This is a very big question for many of us.
We live in the 21st century. It seems that everything around us is evolving except education. The change in time demands a change in subjects and a more practical approach. The days of bookish learning are long forgotten. It’s a competitive world and our children expect freedom early, which requires training them early for this freedom.
Let’s compare a situation for better understanding: 2 boys A & B both love cricket and want to pursue it as a career option.
As parents prepare him at the age of 5. Through a more practical approach, they provide him with basic education. He learns how to deal with people and becomes independent early. He also begins cricket training at 10 and has already developed his game strategies by Grade 10 (Age 15). He competes at various levels. By the time he graduates he is already playing nationally.
Now let’s look at B.
In the aftermath of 12th boards, he takes it easy and begins his training. He makes an action plan when he finishes college. He then begins taking part in competitions in which there are many age criteria which he cannot enter. His options are narrowed down and he has to settle for something else if LUCK doesn’t favour him in whatever options are left with him.
TIME has played a huge role in careers for both A & B.
In the internet age, kids are the first to fall prey to all kinds of distractions. YouTube kids or YouTube content – (irrespective of the channel) brainwash these innocent brains and their imagination and thinking levels are beyond our control.
Schools have become money-making institutions. If a child’s future was of importance, evolution should have been unavoidable.
Our children need to be taught subjects that do not exist in the curriculum, the curriculum meant for dependent thinking and living.
Children’s timetable/activities after school are limited to minimum physical activities, homework and tuition for rote learning. Where is the scope for self-development?
I have a question to all my readers, have you all ever felt that, “I wish I had learnt this or that in school, then I would have been a different person today”.
Our kids will have the same question a decade later. Why repeat history when we can change it ourselves.
Second question to my readers is, have you ever felt, “the marks I got did no good to me, I wish I had learnt something more helpful in practical life”. Then why make our children run for the marks that we know will not do any good.
Grades/Marks are significant, but not more critical than learning life skills that are equally (if not more) significant.
Coming to my second topic – Detox of gadgets.
(My parents did this when I was 5 years old and I never had a TV connection/OTT at my house, never felt the need for it.)
Talk to your child. Give him/her a notepad and tell them to fill it up with activities they want to do or try. Ask them to look around and see what their friends have learned that they may want to try as well.
Learn those skills on YouTube and teach your child or if you’re a working parent enroll them in those classes or ask their elder siblings to learn and teach the younger ones.
I usually divide activities into 3 broad categories.
1. Physical
2. Mental
3. Creative
Happy reading,
Prof. Verrsha Tollasariya
Educational Curator & Founder.
(This blog is my personal experience and opinion and I have nothing against anyone in any form)
