2. Fear of missing out if you don't do everything and more
3. Peer pressure (yes, it affects parents more than kids)

4. Desire to make your child next Sachin Tendulkar, Steve Jobs, Sundar Pichai and MF Hussain all rolled into one. - Greed

Combination of greed and anxiety makes you panic and do things that you KNOW to be wrong.

So first step is to restrict study time (except school) to 30-40min per weekday till fourth standard. Even during exams. No tuitions. At all.

Kids should finish homework on the same day that's all.

Make sure that your child goes out to play with other children for atleast 2 hours everyday. Organised sports training, music, art should be done everyday as well.

Getting them to do housework and cooking everyday is the most valuable education. Don't miss that part.

Teaching cooking is the best way to make them aware about food.

Looking after elders in the house is children's job when parents are not around/working.

Stay away from "educational toys". They are SHIT.

Let the child read stories, learn languages, draw, paint, sculpt, scribble, cook, sing, play and instrument as long as they want.

Let them get thoroughly bored and a bit more. Don't panic and throw gadgets at them just to keep them out of your way.

Let young kids work with their hands to learn math and science. Let them experiment with household items and make their own instruments.
Get them to repair stuff at home with you.

A full tool box, nails, screws, wires, etc are real educational things at home. Don't deprive your kids from pleasure of "repairing".

Make them attend school everyday (unless they are admitted in a hospital). But let them study and experiment on their own about studying various subjects and exams.

Make sure that there is designated self/home study hour (30-40min) when child is at his desk.

Don't interrogate school teachers at PTA , listen to their feedback. You may have PhD in atomic weights, they teach 30 kids everyday. So it is almost unlikely that you know more about teaching than them.

Demanding personalised treatment for your child at normal school is like expecting "maa ki daal" at McDonald's.
Industrial scale teaching is how it is. Even when you pay 10L a year and class size is 10-15.

Let young kids explore, experiment, play around with curriculum and exams till at least 4th std. And continue that with specific subjects till 10th.

Once again -
Facing peer pressure of "sharmaji ka beta" is your real task as parents. Don't outsource it to your kids.

Your main aim is to keep alive curiosity, confidence, self reliance and experimentation ability in your child till they are atleast 10yr old.

Rest all sold to you as education is "Moh maya".

Be very wary and alert.

Some other time I will try a rant about older kids too.

All civilised debates welcome.

Please remember sample size of "my child and his friends" has serious limitations.