By Theresa Micheal ,Chandigarh : India is my country; all Indians are my brothers and sisters. I am proud of my country… In the recent news outburst of children being murdered, molested and missing, where are my brothers and sisters. It is always authorities, principals and parents under the scanner, where are the people who make up for the vital ingredients of a democratic country.
The pledge is one of the most important page of every text book, and I am yet to find those who know it by heart. The authorities have never learnt it, principals and teachers never made it a point to recite it at assemblies, parents are busy completing homework and projects for children. Children don’t know the pledge making one of the most important pages of education skip by throughout the life cycle of a child’s education. A one page pledge, solemnly triggers a conscious behavior attribute in a child’s upbringing, this is a character building pledge, full of promises, and things each one must do in our daily lives.
Parents are one of the most important tenets of every household, society and institution. All educational Institutes must understand that parents are the main contributors who help in the running of the institutions. All authorities, principals and teachers must treat parents with utmost respect. It has been observed that parent’s complaints or suggestions are not taken into consideration. Teachers are refusing to take responsibility of the children whether in class or just outside the gate.
In a recent case a second standard student was caught breaking the bag of another student in the class. When the matter was reported to the class teacher, she said it happened in her absence and so no action was taken. Then another student was pushed into a ditch filled with rain water, the same teacher said that it happened again in her absence, so no action was taken. This time the teacher was saved because it was a broken bag and a muddy ditch, but what if it was a broken leg and a moving vehicle, would her absence ever be ignored.
The authorities must be able to garner teachers to assume theirs duty towards their jobs and not excuses. Just as a parent is responsible for the child, the authorities must be responsible for their teachers. Teachers must help in making the child wise, understanding, and knowledgeable. In which understanding is the most important part in creating better future for the child. Authorities, principals and teachers make up for the guardianship of the child and are responsible towards making the child what they promised the parent at the time of admission.
With almost every newspaper publishing an event in school, what is the use of all these activities in dance, drama, fancy dress, when even the bible which is more than 2000 years old says, “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?. “ Mrs Saroj, a parent of two, who removed her children from a Govt School and put them in a private school for the well being of the children, complains that her children are never chosen for any events, because the teachers prefer to promote their own children. Parents are not proud any more, but they are burdened with the rising cost affecting their lives, and schools creating activities and passing the bills to the parents, an additional cost, which the parents cannot ignore. The child can never repeat what is taught in school, so another cost that will go for tuitions, books, bags, pencils, rubbers, charts, paints, crafts, etc, thus making the grocery bills are cheaper. Yet, the child goes undiscovered, unnoticed, and uncared for practicing for the upcoming Children’s Day function.
It is time to take a moment of silence, to read the pledge, if each one can become a brother or sister to another, we will not only make the City Beautiful but also the children and the country.
OUR PLEDGE
India is my country. All Indians are my brothers and sisters. I love my country and I am proud of its rich and varied heritage. I shall always strive to be worthy of it. I shall give my parents, teachers and all elders respect and treat everyone with courtesy. To my country and my people, I pledge my devotion. In their well being and prosperity alone, lies my happiness.
Theresa Micheal
HELP US TO MAKE THE CITY BEAUTIFUL
As long as there are authorities, laws, there will be flaws. It is up to us how we can take care of affairs at our own very personal level. Then only the authorities will change the flaw.
DEAR THERESA MICHEAL,
NOTHING IS GOING TO BUDGE IN THIS SOCIETY, WHICH IS REALLY BAFFLED TO MAKE BOTH ENDS MEET ONLY BUT FOR SO MANY FLAWS IN EVERY SYSTEM OF WORKINGS IN THIS COUNTRY, WHICH HAS INTENTIONALLY BEEN STRUCTURED SO, BY THE CARE TAKERS OF THE AFFAIRS OF THIS COUNTRY FOR THE REASONS BEST KNOWN TO THEM ONLY—dr.amritgaur