For some strange reason, I loved exams. They gave me a rush. I enjoyed pitting my brains against what the teachers could come up with. And, then the elation of doing well was a personal victory. I still remember how back in the days when I was in school, we had ranks. Gosh, we used to sweat it out for every single mark. And, then the day of reckoning would dawn.
The report card after our final exams till 10th standard was given at school in class among your classmates. The class teacher would have our report cards piled up high arranged from 1st rank till the last. She would glance at our nervous faces with a smile and then dramatically announce the first rank. As the first rankholder went to collect the report almost walking on air, the others would whisper admiringly perhaps feeling a tinge of jealousy. We all pretty much knew who would get which rank and even could guess top scorers in each subject. It was fun, really.
Today, I went to collect my elder son’s report. I had the slightest apprehension that the teacher may just throw up her hands and laugh in my face, “April Fool’s Day.” But, luckily that did not happen. You know, I have only one question for parents who linger on and on after they collect the report. I mean, it is the end of the year. What is there to discuss in-depth? Do they feel that since they have come and waited their turn, now they must make small talk and stretch their time in the coveted place? Is it that they feel so comfortable being the cynosure of eyes of all parents that they keep asking questions, the answers to which were sent both by diary and e-messages. I have never understood, but well, parents are a strange species.
So coming back to the report cards, now the kids have grades. Yes, marks are there in individual subjects but no ranks. The teacher also has no clue who the overall toppers are in terms of marks. I can see that the kids are relaxed though some of the parents incessantly query the teacher wanting to find out exactly where their child stood in class. I guess, it is difficult for us to discard the ranking system easily. It makes us antsy if we don’t know where our child is placed in the order of things in the Universe. 🙂
While the pressure on the students is significantly reduced and so is the competition at least in the lower classes, the grind is still the same in higher classes. As my son moves to 8th Grade, I learned about coaching classes. Many parents seemed keen on them and I wondered why? 8th is too young isn’t it? Apparently they have preparatory classes for IIT entrance from 6th standard onwards these days. Well, I am not putting my children in a pressure cooker so all they will do in these vacations is play cricket with friends, TT and badminton with parents (spare time willing) and generally fool around. The younger one is keen on learning swimming.
And guess what, the elder son scored higher in Kannada compared to Hindi! Looks like it is time I taught him Hindi from next year onwards.
For now, it is summer vacation time. Let the fun begin while I figure out how to stay sane the next two months. 🙂
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